Julia is an experienced non-executive, speaker, consultant and mentor.
In 2017 she launched and chaired Civil Society Futures, the Independent Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in England, which reported in November 2018.

From 2007 until the end of 2016 Julia was the Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Prior to that, she ran a consultancy business for 15 years and has served at various times as a Charity Commissioner, member of the Board of the Housing Corporation, Chair of the Refugee Council and Deputy Chair of the Food Standards Agency.