Experience

Release

• Belgium
• Recreational Facilities

• Executive Director

  • Jan 2012 - Present

  Niamh was appointed Executive Director in January 2012. Niamh is a non-practising barrister who started at Release in 2002 as a legal advisor, she was then appointed Head of Legal Services in 2007, and Deputy Director in 2008. She has extensive experience of service delivery, policy strategy, fundraising and operational development. Having worked in drug policy for the last ten years Niamh is passionate about drug policy reform and believes that the most vulnerable in society are disproportionately impacted upon by the current drug laws. Niamh regularly contributes to drug policy journals and publications including Drugs and Alcohol Today and Drink and Drug News, as well as authoring and editing a number of Release’s publications including ‘Drugs and the Law’ and ‘Sex Workers and the Law’. She has presented at international and national conferences and is regularly invited to comment in the media. Niamh is also a Board member of Youth R.IS.E. (www.youthrise.org), a member of the Expert Steering Group for the Global Drug Survey (www.globaldrugsurvey.com) and is on the steering group for the UK Harm Reduction Association.

• Deputy Director & Head of Legal Services

  • Jun 2007 - Jan 2012

• Legal Advisor

  • Oct 2002 - Jun 2007