Introducing Our New CFNI Ambassador – Mary O’Dwyer

19 May 2025

Mary has some 30 years experience in senior finance roles in both the private and public sectors since qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1987. Mary’s career started in public accounting practice in Edinburgh, attaining membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, followed by a further three years in public practice in Auckland, New Zealand.

Returning to NI, Mary gained extensive experience in the food processing industry, the textiles industry, control panel systems supporting the construction industry and the world of regeneration, having been Head of Finance at Ilex, the urban regeneration company for Derry~Londonderry. Mary has also served as a Non Executive Board member and Chair of the Departmental Audit and Risk Assurance Committee of the Department for Infrastructure in NI. Mary currently works with locally based private investment companies.

Since the late 1990s Mary has taken on a succession of non remunerated roles within the community, such as founding Governor of Lumen Christi College (10 years), Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee Playhouse Theatre (9 years), Chair of Foyle Civic Trust (3 years), Board member of the North West Womens Collective (4 years), Trustee of St Columbs Park House and St Columbs Park Reconciliation Trust (3 years).