Published by Skills for Justice
Celebrating change: Lisa Winward on three decades in policing
Date 17.04.26
To mark International Women’s Day last month, Police Oracle’s Talking Blues podcast features an inspiring conversation with Lisa Winward, former Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police and Trustee at The Workforce Development Trust, parent organisation of Skills for Justice. The episode explores her remarkable career, the evolution of policing and the experiences that shaped her leadership.
Lisa reflects on how her life changed after joining policing more than 30 years ago. Initially joining as a Special Constable in 1993, and then as a regular officer from 1994, Lisa joined at a time when women made up around 23% of the police workforce. Lisa recalls a powerful moment of inclusion in her early career: by pure chance, six out of the twelve recruits in her cohort were women – a rarity that made the team feel welcoming, supportive and inclusive.
Across the 19-minute episode, Lisa also discusses the importance of supporting officer wellbeing, the challenges and opportunities of leadership, and the changes she has seen across policing – from culture and diversity to professional development and public expectations.
This podcast is a valuable listen for anyone interested in policing, leadership and career development in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Lisa’s reflections offer a candid look at what policing was like in the 1990s and how far it has come.