Sheila Willis studied in University College Dublin where she received her Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry. Most of her career was in the Forensic Science Laboratory, Republic of Ireland. She was Director General 2002-2017. From 2017-2019 she was a Guest Researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US, reviewing the scientific foundations of DNA mixture interpretation. She is a Past President of the chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, was active in ENFSI (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) groups including EAFS Standing Committee which she chaired from 2003-2006. She chaired the Association of Forensic Science Providers 2006-2009 and represented the group on the UKFS Regulator’s Advisory Council 2007-2010. She served on the editorial board of Science and Justice 2007-2014; Forensic Science – Policy and Management 2007-2014 and the Special Edition of Forensic Science International for all of EAFS conferences since 2016. She works in various parts of the world now. She is a Fellow of Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science and has an honorary doctorate from UCD, 2019 and an honorary doctorate from University of Lausanne, 2024. She is a supporter of the need to emphasise foundation of forensic science and chaired the group who produce the ENFSI guidelines for evaluative reporting. She is one of the group who formulated and promoted the Sydney Declaration.