Stephen White is a security sector reform consultant. After a police career, during which he reached the rank of Assistant Chief Constable and served in Northern Ireland, GB and on international missions, he worked for the European Union in Brussels and Iraq as Special Adviser to the Secretary General and as Head of Mission (2004 – 2009). In 2004 he was awarded an OBE for his services to policing at home and abroad. He is the holder of several posts locally, nationally and internationally, including Senior Fellow of the US-based Global Center on Co-operative Security; Member of the Expert Council of INPROL (the International Network for Promoting the Rule of Law); Director on the Board of Northern Ireland Cooperation Overseas (NI-CO); and, Member of the Police Advisory Committee for Belfast Harbour Commissioners. He is the part-time volunteer Chairman of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC (RUCGC) Foundation - an arm’s length body sponsored by the Department of Justice - and is a trustee of Brooke House Health and Wellbeing Centre. He previously served a full term as a board member of Community Restorative Justice Ireland (2012 – 2015).
Since leaving the EU (2010 – present) he has carried out numerous assignments providing consultancy, analysis, research, training and support to a number of agencies. Specialist subjects include security sector reform, conflict resolution, international policing, strategic planning and change management, community policing, police accountability and community partnerships, countering violent extremism, human rights and policing, management training and leadership development. Clients have included private companies, non-governmental organisations and government agencies and ministries. He holds Masters Degrees from Cambridge and Queens (Belfast) Universities, has published several papers and contributed, pro-bono, to many academic and professional research programs and initiatives.
On 16 February 2022 Stephen was awarded an Honorary Professorship by the Management School of Queens University Belfast.
Stephen was appointed a Commissioner in August 2020 and reappointed in for a further term in August 2023.