Deirdre is a Commissioner at the UK Commission for Employment & Skills (July 2011). She was awarded an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours List for services to career guidance.

She specialises in the evidence-base and impact of careers work, as well researching issues on careers education and guidance, individuals not in education, employment or training (NEETs), online careers information services and labour market intelligence.
In early 2011, Deirdre was appointed to work with 27 countries as a ‘Lead Consultant’ within the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network and is an active member of the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy (ICCDP) working on the theme of ‘Prove It Works’.

In 2008, she established ‘DMH Associates’ which provides training, research and consultancy services to a wide range of key stakeholders, including local enterprise partnerships. She is an External Examiner at Limerick University and Ulster University.