Trustee spotlight: Wendy O'Dell Callaway
(Posted on 22/12/25)
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Inside Justice is delighted to welcome Wendy O’Dell Callaway FCCA as our new Treasurer, a highly respected chartered accountant, humanitarian volunteer, and award-winning true crime podcaster whose personal and professional journey brings rare depth and empathy to our Board.
Wendy has run her own accountancy practice for more than 25 years, serving as Finance Director for a range of companies and mentoring trainee accountants who have gone on to establish their own successful practices. But alongside this technical expertise, she carries something equally valuable: lived experience of profound loss.
Her aunt was murdered many years ago, an event that shaped Wendy’s understanding of justice and inspired her to use her voice to help others. She began podcasting to support families facing the unthinkable, those who have no answers, no body, and no closure. Through this work she has spoken to people who have been wrongly convicted in the United States, witnessing firsthand how miscarriages of justice destroy not only individual lives, but whole families.
It was through podcasting that Wendy first encountered Inside Justice. After interviewing our trustee Jo Millington at CrimeCon, she felt an immediate connection to our mission and quickly offered to help at events and raise awareness of the charity’s work.
A voice shaped by compassion and clarity
Wendy’s personal experience gives her a finely tuned moral compass:
“As a family member of a murder victim, of course I want justice,” she explains.
“But I would hate to think that somebody had been convicted of a crime they didn’t commit.”
Her work in true crime has reinforced this conviction. She has met wrongly convicted people whose lives have been devastated, making her acutely aware of the fragile line between justice delivered and justice denied.
One practical change she believes could improve fairness today is jury education.
“Jurors need to truly understand that what they say will change someone’s life. If they have doubts — any doubts — then it should be a not guilty.”
A global commitment to giving back
Wendy’s dedication to service extends far beyond the UK. She has volunteered in Cambodia, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa, supporting NGOs with audits and teaching local staff essential bookkeeping and financial management skills. This combination of technical expertise, generosity, and global perspective will be invaluable to Inside Justice as we strengthen our governance and financial sustainability.
Why she joined the Inside Justice Board
“I’m passionate about justice and helping others,” Wendy says. “I don’t have the technical skills of some of the amazing trustees and advisory panel at Inside Justice but everyone needs an accountant! Joining the Board allows me to help in some small way.”
Her humility belies the significance of what she brings: not just financial stewardship, but a nuanced understanding of the justice system from multiple angles — victim, advocate, investigator, communicator, and champion for truth.
Wendy is optimistic about the future, particularly the recent appointment of a new interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission:
“If I were them, I’d want to improve the system and get it right. Let’s hope this new person jiggles things up a bit.”
She also believes that advancements in science and technology especially DNA and next-generation forensic techniques, offer real hope for uncovering wrongful convictions and solving long-standing cases.
A trustee with heart, expertise, and purpose
Wendy’s arrival strengthens Inside Justice’s Board at a critical moment. Her values align powerfully with our mission, and her combination of professional rigour, lived experience, and humanitarian commitment makes her an extraordinary asset to the organisation.
