Bernadette started her professional career as a trainee accountant with PwC and has extensive experience in corporate governance and related areas, risk management and accounting. Bernadette Costello is a former Director of Internal Audit & Risk Management, National University of Ireland, Galway.

She has served on a number of bodies including the Board and Audit Committee of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the Quality Assurance and Risk Committee of the Child and Family Agency (Tulsa), the Saolta University Health Care Group Audit Committee, the Council of Chartered Accountants Ireland and Audit Committee (Chair) and the Board of Accounting Technicians Ireland (Chair).

She is currently a member of the Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Oberstown Children Detention Campus; Board and Finance Committee of Galway and Roscommon Education and Training; and Galway Harbour Audit & Risk Committee.

Bernadette is a Chartered Director, a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Higher Diploma in Education from National University of Ireland, Galway.