 In an interview with Empowering Women, Bentley explained, “I have deliberately committed my career to the charity sector as it’s where I believe real change can happen.It’s also a fantastic environment for developing potential.” 

In 2014 she was named Third Sector's Most Admired Chief Executive at the Third Sector Awards and was included in the top ten of the Britain's most influential women in the BBC "Woman's Hour" Power List.Also in 2014 Julie was a castaway on Desert Island Discs.