Following their service in the Royal Air Force (RAF), both Lawrie's parents became teachers. In the early 1990s, Lawrie earned a Bachelor of Education degree and currently holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the A-level standard in Business Studies and Economics.
After serving as an international officer at a private college from 1996 to 1997, Lawrie founded the forerunner to Preparation for Life in October 1997, gaining more than three decades of experience in the sector.