Mary started her career in direct service delivery when she took on the role of caseworker for asylum seeker children in community detention and families requiring out of home care. It was this work that inspired Mary to undertake her Master’s degree in public policy.  

Mary has worked on the development of community programs like the ‘Any Body’s Cool’ initiative to reduce instances of eating disorders as well as the creation of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra, a research and advocacy centre focusing on achieving gender equality in leadership and decision-making roles.   

In Mary’s current role, her focus is remote and very remote aged care service provision which presents a complex myriad of policy and advocacy challenges with a strong overarching connection to people and community.