She qualified in Dietetics at the University of Stellenbosch and thereafter worked in the Public Health Sector in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa for 8 years. She then ventured to the Middle East and was the first South African dietitian to work in Saudi Arabia – first at the Al Hada Military Hospital at Taif and then at the King Khalid National Guard Hospital in Jeddah. In 2004 she moved to Abu Dhabi and took up the position as Head of Dietetics at Al Rahba Hospital, while also being responsible for critical care nutrition. During her time in the Middle East she had extensive experience in JCI accreditation and electronic health records.