The Lower Austrian studied journalism and corporate communications in Graz at the FH JOANNEUM and completed a doctorate in social and economic sciences at the University of Graz. At the same time, she worked for the agency BSX-Bader&SchmölzerGmbH in Graz, Linz and Vienna, managing clients in the cultural and architectural sectors. She then headed the corporate communications department of Volkshilfe Steiermark, followed by the Red Cross Clinics South of the Bavarian Red Cross e.V. in Munich and finally the PGA (Association for Prophylactic Health Work) in Linz. She was press spokesperson for the Brucknerhaus Linz and later head of corporate communications for the entire LIVA (Linzer VeranstaltungsGmbH). She was teaching at the University of Applied Sciences Linz and is Voluntary Vice President of Volkshilfe Upper Austria, Chairwoman of Volkshilfe Linz as well as Chairwoman of the General Managmentboard of Volkshilfe Arbeitswelt GmbH.