Brought up on Shortlands Station, near Kyeburn, in the Maniototo, she was the only girl studying year 12 agriculture at St Andrews College in Christchurch and, the following year, topped the agriculture class.
While she toyed with the idea of becoming a vet, she went on to study at Lincoln University, completing a BCom Ag, with a valuation farm management major. After stints with the Bank of New Zealand in both Golden Bay and Hokitika, she returned home to the farm and worked for a year, before deciding how to use her qualifications.
She worked for Quotable Value in Dunedin from the end of 2003 until July 2007, and then the Landward Group, where she was involved in high-country management and valuation.
She joined Macpherson Valuation, the Dunedin-owned valuation and property consultancy, last February, and is helping to expand and develop the rural side of the company's business.
She recently moved from Dunedin to South Otago, living at Clydevale and working out of an office in Gore.
She covers a large area from south of the Waitaki River, into the Hakataramea Valley, the Maniototo, and throughout Otago and Southland, specialising in rural, lifestyle and residential valuation services.
She particularly enjoys the contact with rural people and the privilege of being able to see "some great countryside".
"Every day is different, every property is different and it is a good challenge."
People tended to think of valuers as someone to go to if they were planning to buy or sell property, or wanting finance, but the job was much wider, she said.
Living in Clydevale was ideal for the keen horsewoman, with just a 30-minute drive to Gore to work and not far to drive home to the Maniototo.