Maria holds dual bachelor's degrees in Nursing and Arts, as well as a Master of Health Science from The University of Sydney. Her clinical career began with nursing roles at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, and Sydney Private Hospital. Driven by a commitment to advancing cancer treatment, Maria transitioned to clinical research, where she has dedicated 18 years to the field.

As the Director of Clinical Care at MIA, Maria provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and clinical leadership for both nursing and clinical research teams. She is deeply involved in advancing treatments for skin cancer, with a particular focus on neoadjuvant therapy and investigator-driven protocol development.

Passionate about enhancing advanced practice nursing within multidisciplinary teams, Maria is a strong advocate for building capacity and ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Maria is currently working with government and a dedicated team at MIA to develop and implement a Commonwealth-funded national melanoma nurse strategy and program.