Penny began her healthcare career in 1997, initially working in Cardiothoracic ICU and Emergency before shifting focus to Paediatrics and eventually finding her passion in Mental Health. As a founding member of the Gna Ka Lun Adolescent Inpatient Unit, she demonstrated strong alignment with the therapeutic and strategic needs of youth mental health. To deepen her expertise, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing and later a Master of Nursing (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) in 2006.

Her work in Emergency Mental Health honed her capabilities in rapid assessments, mental health legislation, and district-wide consultation-liaison roles. Penny then transitioned to the private sector as Director of Nursing for a mental health and rehabilitation clinic, where she led a successful accreditation process, earning multiple ""Met with Merit"" results—particularly for consumer partnerships.

Furthering her qualifications, she completed a double Master’s in Public Health and Health Management at UNSW. As Chief Operating Officer at Karitane, she contributed to perinatal mental health research, co-developing the Family Outcomes Screen tool and publishing in a peer-reviewed journal.

Returning to public service, Penny became Director of Integrated Care at South Western Sydney Local Health District, where she led the implementation of the Patient Flow Portal and the Collaborative Medical Neighbourhood Model, promoting integration between hospitals and primary care.

Now at Mid North Coast Local Health District, Penny leads the integration of Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs services. She has secured multiple grants, established the EMHARRT team, improved clinical outcomes, and strengthened fiscal performance. Her leadership extends to international partnerships and translational research, bridging clinical innovation with operational excellence. Penny is widely respected for her ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on clinical leadership and service transformation.