Mary has held senior posts in local, regional and central government, primarily in corporate policy and performance, and environment and sustainability.

She has also operated successfully in commercial consultancy, leading demanding projects to tight deadlines. She managed field mapping and consultancy programmes at the University College of Wales and University of Cambridge where she was also in charge of publishing research and supervising PhD students.

As a senior scientific officer, she provided policy advice and commissioned and managed Departmental planning research projects in London. She has represented the UK on the EU programme and co-authored the first UK Sustainable Development Strategy.