Mary qualified as a Physical Education teacher at Loughborough University in the early 80's and worked in schools in Dorset and London for 10 years before moving in to the world of sports development. In 1995 Mary accepted a posting with VSO to Zambia, to work for the National Sports Council, initially as national development manager before taking on the role of General Secretary of NSCZ in 1996.

On her return to the UK Mary began work for Sport England, leading on sports equity,and  driving the establishment of the English Federation of Disability Sport, and the development of race equality standards in sport. In 2002, Mary moved to the London Development Agency, where she served as Head, and interim Director, of Diverity, Equality and Minority Business Development for several years before moving back into the world of sport following London's successful bid for the 2012 Games. Mary currently serves as both Head of Sports Legacy for the LDA, and as a secondee to City Hall, where she is responsible for the delivery of the Mayor's £15.5m Sports Legacy Plan.

Mary is a keen advocate for equality in sport, has worked with London 2012 on the development of their Diversity and Inclusion strategy and is a former Chair of the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation.