Born in Malvern, England, Elaine studied for her teaching Certificate at Nottingham University and began her teaching career in an inner city secondary school in Peckham, S E London, in 1974. Her first international school posting was in 1977 at The British School of the Netherlands, in The Hague.
In March 1987 she arrived in Switzerland to take up a position at the International School of Basel where she was later appointed Junior School Principal. In 1998 she received her Masters degree in Education for International Schools, from Oxford Brookes University.

In 2002 she was appointed Head of the International School of Monts-de-Corsier and played a key role in establishing it as a new and successful school in the Montreux and Vevey area.
Her next position in 2005 was Head of School at the International School of Zug and Luzern and in 2009 she moved to La Côte International School, where she completed her career, her final role before retirement being that of Head of the Art Department.
Over the years her work for the SGIS has included several terms as a committee member, Co-chair for a year and as editor of the once annual students’ Literary Magazine!