Penelope holds two Bachelor degrees from Deakin University (Melbourne): Education (Secondary) and Applied Science (Psychology), and an Applied Science Diploma in Health Statistics from Swinburne University (Hawthorn). She completed her Masters of Public Health (Social Health) at the University of Melbourne in 2011. She is currently the Stakeholder Management Officer for the Lowitja Institute.

Penelope has worked as a research assistant in mental health (Cognitive Neurospsychiatry); stroke; trust and risk in collaborations, partnerships and networks; and risk communication. She also has experience as a Research Officer to Professor Vivian Lin, as secretariat for the Australian Network of Academic Public Health Institutions, and has taught at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels as a Health Promotion Associate Lecturer. She has also worked as a lecturer for undergraduate students in epidemiology, health statistics, health promotion and sociology. Penelope previously worked as the CRCAH Link Coordinator (2008–09) and also as the CRCAH Link person for La Trobe University (2006–09).