Natalie was raised in Kalgoorlie and moved to Perth to attend university to study Politics and Economics at the University of Western Australia, and later completed postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University. She also has Project Management and Frontline Management qualifications from the Australian Institute of Management.
She began her career at the Town of Cambridge as a Planning Officer in 2000 and has also worked at the Cities of Swan, Subiaco, Fremantle and Kalamunda.
Natalie has also lectured in town planning at Edith Cowan and Curtin Universities.