Maria grew up on Prince Edward Island, left to study at Mount Allison University and went on to provide senior leadership and manage key projects for public and private organizations across Canada. She was a member of the Aboriginal and Public Consultation Panel for the Northern Gateway Project and was responsible for presenting evidence about Aboriginal partners in Alberta and British Columbia. In 2016, Maria moved home to focus her energies on building a more sustainable community in Prince Edward Island. An important aspect of her work is policy delivery: ensuring that the highest priorities have the greatest impact on the most people.