Emma started in industrial relations as a law graduate and Associate at the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Sydney in 2002. Emma returned to Adelaide in 2003 to establish the Young Workers Legal Service with SA Unions. She then worked at union and plaintiff firm Lieschke and Weatherill before moving to Melbourne to work as a Legal Officer at the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Emma then moved to Brisbane and worked as a Senior Associate in the Employment and Industrial Law practice at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. After 5 years, Emma again returned to Adelaide to lead the Maurice Blackburn Adelaide office. Most recently Emma was the Practice Leader of Employment and Industrial Law at Johnston Withers Lawyers.

Emma was appointed to the Fair Work Commission in May 2023 and was sworn in as a Commissioner on 18 September 2023.