Philippa is a senior legal officer at the Legal Profession Complaints Committee and manager of the Rapid Resolution Team. She has undertaken LEADR mediation training. She was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 1983 and holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia.

Philippa previously practiced in the Family Law department of Dwyer Durack as a consultant between 2005-2010 and was previously a partner at Paterson & Dowding Lawyers, where she worked from 1982 to 1991.

Philippa was also the acting head of Family Law at Legal Aid Western Australia where she established the Alternative Dispute Resolution Pilot Program. Its success resulted in the establishment of the ADR Unit at Legal Aid.