Zoe is a graduate from Pembroke College, Cambridge, with a Masters degree in Engineering.  After graduating from Cambridge, Zoe completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and a Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School, before completing a training contract and qualifying as a solicitor working in commercial real estate in London.

A change in direction saw Zoe complete her PGCE at Brighton University, and start her teaching career teaching Maths in secondary schools in London.  She has worked with the 16-19 age group since 2008, initially teaching Maths and then moving into curriculum and then senior leadership positions in several colleges across the south east and north west, before being appointed Principal of The Sixth Form College Farnborough  in August 2023.