Suttie went to Hawick High School (1980-1986), and graduated with a degree in French and Russian from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh in 1990.

From 2006 to 2010, Suttie was Head of the Liberal Democrat Leader's Office where she worked in the House of Commons for Menzies Campbell, Vince Cable and Nick Clegg.

After the 2010 election produced a hung parliament, she was the Liberal Democrat negotiating team's coordinator in the coalition negotiations with both the Conservative and Labour parties which eventually led to the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government.

Suttie was initially special adviser to then-Scotland secretary Danny Alexander, but moved to serve Nick Clegg when then Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws resigned over his parliamentary expenses claims.

She has worked in Tunisia and Moldova and runs training courses on campaigning and lobbying for civil servants, NGOs and charities.