Anka Mrak-Taritaš was born on November 24, 1959, in Bjelovar, where she finished elementary and high school.

[1] After graduation, Mrak-Taritaš worked for a year on creating major projects for the Zagreb University Hospital and the ACI marina on the Adriatic.

From 12 July 2005 until 13 October 2005, Mrak Taritaš served as Head of the Institute for Development Planning and Environmental Protection of Zagreb.

She also participated in committees evaluating environmental impact as Deputy President of the commission, and in the working group for preparation of negotiations on amendments to bilateral international treaties that Croatia concluded with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.

Mrak-Taritaš was HNS's and SDP's candidate for Mayor of Zagreb in the 2017 local elections and eventually finished second.