[2][3] She had an uneventful childhood in Gympie until her parents moved to a new pharmacy in Brisbane where she attended high school at Somerville House.

[4] Having finished school, she initially trained as a radiographer, but from 1975 to 1977 studied economics and politics at the University of Queensland achieving a Bachelor of Arts.

After this, she worked in the Victorian public service involved with delivery of programs for after-school care and for employment of people with disabilities.

[6][8] Bob Joss, Chief Executive Officer of the Westpac Bank was concerned about the lack of women in senior management roles in the corporation.

[4][6][8] In July 2007, Sherry left banking and became CEO of Carnival Australia, a cruise line operating brands such as P&O, saying that she had always enjoyed and been passionate about travel.