She served on the Swiss National Council between 2003 and 2019[1] for the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP).

Her father, a secondary school teacher, was the mayor of Bolligen and served on the Grand Council of Bern for the Swiss People's Party from 1962 to 1974.

Since 1 June 2013, she is a partner in the private law practice Kiener & Nellen in Bern.

She has been president of the Bernese Union of Sports Associations (German Vereinigung der Berner Sportverbände) between 2011 and 2019 and is an advisory board member of Swiss Women's Football.

[3] She is among Switzerland's richest legislators with an estimated net worth of CHF 12 million (equivalent to $13m).