Jo-Anne trained at Accrington & Rossendale College and started her career in the NHS in December 1991 as a Personal Secretary for the District Dental Officer at Bury Health Authority. From there she worked her way up through the administration department to take up the role as Information Officer at Rochdale Health Authority. In 2000 Jo-Anne left the NHS to work as an Office Manager for a construction company contracting directly to British Telecommunications where she was responsible for the general running of the company, it was from this position that Jo-Anne gained her managerial and project administration experience. Jo-Anne undertook further project administration work with BT until February 2013 when she returned to the NHS as Operations Manager and Executive Assistant in the NHS R&D North West Team.