Simone achieved her PhD in 2015 titled "Integrating Academic and Clinical Training - Exploring Opportunities and Innovations". She is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators and on the editorial board of their journal. Simone has over 20 years experience as a clinical dietitian working in public and private hospitals and in private practice, including in all major clinical areas including intensive care, surgery and endocrinology. Simone has a special interest in health professional education and research and is committed to improving health professional practice. She has presented nationally and internationally in the areas of health professional education as well as nutrition and dietetics.

Simone was awarded a national Teaching Excellence award in 2018 by the Australian Awards for University Teaching; and in 2017 the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Education (Quality of Teaching), demonstrating her commitment to student training. She hopes to help students excel in preparation for their professional employment whilst further pursuing her research interests.

Simone has acheived funding of over $83,000 in prizes and grants resulting in the establishment of a student teaching clinic, and various research projects including nutrition and wound healing, work-integrated learning and assessment, involving patients in student training and using online media to enhance nutritional health outcomes.