Mary Anne Paton was educated at St Hilda's Girl School and then completed a Master of Arts at the University of Western Australia. She has tutored in literature, worked with television and radio stations, been a project officer for Women in Science and Engineering and the Executive Director for the Women's Sport Foundation of WA. A keen swimmer, she has made several solo crossings from Cottesloe to Rottnest. In 2007 Ms Paton was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Fremantle Arts Centre Press, which was renamed as Fremantle Press.
