Eileen was educated at College Street Normal School, P.N. Girls' High School, Ribe Cathedral School in Denmark (on a one year Youth for Understanding Exchange) and Massey University, P.N. After her return from Denmark, Eileen worked in the P.N. Public Library for 8 months until the start of the next university year.

From 1992 to 1994 she worked part-time at P.N. Public Library, while studying at Massey for a B.A. In 1995-96, she was an English Lecturer in Malaysia. In the latter part of 1996 she travelled extensively in South East Asia - Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam -supporting herself with short term teaching jobs in Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. Keith spent a few days with her in Kuala Lumpur on his way to a conference in England.

Eileen arrived back in New Zealand in March 1997 and, in her usual focused manner, she immediately started contacting her friends and applying for jobs.