Penelope joined the ISR in 2007 as deputy editor of the gateway websites Creative Economy, hosted by CCI, and Australian Policy Online, hosted by the ISR. Between 1994 and 2006 she worked at Asialink at the University of Melbourne, managing visual arts residencies and touring exhibitions programs throughout Asia. In 2006 she organised Blind Dates and Foreign Affairs, Asialink’s annual international arts forum. She is a board member of West Space Gallery and has worked previously at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Women's Gallery.
Penelope is also an artist. She has exhibited her painting and installation work since 1989 in Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Northern Cyprus in public and commercial galleries, artist run spaces and festivals. She has also curated and coordinated numerous exhibitions and has written and edited catalogues, articles and essays.