 Before her role at Premier and Cabinet, she worked as manager of government business at the National Australia Bank (NAB), and prior to that had been Deputy Secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.Premier John Brumby's choice to appoint somebody from outside the public service surprised many and, according to some, risked upsetting senior public servants.Silver was born in Melbourne and studied at Monash University where in 1980 she obtained a Bachelor of Economics (with first class honours) and in 1988 a Master of Economics.