Liz has been involved in a number of aspects of the Australian Science Olympiads: she won a bronze medal at the 2000 International Chemistry Olympiad and a gold medal in 2001; she was a staff member for the Australian Chemistry Olympiad for a number of years; she was team leader for the 2005 and 2006 International Chemistry Olympiads; and she was even a guide for the 2004 International Biology Olympiad in Brisbane.

Liz undertook her undergraduate and Masters studies at the University of Sydney, and completed her PhD in 2009 with Professor David Parker at Durham University. From 2010–2011 she was a Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Fellow with Professor Chris Chang at the University of California (Berkeley). In 2012, she returned to the University of Sydney, where she is currently Associate Professor. Her research is focused on the development of small-molecule fluorescent probes for the study of biological and environmental systems.