Triena has a BA, Dip. Ed. from Sydney University and an MBA from Leicester University. She is a qualified language teacher. She has worked in book publishing for more than 35 years, first with McGraw Hill and mostly as Managing Editor and Head of Publishing at ISEAS, a regional research centre focussing on Southeast Asia. Her experience in book publishing includes manuscript review, editing, design, author contracts, co-publications, book promotion, marketing and sales.