Elke joined Kumeu Veterinary Services in 1996 and now works in the companion animal side of the practice at Vets North Kumeu. She studied veterinary medicine at the Tieraerztliche Hochschule Hannover in Germany, then moved to New Zealand in 1993 to complete her postgraduate research project.
Elke lives on a lifestyle block in Taupaki, which she shares with her husband, two girls, several horses, sheep, chickens and two cats.