Before becoming a clinical counsellor, Ammen was a research scientist in the biotech industry for 20 years, investigating new treatments for a range of chronic and infectious diseases and holds a PhD from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UBC. During grad school, Ammen was part of the team of scientists who worked with Dr. Pieter Cullis to pioneer the development of the drug delivery technology that enabled the use of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Informed by a profound understanding of psychological development, Ammen is passionate about putting the correct conditions in place to foster a school environment that produces creative and resilient people capable of developing innovative technologies that will solve the challenges we face as a society.

A long time Delta resident, Ammen and her husband have two children who attend Delta schools and she serves as Director and Grant Committee Chair on the Board of the Delta Community Foundation. When she is not working or studying, Ammen enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, doing yoga or spending time in the pottery studio working with clay. She is a member of the North Delta Potters Guild, and her work is featured at the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre, near City Hall.