Elena graduated in urban planning at the IUAV University of Venice and worked as a research fellow at the Department of Planning of the same university between 2000 and 2002.

After moving to London in 2002 she joined the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis as a research fellow (2002-2005) where she developed comparative research on urban sprawl in Europe and on the urban development in East European countries.

She has worked as a planning advisor at the Willowbrook Centre (2006-2007), providing free professional advice and support to local residents and groups effected by or involved in urban development and regeneration.

Between 2006 and 2007 she has also been a research consultant for the British Urban Regeneration Association.

Since 2006 she has been a teaching fellow and tutor at the Bartlett School of Planning. In 2008 she joined the Development Planning Unit and a Post Graduate Teaching Assistant for the MSc in Urban Development Planning.