Emma Silke qualified in 1992 from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland with a Degree in Estate Management, having previously received Diplomas in Auctioneering, Estate Agency & Valuation from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (formerly RTC) and Diploma in Surveying & Valuation & Estate Agency from COACT, Limerick. She has also received a Certificate in Fine & Decorative Arts (Irish Professional Auctioneers and Valuers Institute) and undertaken an Interior Design course in G.M.I.T.

Emma has worked with Coldwell Banker Realtors in Orlando, Florida,  O'Donnellan & Joyce and J.F. Smith & Co. in Galway, and Sherry Fitzgerald McCreery in Kilkenny, where along with selling and renting residential and commercial properties, carrying out mortgage valuations and property snag lists, she was retained by various clients to find and acquire residential and commercial property on their behalf.  She has designed and built her own home by direct labour and has also designed a number of other houses, and provided an interior design and house doctor service.