Nanette was educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls, and qualified as a doctor at Aberdeen University in 1965. She trained initially in Anaesthetics, gaining her Fellowship in 1969. She took a few years out in the early 70's to bring up her two young children, and thereafter worked part-time in cancer related research.
She served as an Aberdeen City Councillor from 1988-99, and in 2003 became a North East Regional Member of the Scottish Parliament. During that time she served on the Equal Opportunities Committee and then on the Health Committee. She was Health Spokesman for the Conservative Party.
Nanette is now a Member of the Public Petitions Committee and a Substitute Member of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, and is currently Conservative Shadow Minister for the Environment. She became Co-Convener of the Cross Party Group on Cancer following the May 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections.