Burns was from an English family and brought up in several foreign countries. She went into business after leaving school, working for companies such as Waitrose, Thorn EMI and Asda and becoming a Director of some other companies. She later moved to Pembrokeshire with her husband and became active in politics.
In recent times she has become very involved with local issues in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, particularly the proposed downgrading of the two District Hospitals of Glangwili and Withybush, the endless closures of rural schools with the subsequent fragmentation of the communities they served, and the apathy and lack of hope of so many youngsters.