Christy Clark was first elected at age 30 and has been involved in B.C. politics for most of her life. Her father Jim was a three-time candidate for the B.C. Liberals in Burnaby, where she was born and raised.

She attended Simon Fraser University, the University of Edinburgh and Université de la Sorbonne. While a student at SFU she was elected president and vice-president (internal) of the Simon Fraser University Student Society.

Ms. Clark is a former researcher in the B.C. Legislature.

She and her husband, Mark Marissen, live in Port Moody.