Kathy Hays was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, and lived in the Capital for over 40 years. For more than 20 years, she worked on Parliament Hill as political assistant to various members of Parliament, as well as for various senators. She is currently director of the Canadian Hays Converter Association in Calgary, a member of the Heritage Park Historical Society, member of the Honens Laureate Circle, supporter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WA) Military Family Fund, and past honorary president of Canadian Parliamentary Spouses Association. In 2005, she had the honour of representing Canada at the Conference of the First Ladies of the Americas hosted by Paraguay.