A daughter of oil tycoon H. L. Hunt, she grew up in Dallas, Texas and then lived in Denver, Colorado for many years, where she was active in many community and philanthropic activities.
She was appointed as ambassador to Austria in 1993, where she was notable for writing a weekly newspaper column and radio program. She also organized women's conferences in Bosnia and otherwise worked to secure peace in the former Yugoslavia.
She joined the KSG in 1997, and in 1999 founded the advocacy group Women Waging Peace, which she heads as of 2003.
She is married to the conductor Charles Ansbacher.