 Phua was the general manager of NTUC Fairprice Co-operative's real estate business unit and the managing director of estate management company SLF Management Services.She had also served as chief executive officer of Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council and chairman of Aljunied Town Council.In the 2011 general elections, she was part of a team of five candidates that lost the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency to the Workers' Party of Singapore (WP).