Messara is an interior designer, painter and educator who worked on interiors for the Shell Corporation, Melbourne and Caterpillar, Tullamarine. She later worked with Myer, Melbourne and travelled to the UK. From 1968-1972, she worked on the Sydney Opera House with Hall, Todd and Littlemore Architects developing seating. In NSW, she worked with the NSW Govt Architect and undertook further tertiary training.