Pamela completed a Bachelor of Science at Queensland University; a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at the University of Papua New Guinea (1977); and was awarded her Master of Arts in Sociology by the London School of Economics.

She worked as a Biochemist in Cambridge, UK, and between 1966-72 was employed by Makarere University, Uganda. In 1981 she took up employment with the Abortion Counselling Service in Canberra, following which (from 1982-84) she was National Coordinator of the Women's Electoral Lobby. She worked for the Australian National University's Urban Research Unit in 1984, and was employed by the Office of Local Government.

Pamela played a major role in various women's campaigns and conferences including: the UN Women's Convention (CEDAW); the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act; the Economic Summit 1983; the Affirmative Action Act; National Women's Tax Summit 1985 and National Agenda for Women Conference 1986.

Pamela, who married Donald Denoon and was the mother of three children born between 1966-72, died at the age of 46 after battling leukaemia. She established two feminist organisations by bequest: the National Foundation for Australian Women and the Pamela Denoon Trust.