Kelli was admitted to practice law in 1985. Since 1991 Kelli has been a Partner in the national law firm Dibbs Abbott Stillman practising in the area of insurance and government services. In her role as Partner she has held various executive management positions in this firm. Kelli holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts.

Kelli has extensive experience as a member of various government, legal, Christian and insurance industry boards and committees. Kelli is presently chairman of Peer Power Limited, a Christian organisation working with youth. Kelli is also chairman of the working committee of the Queensland Gift Foundation Baptist Union. Kelli is a long standing member of the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Board, the peak advisory board to the Queensland Minister on Workplace Health and Safety issues.  She has been a regular presenter on legal insurance issues including a period of lecturing at the lecturing at Queensland University of Technology on legal and insurance issues.

Kelli is married to John Zellner, an Aeronautical Research Engineer based in Los Angeles. Both Kelli and John spend time visiting each other in Australia and The United States of America.

Kelli is a member of the Ashgrove Baptist Church and attends the Rolling Covenant Church when in the United States of America.