Sylvie Dumaine is a graduate of the Paris Institut d'Études Politiques (Institute of Political Sciences), Public Services section. She also holds a Masters degree in Public Law.
Prior to that, she worked as Parliamentary Assistant to former French government Minister Louis Joxe (1974-1976). She was subsequently French Prime Minister Raymond Barre's Cabinet Representative (1976-1981) and then his Parliamentary Assistant & Media Relations Officer. She has held her present position since 1990.