Born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, Wilma studied in Boston where she was founding First Violinist of the Lydian Quartet, winners of the Naumburg Award for Chamber Music and major prizes at Evian, Banff and Portsmouth International String Quartet Competitions. She returned to New Zealand as founding First Violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet before her appointment as Concertmaster of the New Zealand then Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.

Wilma is now Second Violinist of Flinders Quartet, curator/violinist of Wilma & Friends, Artistic Director of Competitions for Musica Viva Australia overseeing Strike A Chord, and Co-Artistic Director of the Martinborough Music Festival in New Zealand. Since February 2026, she has headed a new team as Artistic Director of the now-independent Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition which will celebrate its 10th edition in July 2027. Wilma was presented with the 2025 Sir Bernard Heinze Award for her contribution to music in Australia.