Meredith Hunter was born in Canberra. Her grandmother, Mary Stevenson, was the first woman elected to the ACT Advisory Council and was president of the Liberal Party's ACT Women's Branch. She was educated at the Australian National University and is now an Adjunct Professional Associate at the University of Canberra.
Meredith was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the ACT Greens from 2008 to 2012. At the time she was also the Parliamentary Convenor of the ACT Greens. During this period Meredith chaired the Inquiry into Current and Potential Ecotourism in the ACT and Region which, inter alia, recommended a nature park for the Ginninderra Falls and surrounding area.
Meredith had a high profile in the community sector prior to her election. She began her career as a youth worker in Canberra and went on to become a prominent youth affairs advocate. She was the director of the Youth Coalition of the ACT for over ten years and held executive positions with a number of national peak bodies, including the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and National Shelter. Meredith was also a vocal spokesperson on community sector viability and social welfare issues, serving on the Board of the ACT Council of Social Service and as Chairwoman of ACT Shelter. Notably, Meredith was appointed Chair of the Youth Homelessness Strategy and Chair of Anti-Poverty Week. In 2008, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Youth Coalition for her contribution to children and young people.