Fabiani was born in Glasgow to a family with both Scottish and Italian roots. Prior to entering politics, she worked as director of East Kilbride Housing Association.
Political career
At 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections, Fabiani unsuccessfully contested the first past the post constituency of East Kilbride finishing as runner up to Andy Kerr of Scottish Labour, reducing Labour's majority from 6,499 in 1999 to 1,972 in 2007. However, being listed at number five in the SNP regional list for Central Scotland in 1999, she gained a seat in the newly-established Scottish Parliament. She told the Dundee Courier in January 2021 that she had been surprised to get elected at her first attempt. Following the election of 2003, she served as the SNP's Deputy Spokesman on Communities inside the Scottish Parliament and chaired the Parliament's European and External Relations Committee.
In May 2011, in the first SNP gain of the election, Fabiani took the East Kilbride constituency from Andy Kerr. With Kerr widely touted as a potential successor to Labour leader Iain Gray, this was one of the major SNP victories of the election.[4] On 21 June 2011 she became the Convener of the Scotland Bill committee.[5]
After her election, she set up a constituency office in 1/3 Strathmore House in the town centre of East Kilbride.
In her final term, Fabiani was chosen as convenor of the Scottish Parliamentary inquiry into the government's mishandling of claims made against Alex Salmond.[7]
