Exactly, I was rather curious about this myself, but this was supposed to be a work related event, just light hearted professional conversation, so I couldn't ask detailed questions about her personal affairs.
To me, she was rather un-Russian in her looks and behaviour. Everything about her was like a Turkish or maybe Middle Eastern person. Her name was not typically Russian either (could be wrong about this though). Perhaps she is originally from the Caucasus area and that is what she bases her opinions about Russia on. But she said her mother lived in St Petersburg. Oh well... I'll probably run into her again sometime so then I can find out.