Vanessa joined the University Alliance as chief executive officer in March 2019. Vanessa previously was director of commercial and communications at UK Sport, the government’s lead agency for delivering elite sporting success and major sporting event hosting in the UK. Vanessa worked on four Olympic and Paralympic Games including London and Rio, at which Team GB and ParalympicsGB secured a historic second position on their medal tables.
Vanessa was an external trustee and Deputy Chair at the University of Lincoln Students’ Union between 2014 and 2018. She has also held a number of senior strategic communications, campaigns and marketing roles across Whitehall – including at the Department for Education (2000-2005) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2005-2011).