Education: On-going CPD, Australian Institute of Company Directors BEAT-CKD Patient Engagement in Kidney Research Workshop 2017 Social Design Sydney Intro to Co-Design Masterclass, 2017 Australian Institute of Company Directors Course 2017 Graduate National Coaching Accreditation Scheme Level 1 Jujitsu Assistant Trainer 2011 Manage Mentor Plus, Harvard University 2007 Graduate Diploma Museum Studies, Deakin University 2005 Bachelor of Design (Honours), University of New South Wales, 2004
Languages: English
Achievements:
FoodLab Sydney Guest Presenter/Workshop Facilitator, Sydney, 2019
Lonsdale Institute Guest Speaker, Business Faculty, Sydney, 2019
Newkind Conference Speaker, Hobart, 2019
Profitable Hospitality Podcast and Silver Chef Guest Speaker, 2019
Telstra Women in Business Awards Judge, 2019
KHA-CARI & KDIGO Guidelines Contributor, 2018 - Present
Club Catalina (Golf Club) Board Strategic and Master Planning Facilitator, Batemans Bay, 2018
Club Catalina (Golf Club) Building Master Plan Co-Design Facilitator, Batemans Bay, 2018
Penrith City Council Public Areas and Reception Co-Design Facilitator, Penrith, 2018
Nutrition in Healthcare Symposium Closing Speaker, Sydney, 2017
Fine Food Australia and Commercial Drinks Expo Speaker, Sydney, 2017
Profiled in ‘The Book of Amazing People’, Athena Publishing, 2017
Silver Winner, Sydney Design Awards 2016
Rare Birds Conference Speaker, Sydney, 2016
World Vegan Day Speaker, Melbourne, 2016
Triathlon and Endurance Cycling Expo Speaker, Sydney, 2016
Finalist Hills Building and Design Awards 2016 – Retail
Profiled in ‘IF SHE CAN, I CAN’ Book Publication, Rare Birds, 2016
Profiled in ‘Entrepreneurial Heart’ Book and Podcast Publication 2016
Australian Representative Age Group Sprint Triathlete, World Championships, Chicago 2015
Finalist Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2014
Finalist Hills Building and Design Awards 2013
Finalist Sydney Design Awards 2013
Finalist ASOFIA 2012-2013 – Interior Fitout Awards
The Executive Connection R208 CEO of the Year 2013
Finalist NSW Business Chamber Awards 2012 – Future Business Leader
Finalist Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2012 – Excellence in Professional Services & Excellence in Export
Finalist Telstra Australia Business Awards, HTC Start Up, 2012
Finalist Retail Design Awards 2012
Winner Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2012 – Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year
Shortlisted in Eat-Drink-Design Awards 2012
Shortlisted in Sydney Design Awards 2012
Winner Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2011 – Business of the Year 2011
Winner Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2011 – Excellence In Property
Shortlisted in Anthill Magazine Cool Company Awards 2011 – Micro Business and X-Factor
Shortlisted in IDEA National Retail Design Awards 2011
Anthill Magazine ’30 Under 30’ Young Entrepreneurs Winner 2009 and 2010
Winner Suncorp Western Sydney Awards For Business Excellence 2010 - Customer Service
Mentor in Young Entrepreneurs Stepping Up Program 2010
Winner Suncorp Western Sydney Regional Business Awards 2009 - Highly Commended
Winner Suncorp Parramatta Regional Business Awards 2008 - Chairman's Choice & New Business
Current Company: Forward Thinking Design
Current Position: Managing Director
Experience:
Experience Description: Founder and Managing Director of a leading Certified B Corporation - Forward Thinking Design
Restaurant, retail, health, clubs, NFP and commercial business strategy and built environment design. Board advisory, market research, stakeholder/user experience and engagement, co-design, branding, interior fitout design and construction project management. 2005 - current
Every Seat at the Table (a division of Forward Thinking Design) - Launch and ongoing management of vegan and special dietary requirement menu and hospitality advisory consultancy. 2019 - current
Australasian Kidney Trials Network Scientific Committee - Consumer Advisor on committee that provides scientific leadership to the AKTN by providing evaluation and prioritisation of proposed clinical trials, guidelines, clinician and consumer education. 2019 - Present
B Local Sydney - Diversity and Inclusion Chairperson. B Local Sydney is the committee representing the community of Certified B Corporations in Sydney; using business as a force for good. 2019 - Present
BEAT-CKD - NSW Co-chair of BEAT CKD (Better Evidence and Translation in Chronic Kidney Disease) Consumer Advisory Board. Advising kidney disease researchers on policy, process and priorities for consumer engagement and care. 2018 - Present
PKD Foundation Australia - Ambassador, writer, speaker and advocate working to raise awareness of Polycystic Kidney Disease, and research funding towards education, empowerment, support, treatment and hopefully a cure. NFP. 2015 - current
Lentil As Anything - Non-Executive Director of group of NFP restaurants. Conducted audit report on Melbourne and Sydney premises and operations. Mentor to Sydney restaurant management. 2017 - 2018
Australian Shop and Office Fitting Industry Association NSW - Junior Vice President and Committee Member.
Broad governance of the NSW chapter across strategy, financials, membership, sponsorship, advocacy, promotion and events. 2013 - 2017
Reserve Bank of Australia - Small Business Advisory Board Member and Business Liaison Program Member 2014 - 2018
Contact Preferences:
Contact Telephone
Contact Videoconference
Meet in Person
Other Information:
Vanessa’s inspiring story is one of vision, determination, integrity, hard work and overcoming severe adversity, personal responsibility, discipline, growth, emotional intelligence, balance, compassion and giving. Her successes as an award winning social entrepreneur, brand and built environment strategist and ultra-endurance athlete have privileged her with the credentials and flexibility to now support others. She offers strategic, workplace, management, life and health/wellness mentoring to anyone in governance, business, leadership or influence. Her mentees are those looking to improve their organisational and/or personal performance and well-being in an agile, forward thinking, ethical and sustainable fashion. She brings to them an open mind, listening ear, extensive academic, professional and lived experience (including of trauma) and a willingness to both encourage and challenge. Vanessa is known as a straight talker and is often engaged as a board advisor, conference speaker and tertiary education guest lecturer.
For over 16 years Vanessa has been the Managing Director of Forward Thinking Design (www.forwardthinkingdesign.com.au); a Certified B Corp social enterprise, which she founded.
Forward Thinking Design is one of the most awarded brand strategy, stakeholder experience, fitout design & project management studios in Australia. The firm consults to leadership across restaurants and hospitality, retail, services, workplace, health/fitness, sporting club and community venues. It specifically exists to support fellow organisations with social, ethical and environmental impact values at their core and the business’ profits are retained to finance the provision of pro bono and reduced fee services to charities and social enterprise.
She is the Diversity and Inclusion Chairperson of BLocal Sydney, Australia (B Corporation business community) and an activist for equality, environmental sustainability and improved ethics in business and society. As a sufferer and survivor of serious illness she is an Ambassador for Polycystic Kidney Disease Australia, Member of the AKTN Scientific Committee and Co-Chair of the NSW BEAT-CKD Consumer Advisory Board.
Previously she was the Junior Vice President of the NSW Division of the Australian Shop & Office Fitting Association (ASOFIA), a committee on which she served for many years. She holds a Bachelor of Design (Hons) – UNSW, a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies – Deakin and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors Company Directors Course.
Vanessa holds a Fastest Known Time ultra trail running record and previously represented Australia in triathlon. She has been profiled in several books, national print media, on radio, TV and podcasts. She is a strong promoter of individual and collective empowerment, responsibility, achievement and well-being.
There are no reviews yet.