Vanessa is an experienced commercial strategist with over 15 years’ experience in sales, marketing, business development, and partnerships, in the technology, financial services, media and startup sectors.
Prior to her current role working with multinational CFO’s at Gartner, Vanessa was the 2IC at FinTech Australia, the national industry association supporting and promoting the Australian fintech startup ecosystem. Becoming the go-to-expert on the expansive and growing landscape that is fintech - lending, AI, blockchain, payments, cyber, insurtech, data. During her time at FinTech Australia Vanessa founded Australia’s first FinTech Festival in 2017 - Intersekt - and was subsequently recognised as one of the Top 100 Women in Fintech being only 1 of 2 Australians on the list.
Other passions and achievements include addressing the gender inequality revealed in the FinTech Australia/EY National FinTech Census achieving gender parity on the program despite an industry which is 87% male. The first fintech conference in the world to achieve this. Recognising a need in the market, Vanessa co-founded a fintech specific speakers bureau in 2019 with a goal to promote 50/50 gender speakers to improve female representation in the finance/fintech event space.
Her creative and artistic background has forged a unique ability to take complex and challenging concepts and transform them into understandable content.
Facilitating thought leadership through a passion for generating impact, promoting and developing relationships for inspirational leaders and creative entrepreneurs. Investigating and promoting innovative businesses, delivering incredible experiences, services and ideas through highly researched and targeted content. Orchestrating experiences that are part improvisation, part creative agility, part strategy and part brilliant execution.