Vanessa is a freelance charity consultant and an accredited social enterprise business adviser.

She currently supports hundreds of small charities through the Clarion Housing Community Catalyst programme. She was formerly CEO of Cockpit Arts and was responsible for the transformation of the charity from solely a workspace centre to a self-sufficient social enterprise and creative business incubator model for craftspeople that is unique in the sector. Previous roles were with Contemporary Applied Arts, the Royal Society of Arts and the Design Museum.

She is inspired to become involved with Lighthaus Arts CIC, experiencing it as a best practice example of an artist-led community working with and for the local community.