Based in Ottawa, Canada, Vanessa is a Regulatory Affairs Consultant for Pharmaceutical companies, specialising in rare diseases and entering international markets. Originally from Berkshire, Vanessa has managed to retain her role despite having 8 military moves in 10 years, including Cairo, Egypt and Washington DC, USA with her Parachute Regiment husband Ed and two children aged 6 and 4. 

Living internationally has given Vanessa the opportunity to have a life experience she draws on to remind her of the inequalities people face and need to overcome in every day life, herself being far away from supportive family and having babies in two different countries, and more recently solo parenting whilst her husband was posted to Iraq for 2 years. Supporting Steph on a previous challenge, Vanessa has seen first hand the impact of adventure on mental and physical health for herself and the other team mates around her. 

“I feel we all benefitted from a renewed sense of adventure, experiencing the thrills of the challenge and ultimately becoming confident in our bodies, our needs, being able to work as a team, being a better version of ourselves”. 

Vanessa is looking forward to supporting Steph in Ride to Independence, to inspire others to push their boundaries and gain confidence. 

“Understanding the needs of a team member to succeed, gives us a starting point to fully support that person and fulfil their and our teams dreams together”

“Women are underrepresented in exploration and I would like show my children they can also achieve anything they dream of ,and follow the path women before me have trodden in breaking down barriers to women’s freedoms”