Vanessa has worked in UK research management and administration for 25 years across different UK universities and funders. She is currently the Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Sussex, however from April is due to become the Director of Research and Innovation Services at Cardiff University. Previously, Vanessa has been Director of Research at The British Academy, Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Essex, and immediately prior an Associate Director at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). She has also worked at the University of Bath, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and in the Arts and Humanities Research Board when it was being established.