Vanessa has been the Project Officer at the ANU Philippines Institute since 2024. Prior to this, she worked as a Program Officer at the Development Policy Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy. She also previously worked at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as a Coordinator, supporting government projects in the defence and national security space.

In December 2025, Vanessa graduated with a Master of National Security Policy with Commendation, achieving the best overall aggregate results in her cohort. She also holds a Bachelor of International Relations and a Bachelor of Commerce (International Business) from the Australian National University.