Vanessa is the Managing Director of LanguageLine Solutions and has worked to enable those with language difficulties and disabilities to access public and commercial services for nearly 20 years. Over her career, she has managed to successfully navigate and support the building of a variety of businesses as a working mother.
Born in Cheshire, Vanessa started her career as a new graduate at what is now KPMG, before spending 20 years within the magazine publishing industry, spanning sales, marketing and operational management roles. After leaving the Financial Times Group, she gained experience across numerous industries and territories as Managing Director of Nielsen Media Research and Adex International, finally arriving as Managing Director of LanguageLine Solutions in 2006.
“The privilege of being appointed as Chair of Kids in Museums gives me the opportunity to help support museums to attract and engage the next generation… learning from the events of the past to create a better future.”
Along with an enormous passion for museums, art, music and history, Vanessa brings a wealth of commercial experience to both Kids in Museums and our partners.
Vanessa succeeds outgoing Chair Emmajane Avery, who stepped down after five years of leading the charity at a Board meeting in June 2022. Emmajane, Director of Public Engagement at the National Archives, oversaw the charity during a period of significant change as it became part of the Arts Council England National Portfolio as a Sector Support Organisation, as well as helping us to support the museum sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vanessa said: “The privilege of being appointed as Chair of Kids in Museums gives me the opportunity to help support and enable museums and places of historic interest to attract and engage the next generation from diverse nationwide communities, learning from the events of the past to create a better future.”
Vanessa joins a Board of ten Trustees at Kids in Museums, including two Young Trustees aged 18-25.
Read more about the Kids in Museums Board of Trustees.
Now recruiting!
We are currently looking for up to three Trustees to join the Kids in Museums Board in autumn/ winter 2022. We are inviting applications from people with a demonstrable interest in museums and are particularly interested in meeting people with expertise in Law, Learning, Engagement and Education, Media/ PR, or who are part of the museum sector in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and encourage all who are interested in the work of the Charity to apply including people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, people with disabilities, people from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds and people who identify as LGBTQ+.
