About vanessa clark consulting
Vanessa is of Waikato-Tainui descent, part of the Tainui waka confederation of indigenous Maaori peoples from Aotearoa / New Zealand. She hails from Te Puaha o Waikato (commonly referred to as Port Waikato), situated an hour south of Auckland. Her affiliations to hapuu (sub-tribes) along this lower stretch of the Waikato River include Ngaati Aamaru, Ngaati Tiipa and Ngaati Tahinga.
Established in 2012, Vanessa Clark Consulting leverages Vanessa's 20+ years of global experience predominantly in the information and communication technology sector.
Vanessa, as Principal, has a rich and diverse background having worked in Local Government in New Zealand early in her career, launched a start-up in Hong Kong and London, England and 10+ years in the Corporate IT sector at a large US multinational based in Sydney, Australia and San Jose, USA.
Combining her passions for technology, education and Maaori economic development, Vanessa is able to offer unique insights, experiences and learnings which together, bring an exciting dimension to assisting clientele. Some notable highlights since returning to New Zealand and the Waikato region include:
Across these aspects, working alongside her own people has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of Vanessa's career to date.
In October 2015, Vanessa was appointed to the Māori ICT Development Fund Expert Advisory Group and in December of the same year, appointed to the Board of Te Māngai Pāho. In 2019, Vanessa was reappointed to the Board of Te Māngai Pāho.
Clientele of Vanessa Clark Consulting include start-ups, small to medium businesses, Maaori organisations and public sector agencies.
Established in 2012, Vanessa Clark Consulting leverages Vanessa's 20+ years of global experience predominantly in the information and communication technology sector.
Vanessa, as Principal, has a rich and diverse background having worked in Local Government in New Zealand early in her career, launched a start-up in Hong Kong and London, England and 10+ years in the Corporate IT sector at a large US multinational based in Sydney, Australia and San Jose, USA.
Combining her passions for technology, education and Maaori economic development, Vanessa is able to offer unique insights, experiences and learnings which together, bring an exciting dimension to assisting clientele. Some notable highlights since returning to New Zealand and the Waikato region include:
- Catalysing the Maaori start-up community; initially through SODA Inc. a founder-led incubator, followed by Tū Ake delivered in collaboration with Tū Maia and Waikato-Tainui. More recently she has been involved in Ahikōmako, the Centre of Māori Innovation and Entrepreneurship launched by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2019.
- Opening of Te Kōpuku High, a STEM school catering to students of Maaori descent with a mission to support students to realise their (inherited) greatness.
- A founding member of Te Mana Raraunga, the Māori Data Sovereignty Network, Vanessa is part of Te Pokapu, the working group collective working with and alongside Maaori communities and groups to build awareness and capability in relation to Maaori data
Across these aspects, working alongside her own people has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of Vanessa's career to date.
In October 2015, Vanessa was appointed to the Māori ICT Development Fund Expert Advisory Group and in December of the same year, appointed to the Board of Te Māngai Pāho. In 2019, Vanessa was reappointed to the Board of Te Māngai Pāho.
Clientele of Vanessa Clark Consulting include start-ups, small to medium businesses, Maaori organisations and public sector agencies.