HR was re-introduced into Auckland after being centralized in Wellington for approximately 10 years. For it to be successful and for HR to become a trusted partner in the Auckland business, Vanessa's priority was to draw on her strong relationship skills to build trust and credibility quickly. She involved herself in the business, understood the roles and the environment in which we operate in. Vanessa worked closely and constructively with team leaders, managers and senior managers to understand people issues, opportunities for change and development of people. The role drew on her extensive operational HR skills, exceptional communication skills and strong influencing ability in order to get to the right outcome for the situation. She built and maintained strong relationships at all levels of the organisation, providing advice and coaching on all HR matters and was able to bring people along with her. Vanessa was a safe pair of hands for our people leaders and their business.Vanessa represented People & Capability at operational management meetings, communicating information into and from the business.

Vanessa was required to work closely with managers/leaders get involved in their ‘people strategy’ an understand the HR impacts. Vanessa used her extensive relationship and influencing skills to manage expectations around the role of People & Capability and the role of the manager.Vanessa became involved in working with managers on developing their talent, She worked closely to help managers to identify future ‘Stars’, leaders and technical champions by working with them on their Capability Maps and identifying opportunities for them to grow their people. She helped managers/leaders to get a sound understanding of their people’s skills, strengths, weaknesses and development opportunities. This included identifying disengaged and poor performing staff and putting strategies in place to deal with them.

Vanessa built her HR career with DML, commencing in 2002 as HR Administrator. Vanessa's technical and operational proficiency developed quickly and her natural and approachable style earned the respect and credibility of managers and the Board of Management, staff and unions,In 2006, DML was forced into a major restructure, seeing the business downsize from 755 staff to 175. Vanessa played a key role in this process, including the consultation, redeployment and redundancy processes, briefing and supporting managers, outplacement support, staff communication and documentation.As a Senior HR Advisor, Vanessa played a lead role in union negotiations, remuneration, performance management and development and policy development and implementation. She utilised her knowledge, providing advice on a wide variety of complex issues in the IR/ER area. Her advice was always spot on and she always kept the company safe. Managers looked to her for coaching and guidance and represented HR to the Board of Managers..