Vanessa Thurlwell has 23 years of experience in Risk Management, primarily Enterprise and Operational Risk Management and graduated in 2000 with a BA and Honours in Environmental Management from UKZN.

Vanessa’s specialist skills include advisory and implementation at all phases of the risk management cycle, from analysing risk management maturity and conducting gap analyses against risk frameworks and regulations including King III, ISO 31000, developing risk appetite and risk management frameworks, facilitating risk management activities including risk assessments, reporting, control assessments and conducting training at all levels in an organisation. Vanessa has worked with risk management software systems including CURA, BarnOwl, Risk Worx and Know Risk.

Other areas of risk management in which she is proficient include Business Continuity Management, Environmental Risk Management and Sustainability Risk Management.

Her experience in Knowledge Management also gives her a unique understanding of the need for information management and knowledge sharing to develop capabilities and encourage innovation within an organisation.

Vanessa has worked in many industries including mining, manufacturing, construction, retail, banking and insurance in various Southern African countries, Mauritius and Australia. Significant clients include BHP Billiton, Lonmin, Xstrata Coal, Goldfields, Tiger Brands, The National Prosecuting Authority, Mercantile Bank, Land Bank, Uti, Spar, Bayport Financial Services, Botswana Development Corporation and the National Home Builders Registration Council.

Specialties: – Development of policies, frameworks and guidelines for EWRM and BCM.

– Facilitation of risk management processes and activities.

– Development and facilitation of training.

– Assistance with the implementation of risk management software systems

– Approaching risk management practically and maintaining an appropriate level of complexity for the client.