Vanessa Scott was born in Albany, where her dad worked for Western Power. When she was just two, the family moved north to Broome, where Vanessa spent three formative years with her parents and older sister. The beauty of Broome and those early memories stayed with her, even after the family returned south. They spent some time in Jerramungup before settling back in Albany, where lifelong friendships were made and Vanessa’s childhood continued to unfold.
Her mum grew up in Pingrup on the family farm, where Vanessa’s grandmother became a powerful role model. After her grandfather passed away at the young age of 43, her grandmother declared the farm would be hers to run and she did, raising five children along the way. That independent spirit and connection to agriculture shaped Vanessa deeply. With extended family across farming, she grew up surrounded by stories of resilience and hard work, developing a natural affinity for the farming community that would later influence her career.
As a teenager, Vanessa went to school in Albany and worked part-time at Woolworths. She still remembers her shock at her first payslip, where tax took a bigger slice than she expected. “I didn’t sign up for that!” she laughs, a moment that later reinforced her belief in explaining the things people don’t know but need to. That philosophy of “you don’t know what you don’t know” is now something she carries into her work as a Private Wealth Adviser.
At 19, Vanessa moved to Perth for career opportunities and landed her first adult role with a bank. At first, it seemed like a smart choice because it was busy and steady, but she soon realised it wasn’t the money side of finance that appealed to her, it was the people. She enjoyed the relationships, the problem solving, and helping clients find better solutions, like the time she fixed a line of credit that hadn’t been properly closed. From there, she moved into wealth management in client services, and while her sister went to UWA, Vanessa knew university wasn’t for her. Instead, she pursued practical industry qualifications through Kaplan, completing a Diploma and then an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services while working.
Over the years Vanessa took on different roles, stepped back for a time to raise her children, and then returned part-time to client services. Working on Sydney hours allowed flexibility, and the familiarity of the role and team made the transition seamless.
In 2021, Vanessa joined Ord Minnett, an Australian-owned wealth and investment services firm, as an assistant and quickly discovered the Associate Advisers program. The initiative offered a unique opportunity to build her own client base while learning the ins and outs of running a financial advice business. Chosen as one of only seven participants across Australia, she embraced the challenge and hasn’t looked back. What drew her to Ord Minnett was its structure as a national, privately-owned firm with 17 offices across Australia and a head office in Sydney. For Vanessa, that independence means flexibility, genuine client focus, and a strong, supportive culture.
Today, as a Private Wealth Adviser, Vanessa spends her days building and nurturing client relationships. She believes in being transparent, setting clear expectations, and saying no when something isn’t possible. She can often tell in a first meeting whether a client relationship will work, not based on personality but on expectations. For her, an ideal client isn’t about a certain net worth, it’s about building a trusting relationship and valuing her advice.
Vanessa also continues to grow her skills. With the support of an Ord Minnett scholarship, she is working through graduate diploma studies in financial planning and self-managed superannuation. Beyond the office, she loves attending field days like Dowerin and Newdegate, women in farming forums, and industry events such as Beef Week in Rockhampton, which she attended in 2024 and hopes to return to in 2027.
Looking back, Vanessa admits this wasn’t a career she always planned on. Instead, it evolved naturally, guided by her love of people, problem solving, and building trust. She enjoys the challenge of tailoring advice to each individual and the satisfaction of helping clients navigate complex decisions.
Her advice to anyone considering a similar career is clear. Do not be deterred by what others say or do. In this industry, many people do similar work, but every client is different. The key is to be yourself, be authentic, and not be afraid to pursue the path if it is what you want. For Vanessa, it is that authenticity and connection that makes all the difference in her work and in the lives of her clients.