Warrior Woman Foundation

Vanessa Dwyer

Head of Operations
Vanessa has extensive experience in project and event management, particularly in coordinating programs such as the Young Warrior Woman Program. Her responsibilities include mentor and mentee onboarding, event coordination, and managing both internal and external communications. She is also skilled at implementing new procedures to streamline processes, improve productivity, and ensure operational efficiency.
Vanessa is a highly skilled Executive Assistant and administration expert with over 20 years of experience across a range of industries, including not-for-profits and international design firms. She excels in providing top-tier executive and operational support to senior management, directors, and professional staff.
From managing large administrative teams to serving as a dedicated Executive Assistant to CEOs, Vanessa has a proven ability to oversee the day-to-day operations of boutique and not-for-profit organisations. Known for creating organised and calm work environments, she excels at juggling multiple responsibilities while fostering meaningful relationships. Vanessa is driven by a passion for empowering others, with a focus on professionalism, integrity, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity for a bright future.

We provide a safe and welcoming space for young women to share, learn, heal and grow. Each young woman is connected with a mentor as well as a network of diverse community-minded women who provide ongoing support and share their life experiences, resources and opportunities:

  • Connection to a safe, stable, and socially inclusive network of female role models to turn to for advice and ongoing support for the duration of the six-month program.
  • Connection to a non-judgmental group of young women who are facing similar challenges.
  • Connection to Kindred Warrior Peers, young women who have experienced challenges in life and have gone on to achieve life success.
  • Weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions with a safe mentor.

We teach young women the life skills they need to succeed in everyday life. Our “teach a young woman to fish” approach gives them support and guidance at every step, knowing that true empowerment comes from them learning to do things for themselves. In particular, we focus on financial literacy and job readiness:

  • Life-skills workshops to build self-reliance.
  • A six-week Financial Literacy program (in partnership with MoneyGirl).
  • A four-week Job Readiness program.
  • Assistance in gaining and retaining meaningful employment.
  • Access to a range of vocational skills scholarships (e.g., Code Like a Girl) and internships.

Many young women experience trauma which negatively impacts their confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. We support and nurture the trauma healing process in safe psycho-educational workshops facilitated by experts. In these sessions, young women learn to engage with self-compassion, and to soften and contain threat-based emotions, such as fear and anxiety, anger, shame and self-criticism.