Vanessa Hartsuiker

Vanessa Hartsuiker serves as a Content Creator and Program Evaluation Assistant at Rob and Melanie Walton Sustainability Solutions Service of Urban Nature (formerly Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator), a $5 million USDA Forest Service, Urban Community Forestry award. 

Vanessa is a visual storyteller with a passion for conservation, sustainability, and documentary filmmaking. Originally from South Florida, she has worked on projects across the country, from Boston to Miami, and now calls Phoenix home. Her expertise lies in videography, photography, and digital content creation, with a focus on telling impactful stories that inspire action. She has collaborated with organizations such as the National Parks of Boston, the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps, the NPB Climate Conservation Corps, and the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation to create engaging outreach materials that educate audiences on history, landscape preservation, and stewardship. Whether capturing landscapes, documenting conservation efforts, or crafting compelling visual narratives, Vanessa is dedicated to connecting people with meaningful causes.

In addition to her work in conservation storytelling, she has a background in live production, having worked in sports and news broadcasting as a floor director and camera operator—experience that has strengthened her ability to adapt to fast-paced environments and produce high-quality content. With a commitment to bridging the gap between science and storytelling, Vanessa strives to create narratives that deepen connections between people, history, and the natural world. 

In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city and parks, as well as spending quality time with her dog, Miko.