Ms. Vanessa Burke

Vanessa Burke is a distinguished youth advocate, serving as Dean of the CARICOM 

Youth Ambassadors Corps and CARICOM Youth Ambassador for the Cayman 

Islands. A proud Caymanian and passionate change-maker, Vanessa is known 

regionally for her leadership in championing sustainable development, youth 

empowerment, and digital inclusion across the Caribbean. 

With a background in marketing and communications, Vanessa holds a Bachelor’s 

degree in Marketing from the University of Liverpool and an Associate’s degree in 

Business Hospitality Management from the University College of the Cayman 

Islands. She understands how meaningful online engagement can bridge divides, 

not just in geography, but in opportunity. Her advocacy centers on ensuring young 

people across the Caribbean can harness the digital landscape to lead, learn, and 

drive impactful change. 

Vanessa currently leads key regional initiatives within the CARICOM Youth 

Ambassadors Programme, advocating for digital equity, mental health awareness, 

and youth-centered policy reform. Her work is guided by the belief that access to 

technology and information is not a luxury, but a right. Without it, today’s youth will 

not be fully equipped to seize the day or shape the future.  

As she joins the observance of International Girls in ICT Day, Vanessa brings not 

only a wealth of regional experience but a deeply personal mission: to ensure no 

young person is left behind in the global digital transformation. A firm believer in the 

power of connection, Vanessa remains committed to building a region where every 

Caribbean youth can access, shape, and thrive in the ever-evolving digital world 

around them.