Vanessa Wee has worked at Bunzl Australia & New Zealand since 2010 across a number of roles including as a Business Analyst and a Sales & Commercial Analyst before hitting her stride as a Product Category Manager in Strategic Sourcing & Product Procurement. Currently working across Disposable Food Packaging, she discuses triumphs, challenges and exciting trends she’s seeing in the industry.
Tell us about your career path at Bunzl.
I studied accounting at university and decided to head down that path in the beginning of my career. However, when I came to Bunzl, I was fortunate enough to work for some great leaders who took a chance and gave me opportunities that I might otherwise not have had. All of that is what brought me to my current role as a Product Category Manager.
I work across product sourcing, quality control, product launches, data projects, and with our strategic suppliers and the sales team to find solutions for our customers.
What do you appreciate most about your role?
The team, and all of the behind-the-scenes hard work that it takes to make a product come to life. It’s never a one-person job.
What are some of the most important considerations when it comes to new products?
Quality is obviously key, as it is important that our customers (and their customers) have a safe and positive experience. In addition, we have to balance function and sustainable design considerations.
What’s one of the major highlights of your career?
In 2020, I was managing the medical masks, disposable gloves and PPE categories at Bunzl. In the midst of the severe global shortage caused by the pandemic, I had to fight days, nights and weekends to source, negotiate and deliver essential PPE products to our customers. I had to figure out new ways to maintain quality supply continuity for our existing customers, as well as support the business in supplying some of our largest government healthcare contracts.
I’m not sure if highlight is the right word, as it was such a devastating time for business and people around the world, but it was definitely a moment in my career where I felt I made a real difference for our customers.
Have you noticed any emerging trends in your industry that you’re particularly excited about?
The focus on sustainability in the past few years has been particularly inspiring. Hospitality is an area that is undergoing a huge amount of change and upheaval with things like the national single-use plastic ban and the larger investment we’re now putting into renewable materials.
