30 January 2025
Australia Day
Known for her people-focused leadership, Warrant Officer Vanessa Schneider was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division for her work on the Warrant Officer Employment Continuum, creating a fairer career progression system for Royal Australian Air Force warrant officers.
Hailing from Wanneroo, Western Australia, she grew up near RAAF Base Pearce, where watching Hercules and 707 aircraft fly overhead sparked the beginnings of her 30-plus-year career.
Before the introduction of the Warrant Officer Employment Continuum, career progression for warrant officers lacked structure and fairness, often relying on commanders’ nominations, which risked overlooking less visible but deserving candidates.
“If you were in a joint space, CASG (Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group), or overseas, you might not have been seen, so the continuum made selection fairer,” Warrant Officer Schneider said.
This allows warrant officers to grow beyond their technical or trade roles into leadership and strategic positions through a formalised board system.
'Leadership requires listening – listening to hear, to understand, not listening just to talk.'
The continuum was already two to three years under way before Warrant Officer Schneider joined the project, but it was her further development of it – through planning and focus groups – that earned her the award.
She was also recognised for her years of supporting aviators, whether through leadership, career management, mentorship, or simply being there to listen.
“Leadership requires listening – listening to hear, to understand, not listening just to talk,” Warrant Officer Schneider said.
During her deployment to Qatar in 2013, she was given a hat embroidered with ‘Camp Counsellor’ as a token of appreciation for being the go-to person for anyone needing support.
“It’s things like that which keep me coming back,” Warrant Officer Schneider said.
She keeps the hat on her office wall.
Warrant Officer Schneider emphasised that everything she does is within the context of a team, as nothing is accomplished in isolation.
“I’ve spent 33 years of my career focused on recognising others, making sure they understand their worth and value, so when it comes to you, it can be difficult to accept,” she said.
