Professor Vanessa Hayes is a genomicist and pioneer in mapping human genetic diversity and tumour genome complexities. She attracted global attention when she reported the first public sourced, African and indigenous genomes. Engaging with underserved populations, she has expanded the repertoire of known genetic variation, while championing the inclusion of non-Caucasians in the genome revolution. She pioneered new approaches to discovering the ancient origins of modern disease, generated the first disease-related whole genome data for Africa, while leading the charge to reduce global prostate cancer health disparities. Through tumour genomic interrogation she has identified an unknown environmental contribution to aggressive disease.