Vanessa Lueck is a researcher-in-residence on the Living with Water project at the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, hosted and led at the University of Victoria. PICS is a four-university, user-engaged institute including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and University of Northern British Columbia. Her research and work include justice and equity, sustainable coastal adaptation, adaptation governance and innovative solutions.

In the Living with Water project, Lueck is focusing on the role of Indigenous knowledge and values, nature-based solutions, and innovative governance solutions to drive local sustainable coastal climate adaptation processes. She has been active in governance and sustainability at all scales, and holds a PhD in sustainability from the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University, a Juris Doctor degree from University of Minnesota Law School, and a BA in political science from the University of Chicago.