Shaping a stronger safety culture together

At Valmet, safety is a core value that guides our work every day. Our colleague Vanessa Silva, a forestry and occupational safety engineer, has been an important part of strengthening this culture in southern Brazil since joining us a year ago.

Originally from Manaus in Amazonas, Vanessa relocated to southern Brazil to pursue new challenges and continue her career in the forestry sector. Adjusting to a new region, culture and ways of working has helped her grow both professionally and personally. She shares that being part of an organization where safety comes first has been a deeply meaningful experience.

Strengthening a culture where safety comes first

As HSE Coordinator in Rio Grande do Sul, Vanessa plays a central role in supporting our teams at the Portão and Novo Hamburgo sites. She leads the implementation of Valmet’s HSE tools, supports team development, strengthens leadership alignment, and collaborates across functions to ensure consistent and safe work practices.

Vanessa’s work focuses on enabling a strong safety culture: promoting leadership behaviours, building clarity, reducing risks and fostering a supportive, collaborative environment. She highlights the commitment of the local teams and the positive atmosphere that drives daily improvements.

Vanessa celebrating a safety milestone with a couple of her colleagues in Brazil. 

Leading safety with clarity, collaboration and care

Throughout her journey at Valmet, Vanessa has further developed both her technical and leadership skills, including resilience, adaptability and clear, purposeful communication. She values the trust and autonomy given to her in her role and appreciates the respect and support she receives from colleagues across the sites.

For Vanessa, helping ensure that everyone returns home safely is her motivation. She often reflects on how teamwork, openness and daily interactions contribute to this shared commitment. Valmet has also supported Vanessa in achieving a good work–life balance. One of her personal goals was to build a stable life in southern Brazil for herself and her son Pedro. Today, she feels that goal has been reached.

A standout moment in her first year at Valmet was our Family Day event. Seeing colleagues’ families experience the workplace and celebrate safety together made the day particularly memorable. Vanessa describes the event as a reminder of why safety matters and what truly connects us as a team.

Her message for future Valmet colleagues is simple: stay curious, continue learning and embrace new challenges. At Valmet, people who seek growth and want to make an impact will find many opportunities to do so.

Hand care is an essential part of workplace safety.