A Sri Lankan New Zealander, Vanushi’s family moved to New Zealand in 1987. She has a background in law and advocacy and has both national and international experience and has worked in private practice, the public sector and the community sector.

Vanushi has held Governance roles with Amnesty International, Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa and as a Trustee with Foundation North. She has also held senior management roles as the General Manager of YouthLaw Aotearoa and as the manager of the advisory and research team at the Human Rights Commission.

She was elected as the member of Parliament for Upper Harbour in 2020 and has returned as Labour List MP 54th Parliament, siting as the Shadow Attorney General and Spokesperson for Associate Foreign Affairs.