Mel oversees The Social Deck’s research, community and stakeholder engagement and evaluation work. She has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW, specialising in Social Impact.

Mel specialises in designing and implementing formal and informal research, consultation or co-design/co-development approaches, innovative behaviour change programs, and evaluation/ impact measurement frameworks.

She is passionate about designing and delivering inclusive and accessible engagement so that: people can contribute in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them; diverse perspectives are considered; and those affected by change are included in the development of strategies, policies and campaigns that affect them.

Mel is a highly experienced facilitator, having led or managed hundreds of workshops, webinars, focus groups, interviews and other types of engagement on various topics and issues. She has recently been the lead designer and facilitator for large consultations on a broad range of issues, including both the National and Queensland Obesity Strategies, Australia’s Disability Strategy, the National Declaration for the Educational Goals of Young Australians, and national conversations on mental health and wellbeing. Melanie also speaks Spanish.