Melanie has qualifications in Law, Social Work, International Development, Arts and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She was Mayor and a Councillor of the St Kilda Councillor in her 20s. Since then Melanie has served on a wide range of Boards including Star Health; Hanover Welfare; Prahran Mission; the Epilepsy Foundation; Hepatitis Australia; and Alfred Health for nine years. She was the inaugural chair of both Respect Victoria and the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria. In addition to still chairing the latter, she is a Director of the St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, a Trust Member of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Trustee of the John F Marriott Trust for HIV and now a Board Member at First Step.
She is the former Chief Executive Officer of Hepatitis Victoria/LiverWELL – the peak organisation providing advocacy, awareness raising, education and support in relation to liver disease. Other professional work has spanned the public sector (city strategic planning, social policy, women’s policy, law reform and equal opportunity); the private sector (as solicitor); and the union movement.
She has undertaken volunteer assignments in Timor Leste, Cambodia, Zambia and the Amazon.
