As CEO, Melanie leads Luminate's team to implement the organisation’s strategy. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the role, with a career focused on advancing the rights and well-being of people around the world.

Melanie has been with Luminate for five years leading the organisation’s work in Asia and most recently implementing a global strategy review. She was previously Vice President of the Chandler Foundation, where she played a pivotal role in launching the organisation, designing its grant-making strategy, identifying high-impact development grantees, and leading strategic engagements with other funders and partners. Prior to this, Melanie was Vice President at the Clermont Group, managing corporate communications for the multibillion-dollar investment firm dedicated to building companies that harness the goodness of business to create a better world. 

Earlier in her career, she launched and led the CleanWater Foundation, a safe water micro-franchise serving rural communities in Bangladesh. She also worked in external affairs at the World Bank and served as the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women.