Originally from Devon in the UK, now a proud citizen of New Zealand, Mel recently relocated to Wellington this year, after 17 years in Queenstown, where she was running the youth development program at Wakatipu High School.

Mel studied sport and physical recreation after school, leisure and tourism management at University, and holds qualification and experience in working with young people and children in residential care.

Mel strongly advocates to empower people to best look after themselves and each other. In 2019 she designed and delivered a bespoke preventative wellbeing program (through her business Connect and Care) to hundreds of people within the Wakatipu community, coupled with the facilitation of recognised suicide prevention programming.

Mel is super proud of her teenage son who is striving to play professional football. Her other passions include positive social change, mindful rest, travel, hiking in nature and delicious fresh food. Mel feels privileged to join Wellington Phoenix Academy at such an exciting time of organisational growth and development.