Melissa is a results-driven policy, advocacy and communications professional with a deep commitment to solving health and development issues. She has more than twenty years of experience building partnerships and developing strategies to influence stakeholders and motivate action at global, regional and local levels.
Melissa currently leads an advocacy and communications team spanning four countries for VillageReach, an organization that works with governments to solve health care delivery challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, Melissa worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in global policy and advocacy, focusing on nutrition, MNCH, immunization and other global health issues. She led advocacy for polio eradication, developing partnerships with organizations as diverse as FC Barcelona and Rotary International to drive political will and $4.5B funding to end the disease. Earlier in her career, Melissa served in government relations, marketing, and communications for organizations including Amgen and Microsoft.
Melissa lives in Seattle with her family, and is the proud mom of two strong girls who want to change the world.
Central and Southern Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa, Europe, North America, West and Central Africa
