Melanie is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. She is an indigenous environmental sociologist, passionate about the environment, indigenous rights and the empowerment of communities to manage their own resources. 

Melanie reprised her BioHeritage role as Kaihautū Ngātahi – Co-Director Māori in April 2023, working in partnership with Co-Director, Daniel Patrick, on strategic priorities and building strategic links with Māori and indigenous researchers, groups and entities.

In addition to her BioHeritage mahi, Melanie is the Chief Executive of Te Tira Whakamātaki, also providing governance, direction and support to a number of boards and groups including the Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science Challenge, the Project Crimson Trust, the Collaboration Council at B3 Better Border Biosecurity, Tāpui Aotearoa, and more recently was the former Deputy Secretary – Tūmatakōkiri (Maori Rights and Interest) for the Ministry for the Environment.