Founder

Melissa has founded, cofounded, and served as a director and board advisor to now many pioneering projects, companies, and other initiatives throughout her career. Having worked with groundbreaking start-ups since her late teens, and founded her first business on graduation from her first degree, her experience of taking original ideas from concept to market is extensive. Focused on utilising recent and still emerging science, technology, engineering, design, practice, and thinking, she is highly adept at migrating discoveries and developments in one field to another, and at working in a transdisciplinary context. Her experience encompasses working with B2B, B2C, and hybrid markets, both national and global, and with teams both centralised and distributed, and at multiple scales.

Her past board activities include serving as head of business development, as client relations director, as marketing and media director, and as founder/C-Level advisor to several first-in-kind start-up companies in sectors including digital, design, events, publishing, and philanthropy, among others.

Past companies, projects, and other initiatives of which she was founder include the multi award-winning sustainability think tank, collaborative laboratory, and consultancy Societás [2004-2010]; award-winning catalyst for rapid innovation in sustainable design, New Frontiers [2008 - 2010]; and the world’s first online visual arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004 - 2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards for emerging talent in the fashion arts [2007 - 2010]. Companies, projects, and other initiatives of which she is currently founding director include Biofuturism consultancy Bioratorium® and its lab Labioratorium® [Est. 2019]; transdisciplinary research and publishing project Panarchic Codex® [Est. 2018]; and award-winning bio-innovation for the built environment lab Bionic City® [Est. 2010].

In addition to her executive experience, Melissa has served as a non-executive director, committee member, and advisor to several high profile charitable organisations and events, including Head of Sponsorship and Aftershow Party Production to the first ever rock concert held at the Royal Opera House [2002]; Head of Sponsorship for Zandra Rhodes ‘My Favourite Dress Ball’ held at the Hurlingham Club [2005]; Head of Sponsorship, PR & Artist Liaison for The Big Issue’s 15th Anniversary Concert, London [2006]; Head of PR, Sponsorship, Brand Affiliations & Fashion Show Production for the ICAP/Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Annual Fundraising Dinner and Temperley London Show, New York [2007]; among others. Further to this, she spent several years developing a fair-trade music label concept with the late music producer, Steve Brown [2004-2010].

Melissa is known for delivering informed, incisive, and honest advise; for setting high conceptual, production, sustainability, and ethical standards; working with world-class experts, organisations, and ideas; and for be discerning in her choice of clients, collaborators, and crew. Peer recognition of the value of her work and work ethics include several national and international innovation, creativity, and enterprise awards and honours [see below]. Find out more in her biography here and her resume here.

Expertise

As a director Melissa is experienced in handling multiple facets of company operations, including research, business development, client and supplier management, staff recruiting and development, administration, due diligence and reporting. In addition to her hands-on experience of handling executive board issues, her qualifications include a postgraduate qualification with commendation in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, for which her specialisms were intellectual property law, business administration, start-up and SME finance and accounting, branding, marketing, and communications.

Skills

Board-level advisor specialising in strategic foresight; concept origination, research, development, and due diligence; market creation and scaling; catalysing sustainable innovation and environmental, social, and governance leadership.

Awards

Listed in the Libertine 100 women with complex, beautiful & potentially world-changing ideas, 2015

Listed in the 40 Women to Watch Over 40, 2014

Winner, Best Innovation-led British Start-up/Initiative, for New Frontiers, Great Exhibition 2012 Awards, 2010

Winner, International Award for Benefit to Society, Mensa Education and Research Foundation, 2010

Special Recognition Award for Exceptional Creativity, British Female Inventor & Innovators Network, 2009

Special Recognition Award for Capacity Building in the Innovation Sector, BFIIN, 2009

Finalist, Global Organisation Award, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network, 2009

Inductee, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Hall of Fame, GWIIN, 2009

Winner, Enterprising Business Award, WestFocus Awards, 2009

Finalist, Everywoman Network Awards, 2009

Listed in Future 100: Top 100 Next Generation Entrepreneurs, Global Entrepreneurship Week, 2008