Hi, I’m Melissa. I joined Cumberland Lodge in 2023 and I’m responsible for managing the charity’s programme development and implementation.
I have over two decades’ experience leading major programmes and international research projects in the UK, Europe, and Asia, focusing on how we manage cultural change, social conflict, diversity, and inequality. Previously I held academic posts at Birkbeck, University of London, the Open University, and Trinity College, Dublin, in addition to experience in the media, youth work, development education, intercultural consultancy and diversity training. I enjoy collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including youth organisations, artists, NGOs, and the corporate sector, to create education programmes that support social cohesion, conflict reduction, and understanding processes of change.
When not in the office, I can be found jogging around the Park or taking part in various community activities in east London.