Melissa joined Anxiety NZ Trust in 2020 as the fundraiser. This year she has taken on the role of Programme Manager, as part of this she manages projects that help improve our organisation's funding, communications and community education work. She has worked in the non-profit sector for most of her career, and in fundraising and communications for more than 10 years. 

She is a passionate advocate for those with invisible illnesses and has written three books, is a trained yoga and meditation teacher, and regularly shares workshops on managing chronic pain and fatigue. She is particularly interested in using yoga and meditation for stress reduction and wellbeing. She is passionate about using her skills to create awareness and understanding for invisible conditions.