Ensures organizational efficiencies, integrity, resilience and support that enable the organization to deliver on our mission to empower stakeholders to improve workplace conditions; Innovating and implementing best practices in managing non-profit organizations including enabling a dynamic and agile teams and building a strategic human resource framework to ensure that we are taking care of our people.

Co-leads the raw commodities program, with extensive research, auditing, training and consulting experience in various industries including palm oil and seafood; Designs social sustainability strategies and programs including building and implementing human rights due diligence/ labor management systems for companies; Designs research projects on critical and emerging labor issues in Southeast Asia; Capacitates and mobilizes key stakeholder groups to contribute to worker empowerment/ transformative justice.

Chairs the Board of Trustees since 2018, and works with the Board and senior management team to ensure good governance and organizational sustainability and impact

Melizel is one of the co-founders of the Southeast Asian Human Rights Studies Network (SEAHRN), which was established in 2009. SEAHRN is a network of academics and scholars teaching and researching on human rights and peace issues in Southeast Asia. It has a membership of 17 academic institutions from 6 Southeast Asian countries.

Provided strategic leadership and guidance to the Program Management Team; ensured implementation of a management system that included robust operational protocols, streamlined financial system, risk assessment mechanism and review process.

Supervised and implemented human rights research projects, particularly in the areas of environment, indigenous peoples, gender, legal empowerment and access to justice. Represented the Institute in its network engagements in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The Institute is part of the University of the Philippines Law Complex.

Conducted research on Philippine migration policy and its impact on Filipino women migrant workers. Drafted the inquiry on migration to be filed with the UN CEDAW.

Worked on the issues of indigenous peoples’ rights and environment (mining, forestry, water and energy). Served as counsel on record in at least 10 policy-determining cases. Worked with at least 25 indigenous and rural poor communities in Luzon and Mindanao.