A creative event specialist with over 25 years experience in creating amazing festivals, theatrical spectaculars, and community celebrations. Expert in the development of creative programmes, event strategy, placemaking, and negotiating with stakeholders at all levels to produce incredible events and experiences. Highly skilled at budget management, partnership working, inclusive practice and community engagement.I have:⭐ Produced over 200 events with audiences up to 100,000⭐ Founded and developed Continental Drifts Ltd www.continentaldrifts.co.uk⭐ Created and managed LolliBop Festival⭐ Programmed hundreds of shows and festivals⭐ Secured licenses for events including We Are FSTVL and ON Blackheath.⭐ Trained young people to become great event producers⭐ Secured and maintained NPO status for Continental Drifts Ltd for 14 yearsLovely things they said."Mel's knowledge of the arts sector coupled with her hands-on approach made her an ideal choice for one of the five Producers responsible for delivering the Mayor of London's Showtime programme. Music, dance and theatre were woven together in an elaborate spectacle that visited every London Borough. Mel's patience, technical competency, clarity of mind, communication skills and her ability to solve anything thrown at her were key to the project's success. Moreover Mel cares; about people and the projects she works on and I would highly recommend her." Will Glendinning, Allium'We just wanted to say a massive thank you for the last few months and over the weekend. It’s been such a pleasure to be working with you on this new festival. It was such a wonderfully positive team to be working alongside'. Lara Mistry- Great Exhibition Rd Festival'I wanted to thank you and your team for some brilliant work to set up and run our staff event. The whole thing was perfectly organised and seamless –the planning, ticketing, design, food trucks, rides, layout of the field and the actual support and communication and responsiveness of you and your team. ' Meera Nair- NHS Staff thank-you event‘Thank you for all your hard work in making the South Bank Festival the success it undoubtedly was’Chris Lycett- BBC Special Events (Music Live)‘Thank-you so much for all your hard work. It was a pleasure to work with you and the huge success of the event was largely down to your excellent management’.Simon Mills, Producer, David Blaine, ‘Above the Below’.“The work Mel and the Continental Drifts team carried out on our license application was nothing short of exceptional. " Nikki Gordon, We are FSTVL.