Mel Ballard Email & Phone Number

I'm passionate about community leadership, cultural representation and expression in its many forms. I love playing in the intersections between creative, science, business, and government partnerships, and I have provided creative, collaborative and cross-sector leadership of events, festivals, public art, capacity-building programs for nonprofit organisations and their board members across the state, and science communications in Australia and Norway. Having worked both in and alongside local government, I've got an excellent understanding of the 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. I first took a role in local government knowing that community organisations need to understand the parameters and requirements of working with government, and wanting to learn more. As a Project and Program Manager for government and for-purpose sectors, I'm able to translate my experience into efficient and productive partnerships and outcomes for both parties.I recently worked with the Fairfax Festival artistic Director to secure one of four Victorian 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 for the Fairfax Youth Initiative in 2023. It's always interesting asking for feedback from previous employers. The following skills are the ones my previous employers and clients consistently identify as being my strengths:- Analytical- Relationship building and stakeholder engagement- Reliable - PreciseProfessionally and personally, I am committed to social justice, sustainability and curiosity and when I'm not at work, you'll generally find me butchering a creative project or driving injured animals to the vet.Professional passion: community-engaged initiatives and cross-sector collaborations.