Melissa Dring Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Working with a number of organisations to provide policy, campaigns and advocacy leadership, project management and communications advice, in areas including counter-fraud, consumer protection, agriculture and environmental policy.

Working on a range of policy projects including leading for CTSI on the review of trading standards and consumer protection in Scotland and supporting heads of service in their response to the National Audit Office report on the consumer protection landscape.

Responsible for the strategic direction of the Institute's policy work which ensures that the voice of the trading standards profession is heard at a national level. I work with TSI's Council of Members, Board and lead officers to produce an evidence based policy framework and respond to emerging legislative and political changes. This role involves regular meetings with key stakeholders from central and local government, consumer groups and businesses to inform and influence their thinking on consumer protection issues.

Responsible for parliamentary lobbying and campaigns including the All Party Parliamentary Group for Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (APPG CATS) and negotiating changes to draft legislation such as the Consumer Rights Bill. Major achievements include the organisation and publication of the Trading Standards Workforce Survey 2014, designing and commissioning research into the impact of trading standards from the University of Birmingham, and support to trading standards services threatened with unsustainable cuts.

Running the National Trading Standards Conversation for the Trading Standards Institute, engaging with stakeholders through individual meetings, debates and consultations to gather views on the future of the trading standards profession.

Eight months working in the Shore Excursions Department of the cruise liner MV Aegean Odyssey as the ship made its first tour of Asia. My role involved administrative and organisational duties in the office, and working with local guides to coordinate excursions and ensure the safety of passengers while ashore.

Commissioned to assist in editing Dr Hoffmann's book on American political strategist Fritz Kraemer, published in October 2012. I was responsible for editing style and content to ensure new chapters translated from German would be easily understood by a large international English-speaking audience.

Two month summer internship with WSN, a non-partisan foreign affairs network. Proofreading and editing articles written by international authors for publication on the website. Networking through email correspondence in order to update and enlarge the email database of over 300,000 contacts for the weekly newsletter.

Master'S Degree, Violence, Conflict And Development

B.A. Hons, History, Class I

Education record