Education:

• Swinburne University, Bachelor of Business (International Economics), Bachelor of Asian Studies (Vietnamese)
• Deakin University, Master of International and Community Development

Languages: English, Vietnamese

Technical areas of expertise: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion. Monitoring and Evaluation. Program Management.

Melissa Collins is DT Global’s Practice Leader for GEDSI (Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion) and M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) based out of DT Global Asia-Pacific. Melissa is a high performing leader with a proven track record for achieving excellent results in complex environments. With more than 20 years’ technical and program management experience, she has managed large and diverse projects for a range of private and public sector clients, both in Australia and internationally. She has an outstanding ability to lead and manage others in a complex service environment, involving multiple stakeholders and remote projects, and has demonstrated a passion for high standards of execution and achievement of committed results.

Melissa is passionate about inclusion and strives to deliver a fairer world for all, where everyone has the same opportunities regardless of their gender, sexuality, ability, or ethnicity. She has extensive strategic and practical experience in GESI and monitoring and evaluation having provided analysis and planning services to several international development and industry clients across the Asia-Pacific region. She has significant experience in measuring and assessing the social impacts of infrastructure and resource projects, and designing stakeholder engagement, community consultation programs and management approaches. Melissa is an expert in the critical application of international good practice and industry standards, including World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), IFC Performance Standards and ADB safeguards Policies.

What was the last really great book you read? Why?

The Happiest Man on Earth. Eddie Jaku’s story is one that needs to be told. A survivor of the holocaust, and a centenarian, Eddie made it his life mission to find the joy in life and made a conscious decision to be happy every, single day.

If you could change something in the world, what would it be?

I dream of a world where all people, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexuality or ability, have the same opportunities and protections. A world where all people are equal and prejudice doesn’t exist.