Melanie Parkin

About Me

“I bring a strong background in organisational transformation, governance and design — the kind of work that often starts with a strategy offsite and ends in someone quietly muttering “we should’ve listened to her.” My governance experience spans both volunteer sport and professional contexts: I’ve been Commodore of Worser Bay Boating Club (yes, volunteer and it’s as hands-on as it sounds), a Board member for the Beach and Boat Wise Trust, and served on several national committees of NZ Sailing Class Associations. These roles have taught me how to navigate everything from strategic planning to budget politics, all while wrangling volunteers and making sure no one sets anything on fire (literally or metaphorically). Professionally, I’ve worked across large-scale change programs, digital transformations, and organisational redesign — usually where things are messy, stakes are high, and someone has finally realised the ‘people bit’ can’t be left to chance. I lead quietly, back others publicly, and ask the questions no one else wants to — not to be difficult, just to get to the part where we stop wasting time. Outside of work, I’ve sailed competitively at regional, national and international levels, and I’m moving into coaching and mentoring more and more. I’ve spent years helping young sailors and their occasionally over-invested parents navigate the sport — and believe me, that teaches you more about human dynamics than any textbook ever will. I bring clarity, a low tolerance for fluff, and a calm ability to hold the bigger picture — even when it’s not entirely in focus yet. If you're after someone who’ll nod politely and stay in their lane, I’m probably not it. But if you want thoughtful challenge, strong governance experience, and the ability to connect strategy with what actually happens on the ground — we’ll get along just fine. ”