Melanie is an accomplished HR leader and coach with many years of experience leading on significant programmes of change and people strategy in both the private and public sector.

With many years of organisational HR experience, including Board level experience within Private Equity and Public and Charity sectors, Melanie joined the national team at NHS England and Improvement as one of the founding authors of the NHS People Plan. She "got the bug" for health some 6 years ago and has worked in both the community and acute setting alongside the Department of Health and National Regulator.  

Melanie began her career in retail working for some of the best known brands on the high street including The John Lewis Partnership , Sainsbury's and Boots. She has continued both her formal academic studies and professional development and has a particular interest in the value and impact of team coaching. In joining the Trust Melanie expressed her wish to support all staff to be the best they could be, by helping create the kind of environment where everyone can thrive and in doing so, provide the best possible care to the community we serve.   

Within SFT's executive team, she is the responsible leader for our Operational HR Services, Resourcing, Organisation design and Development, Education and Communication strategies alongside our Health and Safety and Occupational Health services. Outside of work she has a very understanding husband, two adult children who keep returning from university and always with their washing!  Swimming at our Odstock health and fitness centre, yoga and rowing.