The primary threads that run through Melde Founder Michelle Macaskill's career are her commitment to listening well, conceptualising and communicating opportunities that create value for everyone at the table, and following through with action.
Melde has been managing projects and partnerships, and delivering impact and business strategic advice, as well as practical support, to purpose driven organisations since 2015.
Following four years as its most successful consultant Michelle was appointed Chief Executive Officer at Huber Social in January 2024. Huber Social is a social impact measurement and management consultancy working across the private and social sectors in more than ten countries, with team across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The organisation operates as a social enterprise, and is committed to scientific, cultural, and ethical integrity.
Michelle is also a Strategic Advisor at Kīnga VoxPop Limited, an innovate voice-first digital platform for safe digital communities and moderated community engagement.
• Experienced at delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects, both conceptualising and leading the delivery, including the management of relationships and stakeholders at all levels.
• Regular invited speaker at community, philanthropy and governance conferences and events across Australasia, both virtually and in person.
• Proven ability to create, communicate and close on opportunities that deliver mutual value through building trusted relationships and delivering value for all parties.
Key Engagements
Huber Social, Chief Executive Officer, 2024–present
· Lead strategic and organisational planning for a remote, cross-cultural team across Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia, growing the organisation's people and delivery capability and overseeing wellbeing measurement systems and performance reporting for clients - upholding cultural safety and scientific rigour in every engagement.
· Lead business development and sales across Aotearoa New Zealand and for major east coast Australian clients, applying systems within unique client contexts to deliver value, and managing multi-stakeholder engagements to balance competing needs.
· Regular speaker and presenter at community, philanthropy, and governance conferences across Australasia speaking on several topics including the importance of embedding lived experience into decision-making. Experienced at communicating value (monetary and non-monetary) and technical findings in plain language.
· Active leadership across major projects including Creating Impact, a project that brought together the community engaged arts sector, funders, and experts from across Australia to co-design and implement a shared impact framework, and for an organisation with 200+ employees working across homelessness, mental health, family, financial, and community support, where I conceptualised, sold in, and led the team to develop and embed an organisation wide impact framework for. The Framework and tools needed to be flexible and robust, with buy-in across the organisation - at all levels - prioritised.
Wellbeing Waikato, Contracted Projects, 2022–2025
· Designed and sold in the concept, and then led the team that delivered, the Hauraki Opportunity, a collaborative wellbeing measurement system co-designed and co-constructed with local government, health, and community organisations across the Hauraki rohe This project captured lived-experience data from 878 community members, representing 200+ hours of direct community input, through a repeatable measurement system built from the flaxroots up.
· Designed, costed, and pitched Te Kikokiko o te Whakaaro, a knowledge, insight and information initiative that later became Te Ara Poutama, a Wellbeing Waikato pillar.
Social Impact Measurement, Consultant, 2019–2025
• Delivered social impact measurement projects and advisory as an independent accredited consultant for both national and local organisations including Creative Waikato, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, CELF, Mahi Mahinare Anglican Action, YWCA Waikato, Epilepsy New Zealand, Humanly, and Momentum Waikato.
• Supported organisations with impact strategy and to evidence the holistic priorities, needs, and aspirations of their communities, applying a strengths-based, culturally safe approach to measurement and community engagement, underpinned by a commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Hamilton Arts Festival, Partnership Manager, 2015 – 2017
• Designed a robust and repeatable sponsorship structure, then negotiated, secured and delivered sponsorship packages that delivered value for all parties. Built and maintained relationships with key stakeholders and major event partners that increased cash sponsorship from philanthropic and business partners by 153% for the 2017 festival.
Email
michelle.macaskill@melde.co.nz
Phone
021 687 015
Office
Kirikiriroa | Hamilton
Aotearoa New Zealand
