I am a researcher, evaluator, and consultant for the arts and cultural sector, working both freelance and as an associate of the Foundation for Social Improvement, Institute for Voluntary Action Research, and Sound Connections.

Melissa did an incredible job for us. She delivered impactful research which will be highly valuable to any arts organisation, funder, or policy-maker trying to improve their support for artists. Communication throughout was excellent, and Melissa worked flexibly with us as the project became more ambitious. Above all, her care for the artists who contributed to this research shone through in the reports, striking exactly the right note for our audiences.

Jon Opie, Deputy Director, Jerwood Arts

Melissa is a wonderful, caring and supportive evaluation expert who throughout the last few years of challenges with Covid-10 kept us grounded and focussed on what we were here to achieve: the impact we were making on the lives of young people nationwide. Her ability to negotiate complex topics, communicating them in a clear, digestible and inclusive format enabled all of our team to join the journey of evaluating our work with her expert guidance. Following working with Melissa as our consultant, we all feel more confident to take ownership in our evaluation work.

Nick Thorne, Executive Director, Orchestras for All

Melissa is an expert consultant and researcher. She anticipated my organisation’s needs, and the final report exceeded expectations. Melissa is detail-oriented, articulate, and enthusiastic. She was eager to collaborate and asked the tough questions in order to produce high-quality research. I would happily work with Melissa again as a consultant.

Kate Cornell, Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly

Melissa has been a thorough and professional evaluator working alongside our team to provide evidence and resources for on-going use that will enable the Institute of Imagination to explore the impact of creativity on children’s learning.

Tom Doust, Director of Experience and Learning, Institute of Imagination

Melissa’s attention to detail, analytical approach, and thirst for evidence-based decision-making are second to none. She has the innate ability to analyse and digest complex information, summarise it succinctly, and communicate it effectively, whether to stakeholders or colleagues.

Matt Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, National Foundation for Youth Music