Melissa Blair is a strategist, consultant, and educator specializing in social change and collective impact initiatives that address systemic challenges through collaboration and innovation. With extensive experience uniting diverse stakeholders across public health, the social sector, and social entrepreneurship, Melissa believes in the power of collective action and evidence-based strategies to drive sustainable change.

As an adjunct professor at Brock University, Melissa teaches and mentors graduate students in health communications, social marketing, and strategic planning. She is passionate about bridging the gap between theory and practice, equipping students to develop impactful solutions in their fields.

Melissa has played a key role in collective impact movements, including the Builders Initiative, which focused on transforming the U.S. food system, and the Ford Foundation’s Global Digital Privacy Rights initiative. Her entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding and scaling a startup from the Australian to the U.S. market and establishing strategic partnerships with high-profile organizations. She has also contributed to systems change initiatives in mental health and well-being through Thrive Okanagan. In addition to her professional work, Melissa mentors social entrepreneurs and women in business, helping scale sustainable, socially impactful business models.

Her research integrates behavioural science and social marketing to enhance strategic approaches to social change. As a DBA candidate, her doctoral work investigates barriers to adopting these methods within public health systems. She aims to create innovative pathways for engaging communities and stakeholders in meaningful, measurable change.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health Sciences from Brock University (2010) and a Master’s in Health and Social Marketing from Middlesex University in London, England (2013).