Melina is a professional engineer and climate leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing practical solutions across sectors in British Columbia.

As Executive Director of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC), she has led Canada’s newest Low-Carbon Cities Canada centre from inception to impact, over five years, growing it from one to a team of 30 people, and into an award-winning organization at the heart of BC’s urban climate and clean energy ecosystem.

Melina has both an entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial spirit. She has held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including at the City of Vancouver where she led diverse sustainability initiatives focused on climate mitigation and adaptation, green buildings, renewable energy, transportation, green infrastructure, and the multiple award-winning Rain City Strategy. Melina has diverse experience, including as a licensed residential builder and construction management consultant, an instructor at Simon Fraser University, and a mentor for emerging professionals.

Melina has been recognized as Water Steward of the Year by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association and received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Environmental Sustainability. This past year, ZEIC was named the Clean Tech Supporter of the Year by Foresight Canada and received the Impact in Innovation Award from the City of Vancouver.

A progressive, values-based leader who brings vision, Melina brings care for people and purpose, and a commitment to building collaborative cultures that enable innovation and transformation to protect the environment.



Melina holds a Master of Arts in Leadership and Graduate Certificates in Change Management and Values-Based Leadership from Royal Roads University, and a Civil-Environmental Applied Science degree from the University of British Columbia.