Melvina has an academic background in medical anthropology (BSc, Durham University) and translational epidemiology (PhD, University of Manchester). She has extensive experience in inclusive research and programme management spanning:

• international (WHO, ECDC, UNAIDS, EURO-URHIS2) 

• national (PHE, HQIP, NHS England) research, surveillance and guidance development and implementation and

• local sexual health promotion (CNWL Trust), designing and implementing services to address the needs of racially minoritised communities. 

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Melvina is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at UCL’s Centre for Population Research in Sexual Health and HIV where she is the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) lead on the NIHR-funded SEQUENCE Digital programme. Within this role, she is co-developing a cross-study PPIE initiative alongside the Health Protection Research Unit on Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection. 

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Melvina is also a Trustee on the Board for the Race Equality Foundation where she provides expertise on community and inclusive research and sits on the Management Committee. Further, Melvina has been a Fellow at the RSA - the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce.

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In her spare time, Melvina is an enthusiastic amateur photographer and enjoys interior design, yoga and spending time with her children.