Melanie Ashton

Melanie Ashton coordinates the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in SIDS (ISLANDS), Coordination, Communication and Knowledge Management project. She also serves as the Private Sector Engagement Specialist for GEF ISLANDS, leading engagement activities with the shipping and cruise sectors on behalf of the ISLANDS Programme.

Prior to this role, Melanie was a member of the UNEP-GEF Chemicals and Waste, in UNEP’s Economy Division. In this role Melanie coordinated the development of the ISLANDS Programme. She has developed chemicals and waste projects for GEF, the French Government (l’AFD), the Australian Government, and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. Melanie also led the Australian government funded landmark Persistent Organic Pollutants in Pacific Island Countries project, which involved the inventory, collection, and clean of legacy POPs waste from 13 Pacific countries. She is the author of various papers and book chapters on chemicals and waste issues relating to the Stockholm Convention.

Melanie holds a Masters in Environment and Development Economics, from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar. She also holds a First Class Honours Degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Melbourne.