Melinda McDonald is an experienced communications specialist, researcher, and qualified operational firefighter with Fire & Rescue NSW. Having transitioned from a corporate career, Melinda has dedicated the past six years to firefighting - combining her expertise in communications and her passion for community safety to make a lasting impact.

Melinda’s primary focus is on community risk reduction in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia. She emphasises the importance of prevention as the first line of defence in reducing fire-related injuries and fatalities. Melinda believes curiosity, collaboration, and relentless optimism are key to equipping emergency responders with greater cultural competence, and empowering communities to actively participate in risk reduction program design. She has shared this work with international audiences at the Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference at the Gold Coast, Australia, and at the International Communications Conference in Toronto, Canada.

In 2023, Melinda received a Churchill Fellowship to study co-designed fire and emergency risk reduction programs for culturally diverse communities worldwide, which she will commence in May 2024. She currently serves as Vice President of Women and Firefighting Australasia, where she actively contributes to the advancement of women in fire services.