Intro

Women With Impact is a storytelling series by Fleur Collective celebrating women whose experience, courage and perspective inspire others.

Through thoughtful conversations, we explore the lessons, insights and personal growth that come with time — and the many ways women continue to shape their lives, communities and industries.

We sat down with Melissa to talk about purpose, resilience, and the moments that have stayed with her.

Melissa's Work

Some careers follow a straight line. Melissa's has followed a calling. After 11 years in the United Arab Emirates as Executive Assistant to the Australian Ambassador, she returned home and, in 2011, joined the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation — where she has spent more than a decade as Foundation Manager, quietly powering the daily operations behind one of Australia's most important missions: finding a cure for paralysis.

The Foundation was born from the story of Perry Cross, who broke his neck playing rugby union in 1994 and is now a C2 ventilated quadriplegic, requiring 24/7 care. Perry has dedicated his life to curing paralysis — and Melissa has dedicated hers to making that vision possible, building the relationships, partnerships and research connections that bring a cure closer every day.

Q&A

1. Your path to the Foundation is an interesting one — 11 years in the United Arab Emirates as Executive Assistant to the Australian Ambassador, then joining the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation in 2011. What drew you to this work, and was there a moment you knew it was where you wanted to dedicate yourself?

When I returned from overseas, I had three young children and was very busy juggling the move, looking for a forever home and settling back into Australian life. I was looking for a part-time role that would allow me to still be a mum and I also wanted to find a job with meaning and purpose. As soon as I met Perry, I knew this was the role for me. The position had flexible hours that could fit in with family life and was more focused on events when I started, which I had a lot of experience with. As soon as I hosted the first Golf Day and saw the community around Perry, I knew I had made the best decision. 

2. A large part of your role involves building meaningful relationships with donors, researchers and the SCI community. Is there a moment with a family, donor, researcher or patient that has stayed with you?

To be honest, there really isn’t one moment or person. What makes the role and the Foundation so special is our community. Perry at the forefront, the people I have met living with paralysis,  their families and their care team, the researchers at Griffith University who are incredibly passionate, and the Making Strides family continue to inspire me every day. Our office is based at Making Strides, and as I walk down those steps from the storage room upstairs and look out onto the floor and look at the determination of people living with spinal cord injuries pushing so hard with their rehabilitation, day in, day out, it makes me so grateful for the work we are doing in trying to find a cure. 

3. After more than a decade running the daily operations of the Foundation, what would surprise people most about what it actually takes behind the scenes?

As a small but mighty team, I think people might be surprised at how many hats we all wear; we are constantly moving from one task or project to another, but it is a lot of fun!  But from another perspective, I don’t think people realise the amount of work and commitment Perry has day in and day out, just to get up out of bed each day and continually push for a cure for paralysis for everyone, despite his physical challenges. Recently we filmed a behind the scenes video, a day in the life of Perry, which we showed at our Gala Dinner earlier this year, even his friends since high school came up to me afterwards and said I really had no idea what goes on beyond the scenes, we see Perry out and about in his chair, but just to get ready for the day is a monumental task!

Melissa (in beige dress), Perry (middle), and part of the extensive team 

4. Working in the spinal cord injury and research space requires resilience and hope in equal measure. What keeps you motivated on the difficult days — and how has working alongside Perry and this community changed you personally?

I am so incredibly grateful for everything! I am grateful I have a body that can move and feel; I am grateful I can scratch an itch and feed myself. I am grateful I can go on a walk, be alone whenever I like, feel sand in my toes, dance, drive, everything! When I get grumpy about doing chores at home, I give myself a reality check and think, people with paralysis would kill to be able to clean this toilet! Snap out of it, Mel! 

5. If readers walked away understanding one thing about living with paralysis — or about supporting the search for a cure — what would you want it to be?

Before I started working with the Foundation, I really had not been exposed to spinal cord injuries; like most people who have never been exposed to it, I simply thought it just meant someone cannot walk. The reality is that a lot of people with paralysis, walking again is down their list of priorities, things like the return of bowel and bladder control, being able to feel, sexual function, use of the arms for a quadriplegic are higher on their priority list than walking. 

The search for cure is something we must pursue with everything we have, there are only 12,000 people living with paralysis, but the effects on this on those people, their family and friends is hard to comprehend, at the moment it is life-long and utterly devastating. That is why the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation exists. 

Quick Questions

1. What's one piece in your wardrobe that makes you instantly feel like yourself?

I love a long maxi dress in Summer! 

2. A woman who inspires you — and why?

I adore our Foundation Patron Dame Quentin Bryce. Not only is she intelligent and passionate about so many wonderful causes that I support, like the safety and rights of women and children and our indigenous community, but she is so elegant and has the most beautiful style. She is passionate about Australian fashion, and I love her necklaces and accessories. She is the epitome of class and beauty! I have been fortunate in my role to spend time with her, and I always walk away completely in awe! 

3. What's something you've gotten better at with age?

I don’t sweat the small stuff, I have always been someone that worries a lot, usually about things I could not control, since being in my position at the Foundation and my husband having battled cancer, I realise that life is too short to spend time worrying. I appreciate every day I have on this precious planet! 

4. The best advice you've ever been given — and who gave it to you?

Perry Cross, of course - “Focus on what you can do, what you have got and where you are going. Not what you lost, what you don’t have or where you have been”

5. A book, podcast or show you keep recommending to people?

I am a big true crime podcast gal! My favourites have been Teachers Pet, Bronwyn and Bear Brook. I love going for a long walk and bingeing on a good podcast!