Melanie is Director of the Centre for Safeguarding and Child Protection in Sport (CPSS) and a Professor in Safeguarding and Children's Rights in Sport at Edge Hill University in the UK. Her teaching and research focus on: children’s rights in sport, with a particular focus on participation rights (‘voice’) and protection rights; and approaches to engaging children, young people, and ‘survivors’ of violence and abuse in sport in 'safe sport' research and practice. In a career spanning almost 20 years, Melanie has worked with national and international sport federations, safeguarding professionals, coaching organizations, sport policymakers and funders, athletes and ‘survivors’ of abuse and exploitation in sport. She has delivered training and has advised on various aspects of safe sport for the International Olympic Committee, the Canadian Coaching Association, and the Sport England NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit. She is a former elite athlete, ‘survivor’ of abuse and an advisory board member of the UK-based charitable organisation Kyniska Advocacy.