Yasminah's Gift of Hope

Yasminah's Gift of Hope (YGOH) is a grassroots charity created to support families navigating the grief of pregnancy loss and stillbirth. Melanie joined the Board of Directors in 2010, contributing to community engagement, communications, and fundraising during a formative period for the organisation.

In her community engagement role, Melanie wrote newsletters to keep supporters informed and connected, and helped with event planning to raise the charity's profile and funds. The work was deeply human, requiring sensitivity, clarity of purpose, and the ability to build trust within a community shaped by grief.

A key fundraising outcome during her involvement was the acquisition of Cuddle Cots for bereaved parents at Westmead Hospital. Cuddle Cots are cooling systems that allow families more time with their baby after a loss, and their presence in the hospital represents a tangible, lasting impact on the care available to families in one of the hardest moments of their lives.

This work reflects Melanie's commitment to community impact beyond the innovation and environmental spheres, and her belief that strategic program thinking belongs everywhere people are trying to create change.