Role
With over a decade of leadership as Head of Department for Fashion at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Melanie oversees both undergraduate and postgraduate fashion courses within the Nottingham School of Art & Design. This includes Fashion Management, Marketing and Communication, as well as the renowned Fashion, Knitwear and Textile Design courses.
Career overview
Before joining NTU, Melanie spent 15 years in the fashion and sportswear industry, culminating in the role of Global Head of Product at Pentland Brands. There, Melanie led cross-functional teams across design, product management, marketing and supply chain. This dual perspective, spanning both industry and fashion education, provides a strategic understanding of the fashion ecosystem and the evolving needs of graduates entering it.
External activity
Melanie is passionate about connecting education with employment and is dedicated to supporting the next generation of changemakers in the creative industries. She actively champions design education through national roundtables, curriculum reform initiatives and cross-institutional collaborations. Melanie is a member of UKFT, The Textile Institute and ASBCI. She also undertakes external examining and institutional reviews at other colleges and universities.
Sponsors and collaborators
Within the department we nurture strong collaborative partnerships with global businesses to provide student placements, live projects, consultancy, and knowledge exchange opportunities.