Current practice

Melanie is a member of the Freehills Projects group, advising both principals and contractors in the water, waste, mining, marine and health industries nationally and internationally.

Industry experience

Melanie has particular expertise in advising on the implementation of major infrastructure projects and construction, operations and maintenance agreements. 

Major infrastructure projects

Melanie has advised:

• the Mindarie Regional Council in relation to its Resource Recycling Facility
• the Water Corporation of Western Australia on:
  
  • the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant
  • the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant, and
  • seawater desalination facilities on the Burrup Peninsula
    
• the National Environmental Agency of Singapore on:
  
  • the first privately owned waste incinerator plant, and
  • privatisation of the Senoko incineration plant
    
• the Singapore Public Utilities Board on the first seawater desalination plant for Singapore
• on the implementation of desalination projects in regional Western Australia, and
• Vodafone in respect of the roll out and ongoing operation and maintenance of its 3G Australian and New Zealand network.

Operations and maintenance

Melanie has advised:

• the Water Corporation of Western Australia in respect of:
• the outsourcing of operation and maintenance of metropolitan infrastructure assets, and
• the outsourcing of maintenance of bulk water assets.
  
• the Australian Department of Defence in respect of its Procurement Improvement Project
• the state government of Western Australia in respect of the operation and maintenance of port facilities
• Western Power on various outsourcing arrangements, and
• JDV Limited in respect of the outsourcing of internet broking and margin lending services by various financial institutions.

Relationship contracting

Melanie is experienced in advising on projects utilising public private partnerships, alliancing and other relationship based contracting delivery strategies. She also has significant experience in negotiating the commercial aspects of relationship contracts, including advising on the implementation of payment and performance management models.

Professional background

Melanie holds a combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degree from Murdoch University.