About Melissa

An accomplished and awarded journalist with nearly 30 years experience, Melissa is one of the best-known and trusted voices and faces in Australian media.

A graduate of Charles Sturt University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Melissa began her career as a television news reporter and weather presenter at WIN TV Canberra in 1990. Three years later she moved to Prime TV in Canberra as a reporter and co-host of the evening news. In 1995, Melissa joined the Seven Network in the Canberra bureau at Parliament House before moving to the Sydney newsroom.

Melissa joined Sunrise in 1997 and co-hosted Australia’s favourite breakfast program until August 2013, taking it from humble beginnings to Number One.  

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During that time Melissa covered such significant events as the Beaconsfield mine disaster, the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Queensland floods, Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires, multiple federal and state elections, the Inauguration of Barack Obama and the election of Pope Francis

She interviewed stars such as Tom Cruise, Justin Bieber, Robin Williams, Jane Fonda and Katy Perry. 

Melissa rejoined the Seven Network’s news team in 2013 and anchored the network’s live rolling coverage of historical moments such as the birth of Prince George, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the release of Schapelle Corby from prison in Bali, the centenary of ANZAC commemorations in Gallipoli and the Lindt Café Siege in Sydney. 

Melissa and the Seven News team were recognised with a Walkley Award ,a Logie and three international Edward R. Murrow Awards for their coverage of the siege.

Melissa went on to be host and senior correspondent of the Seven Network’s flagship news and public affairs program, Sunday Night, covering a wide range of stories, from internationally exclusive interviews with James Hewitt, Princess Diana’s former lover and Rebel Wilson, to stories on PTSD and the Jonestown massacre.

Melissa is also the weekend breakfast host for radio station Smooth FM. In 2014, she won the Australian Commercial Radio award (ACRA) for Best Newcomer (Metro) and in 2018 Best Music presenter (metro). 

In the 2016 Australia Day Honours List Melissa was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her "significant service to the community through representational roles with a range of charitable groups, and to the broadcast media." 

Melissa has written two books, “The Working Mothers Survival Guide” and her best selling memoir “Alphabet Soup.” 

Off screen, Melissa is a wife and proud mother of two teenagers Nick and Talia.

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She passionately supports many charities. She is National Patron for the Make A Wish Foundation and an Ambassador for The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, World Vision, Children’s Cancer Institute, Adopt Change, Legacy and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 

She is the Number One Ticket holder for the GWS Giants (AFL) and serves on the club board. 

A multiple Silver Logie nominee as Most Popular Television Presenter, Melissa was voted one of the "most real celebrity mums" and regularly polls in the Top 50 of Reader's Digests annual list of Most Trusted Australians.