Melissa Doran is a Partner at Hamilton Locke, specialising in workplace relations and employment law, with a strong focus on advising organisations on complex workplace issues, governance, and regulatory risk. She works closely with executive teams and boards to navigate the legal realities of managing people, performance, and compliance in environments where the stakes are rarely low.

Melissa has built a reputation for clear, pragmatic advice in situations that are often anything but straightforward. Her experience spans multiple industries, helping organisations balance legal obligations with operational pressures, and, at times, competing priorities across functions.

Returning to the AIHS Great Debate after last year’s loss on the Gold Coast, Melissa hasn’t forgotten how it played out. She’s back to make sure it doesn’t happen twice.