Melissa Westcott - Committee Member
Melissa originates from Moranbah, becoming a councillor for Isaac Regional Council in 2024, and has since been appointed as the council representative to Isaac Affordable Housing Trust, Moranbah Early Learning Centre, and Country University Centre.
With a passion for retail, and a desire to help women easily find ‘perfect fitting’ shoes, Melissa founded an online shoe retailer in 2008 called Big on Shoes. The business has grown to be an international e-commerce platform and retail store that is leading innovation in the footwear industry. Melissa’s entrepreneurial spirit has also driven the launch of small business training provider TM3 Training Solutions, founded Moranbah Blooms and Events, and rebranded a Moranbah fashion store to Fox and Frank.
Melissa is a strong believer in supporting the community, which can be seen through her dedication in various roles. These include Director of C-Res – which works in partnership with BHP to deliver the Local Buying Program, Director of Moranbah Early Learning Centre, Chair of Childcare Leadership Alliance, and volunteering as a member of the Smart Transformation Advisory Council that works towards the long-term sustainability of the community into the future.
A key community role for Melissa over the past four years is Chair of the Local Buying Foundation in Queensland. Leading the different locations of the organisation over the communities of Isaac, Central Highlands and Mackay, into Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales, Melissa has worked towards building small business capabilities through project development to support economic development.
“I think it is vital to have people who understand what is happening in our community and our local economy to inform the decisions and projects that affect not only our communities now, but also the future generations.”