Melanie Wicks Title:     Director Ph:        (07) 4040 6555 Mobile:   0417 851 865 Email:  melanie.wicks@the2020group.com.au Areas of Speciality: Marketing Strategies/Planning Creative Writing Skills and Experience: Melanie has had extensive experience in all aspects of strategic marketing including qualitative customer research and focus groups, developing and executing marketing plans, communication and advertising strategies, and corporate branding. Melanie is also skilled in writing corporate submissions, speeches and presentations, advertising campaigns, press releases, direct mail, newsletters and other corporate documentation and printed marketing material.  Summary of Work History: Melanie has over 20 years experience in marketing, advertising and the media. She began her career as an Editorial Assistant for the UK’s Financial Times and ‘cut her marketing teeth’ in a specialised financial publishing company in London before moving to Sydney in 1985. Melanie’s experience includes six years in the advertising industry in Sydney, during which time she graduated in the top 10% of AWARD School (Australian Writers and Art Directors).  In 1991 she moved to Cairns and for three years worked as a Creative Marketing Consultant for a number of clients in retail, property development and tourism, as well as state and local government. She then had seven years with Delfin Ltd (now Delfin Lend Lease), one of Australia’s pre-eminent creators of residential land development.  During her time with Delfin, Melanie undertook a variety of roles including North Queensland marketing manager, project manager of Forest Gardens in Cairns (the first female project manager for Delfin and the first to come from a marketing rather than engineering background), regional manager for North Australia (covering Cairns, Townsville and Darwin), national marketing manager and chairman of the National Marketing Executive.  In 2001 Melanie left Delfin to start up her own marketing business, The Edge Marketing Group, working for a range of clients developing marketing and business plans, conducting customer research and profiling, writing advertising campaigns, promotional videos, corporate profiles, and tenders. In October 2002, Melanie co-founded The 20/20 Group with her three fellow directors. Other: Melanie is a Certified Practising Marketer and a member of the Australian Marketing Institute.  She was the President of the Cairns Business Women’s Club for two years (2003 and 2004) and is now on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past President.  She was an award winner in the 2000 Cairns Business Women’s Club Awards.  She also sits on the Queensland Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Mentoring for Growth Panel, is a member of the Kuranda Advisory Committee and a committee member of the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce.