Melissa Fong-Emmerson

Dr Melissa Fong-Emmerson is a marketing academic whose research and teaching are grounded in over 15 years of professional practice across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors, leading integrated campaigns, stakeholder engagement and behaviour change initiatives at scale.

Her research advances social marketing and consumer decision-making theory, with a particular focus on higher education equity, diversity and inclusion, and strength-based approaches to social justice and behaviour change. She weaves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander methodologies into marketing and social research, drawing on community-grounded frameworks that centre equity and self-determination. Her work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 10) and Australia's Closing the Gap targets in education, employment and economic participation.

Dr Fong-Emmerson's teaching integrates sustainability, digital capability and inclusive practice through industry-embedded curricula, and she leads cross-school initiatives to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into curriculum and assessment in close partnership with institutional and community stakeholders. Her service extends to the ANZMAC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee and the Marketing Management Journal Editorial Board. Her contributions to inclusive practice and learning innovation have been recognised through a National Award for University Teaching and multiple Vice-Chancellor's Staff Excellence Awards.