Melanie (Mel) Leung-Shea

“I remember going into a sports' apparel store in the mall as a teenager and seeing a men's t-shirt for sale that said, "You Play Like a Girl." It was intended for men to wear as an insult, but my dad bought it for me so that I could feel empowered by wearing it to play basketball at the courts (you should've seen the smiles and smirks I got!). It's an honor to work with WISE and continue sharing that feeling of empowerment to other girls as we seek more and more opportunities for women to enjoy sports.”

Mel has been working in leadership and consulting roles at female-focused Hong Kong NGO’s for many years, helping to manage and develop programs that empower women and girls in the community. As a former athlete herself, and a mother to a daughter who also grew up as an athlete in Hong Kong, she deeply understands the benefits that sports can bring to girls, who can later use those transferable skills to be resilient and inspirational women in the home and workforce.