Ellen Melis
Associate Vice-President, (Human Resources) and Chief People Officer
Ellen Melis brings more than 20 years of senior human resources leadership experience in complex, unionized environments, with a proven track record of driving cultural transformation and aligning human resources systems with organizational priorities. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of HR Strategy, Leadership, Learning & Inclusion for The Salvation Army, where she led enterprise-wide human resources modernization for 10,000 employees and 90,000 volunteers, including the implementation of Workday and the organization’s first centralized Learning Management System.
Her accomplishments include developing and executing integrated human resources strategies, advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion frameworks and building governance models that strengthen organizational resilience. Melis has also served as a trusted advisor to boards and senior leadership teams, guiding labour relations strategies and fostering collaborative, values-driven cultures.
Ellen holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change, and a Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) designation. She is also a certified executive coach and facilitator with extensive experience in leadership development and organizational transformation.