Melissa Kushner is a renowned development practitioner who is deeply committed to eradicating poverty for children and their communities. With a Master's in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor's degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Melissa founded Yamba Malawi in 2006 with a vision to give every child in the world an equal opportunity to succeed. She is passionate about the intersection of economic development and access to services for children, and through Yamba Malawi, she has developed a unique poverty graduation model that benefits children and communities by promoting childhood wellbeing, sustainable businesses, and sound financial management.

Melissa has succeeded in improving the education, health, and nutrition outcomes of over 100,000 children annually. At the moment, she serves as the Founder and Board Chair of Yamba Malawi. Melissa's professional and philanthropic contributions include serving as a Board of Trustees at Hannah Senesh Community Day School and previously working as the CEO and Founder of Yamba Malawi as well as the Founder and Executive Director of goods for good.