Melissa Burns

Melissa Burns is a seasoned professional in sports and education with extensive experience in business development and leadership roles. Currently serving as the Business Development Manager for Sports & Special Events at Economic Development Winnipeg since June 2025, Melissa also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Esport Canada, a role started in January 2020. Previous experience includes divisional instructional support at Louis Riel School Division, focusing on EdTech, AI, and multilingual learners from September 2016 to June 2025. Melissa is actively involved in the esports community, having founded and served as President of both the Middle Years Esport Manitoba and the Canadian Middle School Esport Association. Additionally, Melissa has held mentorship and fellowship roles within the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations. Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Music from Canadian Mennonite University.