Melanie Gardner (Hopkinson)

Melanie Gardner (Hopkinson) is a seasoned professional in the field of commercial management and criminal justice, currently serving as a Commercial Manager at Northamptonshire Police since June 2022. Previously, Melanie held the position of Commercial Engagement Partner at Nottinghamshire Police, where engagement with senior staff and officers at a strategic level was key to delivering procurement and contractual requirements. With a robust background in healthcare commissioning, Melanie worked as a Health and Justice Commissioning Manager for NHS England in the Leicestershire area, overseeing healthcare services in prisons and diversion services for individuals with mental health and learning difficulties. Additional experience includes roles as Strategy and Commissioning Officer at Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership, Business Development Manager at the National Offender Management Service, Community Justice Co-ordinator with the Local Criminal Justice Board, and various positions within the probation service. Melanie holds a BSc in Criminology from Teesside University and academic qualifications from Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School.