Mel Michener (they/them) is a non-binary white settler residing on the ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They hold a Master of Health Evaluation and work as an evaluation and research consultant. 
Mel’s work is guided by intersectional feminism and a commitment to centering lived experience, reducing harm, and prioritizing relationships. Their experience spans formal research and manuscript writing, large national evaluations, and community based evaluation projects.
As an evaluator, Mel recognizes the influence evaluation can have on decision-making and broader systems. They strive to contribute to more equitable outcomes by applying principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and evolving best practices in their work.
Beyond evaluation, Mel is passionate about clear and compassionate communication, relationship building, and creating positive impacts through their interactions with others. They are actively engaged in the evaluation community, having served three years on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Evaluation Society BC Chapter as Conference Lead & Support and as a member of the DEI Committee.

Professional Story

My journey into research and evaluation began during the final year of my undergraduate degree in International Development. After three years of learning about the global aid sector, I began to understand that good intentions alone are not enough to create meaningful change. I became interested in the tools, skills, and approaches that could help organizations understand their impact, learn from their work, and make informed decisions.
During my fourth-year capstone course, a speaker from the Mastercard Foundation introduced the role of evaluators and the growing need for evaluative expertise within the non-profit sector. That conversation stayed with me and sparked a curiosity that continued to grow over the following years.Eventually, I decided to pursue that interest through a Master of Health Evaluation at the University of Waterloo. During my studies, I quickly realized that evaluation was the field where I wanted to focus my time and energy: a field that combines research, critical thinking, relationship building, and a commitment to learning and improvement.
After completing my degree, I gained experience as part of a home healthcare research team, supporting the development of research studies into peer-reviewed publications. I valued the opportunity to contribute to formal research, but I also recognized that I wanted to work more directly alongside organizations—bringing not only my skills as an evaluator and researcher, but also my curiosity, communication style, and commitment to meaningful relationships.
I began consulting with the goal of supporting organizations to better understand their work, learn from their experiences, and make decisions grounded in evidence and lived experience. More than three years later, I continue to build Sea to Sky Evaluation as a practice focused on providing flexible, thoughtful, and practical evaluation support to non-profits and organizations navigating complex challenges. 
I believe everything becomes interesting when approached with curiosity. Every organization has a unique story, context, and set of challenges, and I look forward to learning alongside clients to understand what matters most and how evaluation can support their goals.

Mel Michener, Evaluation Consultant

Professional Story

Let's find evaluative solutions together