Melissa Gong Mitchell is Executive Director for the Global Coalition on Aging, where she is responsible for internal and external communication strategies, policy initiatives, member and stakeholder outreach, and partnership development for the Coalition. She has more than a decade of public affairs experience, specializing in policy-related and CEO-level strategic communications, advocacy campaigns and special events. Currently, she serves as a Senior Managing Director at High Lantern Group, a strategic consulting firm that advises dozens of major global companies and industry trade groups. Previously, Melissa was Director of Industry Relations and Strategic Outreach at the U.S. Travel Association, responsible for grassroots development and industry initiatives, having driven multiple campaigns leading to positive legislative outcomes. Prior to U.S. Travel, she served as Executive Director of the Travel Business Roundtable, a CEO-based advocacy organization devoted to reframing the policy environment and reputation of the industry, and an associate at Prime Policy Group (formerly BKSH & Associates), a Washington-based government affairs firm. Melissa holds an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and a BA in Journalism and Psychology from the University of Mississippi.
