Mel Brown worked with Global Brigades in international development and volunteering from 2013 until 2016. He got involved for the first time as an interpreter for the medical brigade his sister Brenda Brown was coordinating back in early 2013. After experiencing that first brigade, he continued volunteering as an interpreter and coordinator with 10 brigades throughout all of the 2013 season. His commitment was noticed by the Panamá Country Director for Global Brigades. Mel joined the Business and Microfiance team as a full-time coordinator. In September 2014, Mel Brown became the Business & Microfinance Program Manager, overseeing all of the Business & Microfinance program’s staff and projects in Panama.
In 2017 Mel took a break from Global Brigades to begin working for COPA Airlines, one of the largest Lating American airlines at that time. He now rejoined the GB Panamá team four years later in September 2020 as the new Microfinance Program Coordinator, involved monitoring all Community Banks, working hand in hand with field technicians, overseeing future growth opportunities and strategic alliances to further financial inclusion in rural areas where Global Brigades Panamá operates.
Mel studied business adminsitration and finance at UNP- Unviersidad Nacional de Panama. When he’s not supporting the economic development goals of Global Brigades, he enjoys cooking and hiking.