Paying it forward keeps legacy alive

Plumtree CEO Sylvana Mahmic and Melinda Stevenson sit in the backyard of the plumtree house Melinda helped purchased in her volunteer treasurer role.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Melinda Stevenson has had a range of roles, including CEO of her own business advisory company. Throughout it all, she has found ways to give back, driven by the example of a generous uncle.

Melinda grew up in the Philippines until her family was sponsored to come to Australia.

"My uncle and aunty sponsored us to come here. They paid for everything, and we stayed with them for a few years until my parents could afford to rent a house. "One time, my uncle and I were having a heart-to-heart talk and he said, 'look, we brought you here, but it's up to you to do what you want to do with your life. If you can pay it forward, then it's up to you to pay it forward.' I was really touched by that, so I took it upon myself to pay it forward ever since to keep my dearest uncle's legacy alive beyond his lifetime and mine." Melinda sponsored her cousin and her immediate family to come to Australia. She also provides donations to a school and orphanage in the Philippines and St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney Palliative Care Department, where her uncle was cared for during the final weeks of his life. For the past 12 years, Melinda has also volunteered as treasurer of Plumtree, a not-for-profit providing support for children aged from birth to eight years with a developmental delay or disability. Melinda has used her business and accounting knowledge to assist Plumtree to undergo significant expansion and helped to diversify income streams. These contributions were recognised when the Plumtree CEO nominated Melinda for a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020 and 2021. "I felt so honoured to be nominated. I have always found the role as treasurer personally rewarding and am grateful for the opportunity to give back. "I'm on a mission to keep paying it forward. I'm fortunate to be doing something I love and think it's only fitting to give back to the community by supporting good causes, great people and inspiring ideas." Melinda is also a contributor to business magazines and writes extensively about issues that affect small business owners.