Melanie Jansen, Board Member

Melanie is the most recently appointed member of the Foundation, having joined the Board in December 2003. She has a keen interest in keeping our national heritage and culture alive for future generations, something which has become more important to her since starting a family.

Melanie is proud of her Manx roots. She is 33 years old and was brought up at Ballacraine Farm, St Johns, the third daughter of Hubie and Doreen Kermeen. She is a lover of the countryside and enjoys horse-riding, walking and quad-biking.

Melanie studied at Lancaster University, and then qualified as a chartered accountant at PKF in Douglas. She moved to Johannesburg, South Africa on secondment for a year, but fell in love with the country (and her husband Jaco) and so eventually stayed for 6 years. She became a partner of a large accountancy firm there, but has put her professional career on hold in order to devote her time to their children, Breeshey aged 2 and baby Pheric aged 16 weeks.

Melanie now looks after the children full-time, although she is also involved in the running of the new Western Swimming Pool. This has been an exciting project and a busy year with the pool construction being finalised, and opening the facility to the public in October. Involvement in community is an important aspect of Island life for Melanie and she is a volunteer for the Care in Mann.

Melanie views her involvement in the Foundation as a chance to contribute to keeping the Manx culture and heritage alive, and to uphold the strong national identity which makes the Island such a special and unique place to live.