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DR. MELBA K. WASUNNA
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MANAGER, BASE TITANIUM
Having worked at the intersection of business and social impact for the past 15 years, Dr. Melba Wasunna has developed a reputation for driving socio-economic innovation, encouraging stakeholder participation, and producing measurable outcomes. Grounded in a robust academic foundation and enriched by hands-on experience, her journey reflects a commitment to effecting positive change across the extractives sector.
Melba’s unique blend of corporate and academic experience has helped to build bridges between stakeholders, foster collaboration and advance knowledge within the realms of business, social impact and academia.
As External Affairs Manager at Base Titanium, the largest mineral sands operator in Kenya, she leads initiatives that extend beyond traditional corporate boundaries. Key achievements include facilitating access to new tenure areas, which have led to the significant extension of the company’s mining licence. Moreover, her efforts in initiating strategic partnerships and bespoke initiatives have enhanced stakeholder engagement, exemplified by the success of events like the Kenya Mining Week Conference and Exhibition.
By initiating programs that enhance Base’s social licence to operate, such as the recent establishment of the ‘Elders Welfare Program’, which provides monthly cash transfers to 500 vulnerable elders across 35 villages surrounding the mine site, Melba ensures the company’s favourable socio-economic impact at local and national levels. Additionally, she played a key role in negotiating Kenya’s first Community Development Agreements, highlighting her commitment to fostering equitable partnerships that benefit local communities.
Prior to her tenure at Base Titanium, Melba served as Director of Extractives Baraza at Strathmore University, where she played a pivotal role in conducting research and nurturing effective stakeholder engagement. Notable achievements include the championing of initiatives such as the Kwale Mining Alliance – a bespoke model of engagement that facilitates constructive dialogue and collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs), industry and government bodies.
As the Academic Lead for the Master of Laws (LLM) Oil and Gas program at Strathmore University, Melba developed the curriculum and provided a series of executive courses tailored to Kenyan legal and banking professionals, in collaboration with the National Oil Corporation of Kenya. In addition to oil and gas, she also designed and delivered a new course on communication skills for law students at the University of Nairobi. (UoN) By designing cutting-edge curricula and executive courses tailored to industry needs, Melba has equipped students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate complex legal landscapes and drive meaningful change.
Presently, Melba is the Chairperson of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Mining & Blue Economy Sector Board, Vice Chairperson of the Kenya Chamber of Mines, and Patron of the Association of Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIK).
Melba holds a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, as well as an LLM degree in Human Rights (HR), which was later converted to a doctorate, from the same institution. She also earned Bachelor’s degrees in Law and Arts & Humanities (both with Dean’s Merit List) from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa.
Her contributions to the fields of business, social impact, and academia have been recognised through a series of prestigious awards and accolades, serving as a testament to Melba’s dedication, leadership, and impact within the industry. These honours include: the African Woman Awards ‘She Achiever in Mining’ category in 2023, the Africa Extractives Mentor Award from Pioneer Women in Extractives in Africa in 2022, Top 25 Most Powerful Women in the C-Suite Impacting Business 2022 (Business Monthly EA), the 100 Global Inspirational (Women in Mining) Award in 2020, and the Woman of the Year Kenya award from the Upstream Oil and Gas Awards, Africa Energy Queens.
Dr. Melba Wasunna continues to assert her influence within the dynamic realm of corporate communications.
