Board of Directors

Melanie McTurk is a Guyanese married mother of two, who has had her hand in the tourism sector for over 2 decades. At Present, she is the Managing Director of Karanambu Lodge in the North Rupununi, President of Visit Rupununi, Trustee of the Bhena Hill Institute for youth development and a private sector trustee at the Protected Areas Trust of Guyana. Mrs. McTurk is currently serving as Chair of the Protected Areas Trust in Guyana With a Bachelor’s degree earned in chemistry from the University of Guyana, she once served as the bio-prospecting chemist at Iwokrama and has spent most of her life in community development. Her passion for the promotion of nature-based and wildlife-friendly tourism is further complemented by her desire to ensure the people around her are always growing and improving. Her passion for the positions she holds, both past and present, is fueled by an abiding commitment to Guyana and the nurturing of others to reach for their dreams, be it a single individual or an entire community hoping for development. Having an abundance of original ideas and a passion for tourism, Melanie hopes to bring her vast experience to the panel to “rethink tourism” in Guyana.’