Melissa Kalan - BIO

Revenue Optimisation Expert | Membership Model Strategist | Association and Business Leader | Author | Founder | Speaker

Melissa Kalan is an accomplished CEO, keynote speaker, and commercial strategist with over two decades of business leadership and experience across hospitality, tourism, aviation and not-for-profit sectors.

As a founder, innovator, author and business leader, Melissa has made a lasting impact on revenue and yield management education and workforce capability, both in Australia and internationally.

In recognition of her contributions to education and industry development, Melissa was bestowed the title of Adjunct Associate Professor by Taylor’s University, Malaysia.

She began her corporate career in aviation and hotels, where she developed her deep expertise in revenue and yield management, specialising in the commercial optimisation of perishable assets. Her ability to balance analytical rigour with customer-focused strategies quickly positioned her as a recognised expert and thought leader.

Driven by a passion to raise professional standards, Melissa became a Founding Director of the Australian Revenue Management Association (ARMA) - a leading professional membership body dedicated to advancing revenue and yield management capability across the tourism and accommodation sectors. 

She is also the founder and creator of YieldMAX, a game-changing simulation now licensed globally by universities and institutions, which allows learners to experience real-time decision-making in dynamic pricing and inventory control environments. 

Melissa is a recognised thought-leader and published author in the prestigious Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, where she reimagined a common measurement metric for deeper analytical insights.

Regularly invited to speak, moderate, and consult, Melissa is known for her clarity, warmth, and commercial truth. 

At her core, Melissa has a deep passion for aligning value with purpose and building thriving, future-focused communities. She believes that commercial strategy should always serve people, profit and purpose to ensure sustainable growth while staying true to an organisation’s mission.