Melisa Skender is the General Secretary of the Croatian Journalists Association and supports the development of digital projects at GONG, focusing on research and data transparency. She holds a degree in Journalism from the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb. Since 1996, she has worked as a professional journalist at various media outlets, with a focus on media policy, civil society, and open and transparent government. She has been a member of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence Alumni Network since 2013 and was awarded the Croatian Journalists’ Association prize for Best Internet Journalist in 2016.