Dr. Melva Martin, a native of New Zealand, began her career as a nurse and midwife before founding the Naturopathic College of New Zealand and later the Osteopathic College of New Zealand. She earned an MPhil from Massey University and a doctorate in education from Monash University. She spent several years involved with advisory groups in the setting of NZQA Natural Therapies unit standards. From 2001-2003, she was appointed to a Ministerial Advisory Committee on Complementary and Alternative Health (MACCAH). She lives in Wairoa, New Zealand.