Melissa Forbes is a Churchill Fellow and Associate Professor of Contemporary Singing at the University of Southern Queensland. Her practice and research explore music's power to enhance social connection and support the wellbeing of diverse populations, including people with Parkinson's disease. Her new book Making Music That Matters: Positive Music Leadership for Social Health (Routledge, 2025) reveals how approaching community music facilitation as a form of leadership creates dual impact—enriching both musicians’ careers and the social health of communities they serve.