Born and raised in Brisbane, Downes graduated from Somerville House in 1988. She moved to Sydney to model for two years before returning to Brisbane to complete an Arts Journalism degree at the University of Queensland.
After joining Nine Brisbane in 2001, Melissa reported on the road and acted as fill-in weekend presenter before assuming that role full-time in 2006. She has also worked as a reporter for local magazine show Saturday Afternoon and a presenter of QTQ-9’s Nine Gold Coast News bulletin.
In November 2008, Melissa replaced Heather Foord as presenter of Nine News Queensland weeknight bulletin and joins us as one of our 3 female ambassadors, proudly supporting our new look Club!
