The Melbourne Meeples Committee serves from the Annual General Meeting (normally held in July) of one year to the next.
The current committee consists of the following members:
Chris Ingold
PRESIDENT
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
First games I was obsessed with as a kid were the classics (chess, Scrabble, backgammon) along with the likes of Heroquest, Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs and Taxi!
My true gateway into modern gaming was other gamers – suddenly discovering there were loads of other people that wanted to play the interesting stuff! Scythe was the killer game that got me hooked again.
Favourite game?
Favourite game changes every week! All round it’s probably Xia.
Favourite designer/style?
Love sandbox games and any game that makes you really think about the theme as well as the game. Big Stonemaier fan also.
What do I like most about the hobby?
The connection between players, designers, publishers, all of us – it’s like a big crazy family that really look out for each other and enjoy exploring new worlds and ideas together
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
I will take the yellow meeples – even when no-one else will touch them!
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
I’m brand new on the committee, so I’m yet to find out! What I’m most excited about is helping to grow everything that we can do to bring Melbourne gamers, designers, publishers and retailers together both in spirit and hopefully in person!
Melissa Gilbert
VICE PRESIDENT
Meeple Member since 2016
Vice President since 2021
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
Scrabble!
Favourite game?
Too many to name! Currently really enjoying Potion Explosion and Wingspan.
Favourite Designer/style?
I’m pretty open to most styles, don’t really have a favourite.
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
That there’s a game for everyone and almost every situation.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Red – it’s lucky!
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
It’s a great way to contribute to events that give us more opportunities to play boardgames and also let more people know how much fun they are 
Tamara price
Secretary
Meeple Member and Secretary since 2016
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
Ticket to Ride
Favourite game?
Wingspan
Favourite Designer/style?
Worker Placement
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
The way boardgames lets you meet and connect with new people. I’ve made so many friends in the tabletop community and has become my favourite hobby.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple, pink or red.
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
Being able to deliver events for the tabletop community, able to contribute to run awesome events and hang out with fantastic people, and of course, play some games!
Mathew Utting
Treasurer
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
For modern boardgaming, Carcassonne
Favourite game?
Power Grid
Favourite Designer/style?
Designer is Friedemann Friese (whose designs aren’t always amazing, but are always interesting) and style is probably bidding/economicy kind of games.
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
The people. Oh and the games.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
The free secret jetpacks are pretty cool. Oh… I wasn’t supposed to talk about those. Um… it keeps me busy?
Jennie Howard
General Committee member
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
I grew up in a very large family, in the country and TV time was limited. So, we played board games and invented our own. When I was in my early 20’s, I met a lot of like-minded nerds who introduced me to some of less mainstream game and I’ve been hooked ever since!
Favourite game?
Ticket To Ride. It’s a fantastic game for all levels. It can be relaxed and fun, a great intro to something different, or super competitive.
Favourite designer/style?
Worker Placement and Deck Builders.
What do I like most about the hobby?
Almost anyone can join in. A lot of designers these days are really taking into account disability inclusivity and I love diversity. I love being able to interact on a level playing field with people from all different walks of like.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Green
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
Everyone is really enthusiastic and welcoming. We all have a common goal to make games more accessible to everyone and bring people together. It’s just lovely.
Francois Grobler
General Committee member
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
I started off as a Magic the Gathering player, later owned a brick and mortar games store in South Africa. In order to make the rent we started selling boardgames. After a game of Lords of Waterdeep I was hooked!
Favourite game?
Archipelago
Favourite designer/style?
I met and really like Jon-Paul Jacques (designer of Land vs Sea)
Worker placement
What do I like most about the hobby?
Meeting new people, making lifelong friends. I love playing new games.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple or blue
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
I am new to the committee but would love to be involved in organizing some events, love to carry tables and set up spaces to play! 
Sonika Balyan
General Committee member
What was your gateway game/draw card into boardgaming?
I grew up playing lot of card games, monopoly, scrabble and the likes with my family. For modern board games, I can’t think of an individual game. I attended a meetup, tried few games, and it sort of just grew from there. I think there were few rounds of Catan, Rummikub, Bohnanza, Ticket to Ride involved.
Favourite game?
Lords of Waterdeep
Favourite Designer/style?
Worker Placement. However, pretty/cutesy games will always get my attention as well.
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
There’s something for everyone. From light party games, to long complex ones, to the ones that require you to interact a lot, to those where it’s minimum talking, it’s a hobby that brings all people together.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple.
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
I am fairly new to the committee, so still very much in watch mode. It’s amazing how much work current members put in to make all the events happen. Hopefully I’ll be able to contribute to some stuff as well.