Alexandra Joy Blackwell is a former Australian women’s cricket captain and standout player, known for her enduring career that spanned 15 years and included 251 international appearances across Tests, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals. She was the first Australian woman to play over 200 matches for her country and was a key figure as a specialist batter for Australia, New South Wales and the Sydney Thunder WBBL team.
In 2012, Alex Blackwell publicly came out as a gay athlete, marking a pivotal moment in her career. Since then, she has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports, focusing on gender equality and the rights of LGBTI individuals. Her advocacy efforts culminated in her leadership role at the 2015 Mardi Gras parade, where she marched alongside other openly gay athletes Daniel Kowalski, Jai Wallace, and Matthew Mitchem, further solidifying her impact on sports and society.
Ruth is a general practitioner specialising in LBTQ health and women’s health. She is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne; where she conducts LGBT research and develops training.
Ruth has advised the Victorian Government on LGBTI issues since 2000. She was the founding Convener of the Fertility Access Rights Lobby from 1999 to 2004, formed the Rainbow Families Council in 2005, and was Convener of the Australian Lesbian Medical Association from 2002 to 2005.
In 2007, she was made a life member of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights lobby, and in 2017 a life member of the Victorian AIDS Council. She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2017 for her academic, clinical and advocacy work, and made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Steven’s career in Finance and IT with BHP started in Newcastle and later in a range of locations around the world. Steven was one of the founding members of BHP’s LGBTIQA+ group called “Jasper”.
Since then he has volunteered for a range of organisations including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Grattan Institute, Beyond Zero Emissions, The Greens, Bush Heritage and is Treasurer and board member of Speak Australia.
Alison is a governance professional specialising in corporate governance, compliance and risk management in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
She is currently the CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, as well as having held governance roles at Myer Family Investments, David Jones and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
She has been an active volunteer in the LGBTQIA community, having been involved with the Ankali Project, ACON, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, Mardi Gras, Chillout Festival, and the Aurora Group, where she was Chair from 2015 to 2018 and awarded life membership.
Peter is widely recognised internationally as one of the world’s leading telecommunications lawyers.
Prior to joining Gilbert+Tobin, Peter worked in a Washington DC law firm on international trade and tax issues, as a consultant to the Commonwealth Minister for Social Security on the design of child support scheme, as a law reform officer at the Australian Law Reform Commission, as a clinical education tutor at the University of New South Wales and as Associate to Justice Elizabeth Evatt, Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia.
Peter was the sponsor of Gilbert+Tobin’s LGBTIQ+ group. He organised the marriage equality campaign in his home town Murwillumbah, and featured in a program run by the Tweed Museum Small Town Queer.
Peter chairs the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation and is a director of the Asylum Seeker Centre. He is co-chair of a working group established by the Federal Government to review promoting digital technologies in Australia agriculture.
Isaac is a rural generalist, general practitioner, anaesthetist, medical administrator and is the Director of Medical Services for several Queensland Hospitals.
Isaac’s special interests include improving healthcare and healthcare delivery to LGBTIQ Australians living in rural and remote areas and to Australia’s Indigenous peoples.
Isaac has previously spent several years as a general practitioner in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and with the Royal Flying Doctor service based in Alice Springs. Isaac has served on the board of the Gay Auckland Business Association and formed the Derby (Kimberley, WA) rainbow youth mentoring group.
Isaac and his husband live with their two children in Kingaroy Queensland.
Mollie Hewitt is experienced in strategic management, arts leadership, cultural project management and community development. She is co-founder and director of Walk Through Walls, a company that helps individuals and organisations overcome the financial, logistical and bureaucratic barriers they face in delivering projects with powerful positive outcomes. As a fundraiser, producer, and strategic adviser she assists communities across Australia with wide-ranging projects.
At FORM as Regional Manager (2010-2018) she negotiated corporate partnerships, delivered extensive community consultations, managed arts spaces, visitor centre services and a major Aboriginal art centre in the Pilbara. As a Curator she has delivered creative programming, residencies and exhibitions across regional WA.
As General Manager of Western Australian Youth Theatre Company (2018-2021) she delivered major projects with young people, Aboriginal communities, the queer community, and people living with disability. She continues to support WAYTCo through Board membership and on supporting committees.
Ayan Dasvarma is a proud gay man, second-generation migrant and person of colour, currently working as a senior manager and leader in the tertiary education and medical research sectors. He has held various roles managing and leading academic units and coordinating corporate and administrative services across two major Victorian universities for over 20 years, building on previous training and work as a medical researcher in Australia and the UK.
Alongside his work in the tertiary education and medical research sectors, Ayan has nearly 20 years of experience in community service, advocacy and development, specifically in Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ community, across organisations including the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, ThorneHarbour Health, Midsumma and the ALSO Foundation before its closure. He has also held roles in several arts organisations, including the Melbourne International Film Festival, Melbourne Fringe, the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Melbourne Writers’ Festival.
Ayan undertakes capacity-building in both professional and community spheres through active roles on multiple committees and groups. He carries out his work, service and advocacy with respect and accountability, striving for equity, inclusion and agency for diverse groups and individuals, including those impacted by structural inequalities and discrimination.
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