Sam

She/He/They (Any pronouns)

ZBGC Treasurer
Sam is a community worker and psychotherapist who has worked in mental health across not for profit, government, university and private sectors. Sam has completed a Masters In narrative therapy and Community Work and an undergraduate study in sociology, social work, psychology and public health. Sam passionately adores wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, you will often see them feeding baby kangaroo’s or bats, gardening or exploring the bush.

Emma

She/her

ZBGC Working Group Member

Emma is cisgender and works as a Senior Legal Member at the Mental Health Tribunal (Tribunal). Before joining the Tribunal in August 2014, Emma led the review of Victoria’s Mental Health Act 1986 (MHA 1986) and the development of the current Mental Health Act 2014 (Act).Prior to working in Victoria, Emma lived and worked in London where she investigated allegations of  misconduct  of  members  of  borough  councils  in  the  United  Kingdom.  In Western Australia Emma worked in private practice in the area of civil litigation (medical negligence, professional misconduct, corporate law).  Emma also practiced in native title and civil litigation for the Aboriginal Legal Service (Western Australia). Emma volunteered at Community Legal Centres as a law student and in 2001/2 was the Legal Member of the Board of Management of the Health Consumers’ Council of Western Australia which is a not for profit organisation. Over the next few years Emma hopes to contribute to the success of ZBGC as an incorporated association. As an ally to the trans and gender diverse community Emma knows the importance of co-design in delivering training, education, support and advocacy.  Emma looks forward to bringing her background in law, governance, and working with government to the ZBGC working group to help grow and develops its capabilities.

Georgie Y

She/her

ZBGC Working Group Member

Georgie is a non binary Intersex person who is passionate about trans and gender diverse and Intersex human rights. Whilst living in Alice Springs, Georgie started advocating for LGBTIQA+ people living in remote and regional Australia with Sisters & Brothers NT.

Through involvement with this grassroots community organisation Georgie was able to share lived experience as an Intersex person subjected to non-consensual “normalising” surgeries and medical interventions as a young person. Since returning to Melbourne Georgie has been outspoken about the impacts of pathologisation, in particular for non-binary people, and their ongoing issues with the medical industry denying access to reparative surgery.

Georgie M

She/her

ZBGC Secretary

Georgie is an emerging trans cabaret artist in Naarm (Melbourne). During the day they moonlight as a deputy registrar in the Mental Health Tribunal. Georgie is also completing a law arts double degree, majoring in gender, sexuality and diversity at La Trobe University.

Before joining the ZBGC Board Georgie was an agitator in the university space, assisting in the creation of the gender-neutral bathroom policy at La Trobe University and making a submission to the Australian National Construction Codes to include gender neutral bathrooms. In their arts practice they centre the voices and stories of trans and gender diverse peoples, as well as other intersecting identities of marginality.

Rory

They/them or he/him

Training Consultant

Rory is a young Wiradjuri non-binary activist who has extensive experience working across the LGBTIQA+ sector, particularly in youth advocacy. Rory has worked for a number of LGBTIQA+ organisations and programs, including Minus18, Safe Schools Coalition Australia, Family Planning NSW and Drummond Street Services. Rory is passionate about respectful & inclusive practice embedded in self-determination.

Starlady

She/her

ZBGC Program Manager

Starlady is a social justice advocate whose work is underpinned by the human rights principals of equity and freedom of expression. She is passionately committed to addressing discrimination and prejudice within our society through her work in advocacy, education, training and community development. Starlady has a wealth of experience delivering training and secondary consultation to a range of health and human services on trans and gender diverse and broader LGBTIQ+ inclusive practice initiatives.

You may have seen Starlady on:

• “Queen of the Desert”which was released on the ABC featuring her hairdressing and fashion programs with youth on remote Indigenous communities.
• The Transgender episode of ABC TV’s “You Cant Ask That”.
• TEDX.