ZBGC Board

Luke
He/him
Board Member
Luke is a seasoned communications strategist with nearly two decades of experience in impactful marketing and global advertising across various sectors, including government and not-for-profit. In his work, Luke focuses on campaigns to prevent family violence and violence against women, reinforcing his commitment to social change. Passionate about the LGBTQIA+ community, Luke volunteers with Thorne Harbour Health and the Victorian Pride Centre, supporting health and inclusion initiatives. His extensive background includes collaborations with clients such as the Office for Women (VIC) and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Luke excels in crafting innovative communication strategies and leads high-performing teams, fostering creativity and collaboration.

Mish
They/them
Board Member
Mish is a non-binary, queer and neurodivergent accredited mental health social worker of colour supporting their communities to find their joy and favourite selves through direct support work, advocacy and broader policy work. They are incredibly excited to work with ZBGC to improve outcomes for the trans and gender-diverse communities across the unceded lands of the First Nations and Mob Communities.

Amao
She/her
Board Member
Amao is a proud Samoan Fa’afafine and an Indigenous Pasifika trans woman of colour. She is a trans community advocate and consultant. Her work spans over thirty years in the fields of education, health, the arts and radio. For twenty of those years Amao has been actively involved in LGBTIQA+ community affairs, both locally and internationally. She advocates strongly for both her trans women and queer people of colour communities and is best known for her community role as Auntie.

Anaru
He/him
Acting Secretary
Anaru is a Maori man of Tuhoe tribal origin from Aotearoa New Zealand and is in a long-term relationship with a trans woman. Rather than labels that can entrap people, Anaru is interested in the commonality and humanity that brings people together in relationship and love. Anaru has been a community mental health practitioner, newspaper reporter and English teacher in former professional identities.

Sam
She/He/They (Any pronouns)
Acting 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.

Georgie
She/her
Board 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.
Staff Member

Teddy
They/them
Youth Project Manager
Teddy is a queer, neurodivergent, interdisciplinary artist, facilitator, designer, producer and advocate for trans and gender diverse young people, their friends and families, and those who work with them. They are a trans, non-binary person driven to be a visible representation of life beyond the binary and to make change and impacts in rooms where decisions are made for a safe, inclusive future for our community. Teddy has built a career helping others find their connection with their identity and self through playfulness and creativity. Since 2021 Teddy has been working in Youth Community Development with a focus on TGD and LGBTIQA+ inclusion and advocacy. In 2024 Teddy joined the Zoe Belle Gender Collective as their Youth Project Manager, and is excited to create lasting and impactful change for trans and gender diverse young people.

Rory
They/them or he/him
Training Consultant
Rory is a 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 Director
Starlady is a queer trans woman/feminine person living on Dja Dja Wurrung country and is the Director at the Zoe Belle Gender Collective. She is passionate about social justice, the prevention of gender based violence and dismantling trans misogyny. Starlady is the lead author and campaign director of Transfemme, a campaign and website promoting healthier relationships between trans women and cis men.