30 Under 30 - 2023 — Out For Australia

2023 Awards Event

Host

Keynote

Lacey-Jade Christie

Elvis Martin

Entertainer

Darcy Fox

Mohammad Awad

Hosted in BCG’s Melbourne Office (Naarm, on Wurundjeri Country).
In the weeks after the awards night, we hosted state parties in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, and WA.

Entertainer

The Singing Scientist

2023 Category Winners

Community Advocate

Mimi Hall

Mimi’s impactful work spans advocacy, peer support, media, and legislative reform. As Intersex Project Coordinator at A Gender Agenda, they've crafted training, media campaigns, and policies advancing rights of Trans, Gender Diverse, and Intersex individuals. Notably, Mimi contributed to ACT legislation protecting intersex people from non-consensual medical interventions.

Inclusion & Belonging Champion

Zhan Huang

Zhan is a seasoned strategist with experience across public, private, and community sectors. Notably, his leadership shone brightly during the COVID-19 crisis, as he spearheaded an initiative that provided support to international students. His dedication to advocacy remains unwavering, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community, with a special emphasis on the Chinese-speaking community.

Regional Legend

Bianca Lubke

Bianca founded and runs a weekly youth group (Alphabet Soup Youth Group) for LGBTQIA+ teens in Wagga on Wiradjuri Country. She spends her time passionately advocating for LGBTQIA+ youth spaces, connection, and improving the lives of regional LGBTQIA+ youth. Bianca is notably a proud member of Twenty10's youth team.

Rising Star

Bizzi Lavelle

Bizzi is a Wakka Wakka writer and burlesque dancer who tackles race, gender, and sexuality in their work. Bizzi co-produces “Point of Change,” a groundbreaking Meanjin event with a line up entirely of performers of color, often sidelined by conventional spaces. In 2023 she won the Brisbane Pride Queen’s Ball award for First Nations Leadership and Engagement, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for charities.

Standout Student

Adrienne Gooden

Adrienne is a shark scientist and PhD student. They're passionate about science communication, advocating for inclusion in STEM, and collaborating with queer-owned brands. Through social media and collaborations, Adrienne aims to dispel shark myths, inspire diversity, and empower others to chase their dreams.

Special thanks to these brands for donating to the Winners Gift Box!

2023 Winners

ACT

Mimi is an intersex advocate on Ngunnawal Country. Their impactful work spans advocacy, peer support, media, and legislative reform. As Intersex Project Coordinator at A Gender Agenda, they've crafted training, media campaigns, and policies advancing rights of Trans, Gender Diverse, and Intersex individuals. Notably, Mimi contributed to ACT legislation protecting intersex people from non-consensual medical interventions.

Mimi Hall

Sita is a passionate activist and storyteller living on Ngunnawal-Ngambri land. In 2021, she founded She Shapes History, a social enterprise dedicated to sharing how women have shaped history in the places where they have shaped history. She Shapes History makes history accessible, entertaining, and engaging through walking tours, digital content, and special events. Before founding She Shapes History, Sita held leadership positions within several youth-led organisations.

Sita Sargeant

NSW

Adrienne Gooden

Alex is the son of Cambodian refugees, a community builder, and management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting. He launched the APAC LGBTQIA+ and POC employee networks at L.E.K., and in 2021 also founded Careers in Colour, a not-for-profit that empowers POC’s to effect positive change in their careers and communities. He brings a youth voice to the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue's activism and helped build South West Sydney’s first queer safe space in early 2023.

Alexander Cheng

Alex is a journalist with ABC News in Sydney. From the push for LGBTQIA+ law reform to the NSW hate crimes inquiry, his reporting has highlighted discrimination faced by the queer community. In 2023, he was the ABC’s lead TV news reporter for Sydney WorldPride. His journalism amplified compelling personal stories of courage from across the rainbow community.

Alexander Lewis

Bianca Lubke

Grace is a writer and producer, whose work explores the intersection of queer and disabled identities, Her acclaimed musical podcast Twinemies garnered 7 nominations and awards, including 'Excellence in Creative Audio,' Grace's influence extends from podcasting to film, where she directed the short musical film Girl Coded. As a Development Producer at FremantleMedia Australia/Storyglass and an advocate at Bus Stop Films, Grace paves the way for a more inclusive world through storytelling.

Grace Valerie-Lynette

Jacob is an English and History teacher, neurodivergent and sober advocate, and a passionate playwright. With a strong commitment to celebrating diversity, creating safe spaces, and embracing authenticity, Jacob's work resonates with the power of queer narratives. His academic journey, including a bachelor's in education and arts, and an honours thesis critiquing educational policies, reflects his dedication to inclusive representation.

Jacob Parker

Madeleine is an admitted lawyer and the General Manager of Darlinghurst Theatre Company. She is passionate about using her media, arts and legal skills to share and celebrate Australian stories. In addition to commercial legal experience and Government experience at the Attorney-General's Department, she co-founded LGBTQIA+ theatre company Fruit Box Theatre and produced a full season of queer cabarets and original plays during WorldPride.

Madeleine Gandhi

Tomi is the TikTok Creator Engagement Manager for Aus and NZ, the North America Pride Partnerships campaign lead, the president of Pride @TikTok and manages the LGBTQIA+ program. Tomi has been a drag entertainer for 8 years and uses his social platforms to drive awareness and support for LGBTQIA+ social issues. Tomi hosted the Pride Ball in Los Angeles alongside transgender icon Dominique Jackson and led the world’s first global Pride ambassador program for TikTok during Sydney World Pride.

Thomas Grainger

Zhan is a seasoned strategist and initiative-driven professional with experience across public, private, and community sectors. Notably, his leadership shone brightly during the COVID-19 crisis, as he spearheaded an initiative that provided support to international students. His dedication to advocacy remains unwavering, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community, with a special emphasis on the Chinese-speaking community.

Zhan Huang

NT

Georgina is a passionate water engineer creating positive impacts through sustainable projects. She is currently based in Darwin, delivering wastewater treatment upgrades for remote Aboriginal communities. As a queer, female engineer, she leads and mentors in the industry, fostering community through organisations like the Australian Water Association and Engineers Without Borders.

Georgina Catto-Smith

QLD

Alison is a Transgender Neurobiologist who obtained her PhD at 24 in spinal cord injury research in 2019. Through the pandemic shes worked in Germany and returned back to Australia where she taught for the Nursing faculty at Griffith University. Now she's working towards a career in applying her people centred knowledge into healthcare policy design. "I want to show people that a trans person is capable of amazing things, and I want to do it while helping those I can."

Alison Wright

Bizzi is a Wakka Wakka writer and burlesque dancer who tackles race, gender, and sexuality in their work. Championing queer intersectional feminism, Bizzi co-produces “Point of Change,” a groundbreaking Meanjin event with a line up entirely of performers of color, often sidelined by conventional spaces. In 2023 she won the Brisbane Pride Queen’s Ball award for First Nations Leadership and Engagement, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for charities.

Bizzi Lavelle

Dineli is a passionate community advocate for QTIBIPOC and LGBTQIASB+ health. She is a medical student and the current chair of the Queer arm of the Australian Medical Students' Association. In her clinical career she hopes to provide safe reproductive, obstetric and termination care that is free from biological essentialism.

Dineli

Ryan is an economist and Chartered Accountant making waves in Australia's decarbonisation and energy transition efforts. He is involved in key projects including decarbonisation strategies and multi-billion-dollar renewable energy initiatives at Aurecon. Ryan serves as Treasurer at Open Doors Youth Service and also co-founded Interfirm Brisbane and Interfirm Engineering, connecting top-tier professional services firms for a more inclusive future.

Ryan Isaacs

SA

Michelle is a proud culturally-diverse transgender woman. Working within the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Michelle came out at work after 3 years of being in the workplace. She is now a role model for other LGBTQIA+ folk in the Department. In her off-time, she loves slow fashion, exploring local events, and being out in nature.

Michelle Hok

Nathan Harrison is a public health research student passionate about understanding the unmet needs of groups experiencing disproportionate harms from smoking and other modifiable health behaviours. He proudly advocates for breaking down the barriers that LGBTQIA+ professionals can face in the health and medical research sector.

Nathan Harrison

TAS

Ben is the youngest councillor ever elected to Northern Tasmania's Meander Valley Council. As the first openly gay member on the council, Ben champions inclusivity and diversity as the foundation of a strong community. His achievements include leading the effort to raise the Rainbow Flag above the council chambers for IDAHOBIT Day in 2023. Ben's unwavering commitment to representation and social justice defines his impactful journey.

Ben Dudman

VIC

Alexander is an artist, designer and educator that lives and works on the lands of the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation. In his role as PRIDE Coordinator at Wesley College Melbourne, Alexander coordinates the PRIDE Group to create a safe space and increase the visibility of LGBTQIA+ students and staff both in the Wesley College community and Australia’s religious schools.

Alexander Lucian Hudson

Angela is the position of General Manager at Transgender Victoria Inc. Her remarkable journey is defined by courage, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to championing transgender rights. She has transformed these experiences and pain into opportunities for growth and empowerment. Her passion for creating positive change has fuelled her commitment to advocating for equality, acceptance, and social progress as well as providing support directly wherever possible.

Angela Wiebenga

Bec is a proud queer, second generation Australian-Sri Lankan woman who creates safe and inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ and multicultural youth. She is a strong advocate and professional for the queer community in the sporting sector. Bec was the first Chair of the AFL Pride and Allies Group, including developing the first internal LGBTQIA+ inclusion training, organising the first AFL Victoria Wheelchair and Blind Pride Rounds, and creating safe sporting communities through the AFLW Pride Round.

Bec Herft

Charles, a first-generation Hong Kong-Australian, is currently Co-director at the Victorian Statewide Trauma Service, pioneering the world's first statewide specialist trauma initiative. With a history of impactful advocacy, he led significant policy reforms for LGBITQ+ individuals at the Australian Association of Social Workers. Charles's leadership extended to a groundbreaking LGBTIQ+ project at Thorne Harbour Health, enhancing visibility in the mental health sector.

Charles Chu

Claire is a queer non-binary and neurodivergent peer worker, who uses their lived experience to support and connect with individuals. They are passionate about making sure everyone has access to gender and neurodiversity affirming mental health care, and creating a space where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Claire Munns

Hamish is passionate about fostering inclusivity. As a director on Proud2Play's board and co-founder of Teach For All's Global Pride Network, Hamish looks to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights any way he can. Whether this is through competitive sport, community groups, or at work, Hamish always tries to be the sort of gay role model he needed growing up.

Hamish Taylor

Lauren French is a proud Karajarri women, sexologist, and Head of education with Body Safety Australia, one of Australia’s leading organisations in primary prevention. Lauren facilitates community prevention of abuse and LGBTQIA+ equity. Along with a Bachelor of Psychology, Lauren holds a Master’s of Sexology and is the proud recipient of the 2023 Indigenous Achievement award in the 2023 7News Young Achiever Awards.

Lauren French

Rowen is a genderqueer, part-time student and medical receptionist who lives for their peer work. They volunteer as a facilitator with Thorne Harbour Health, run a queer romance book club, and in his spare time Rowen created the website TGD in VIC. The website aims to centralise resources and information for trans and gender diverse people living in Victoria.

Rowen De Lacy

WA

Aish is an advocate for diversity and inclusivity, based in Perth on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. Aish thrives at JourneyOne, fostering collaborative teams and extraordinary results. As a Basecamp Leader, she guides remarkable journeys in human services, blending business, technology, and impact. Aish's commitment to social impact extends to serving as Chief People Officer for Hello Initiative and volunteering for climate education and tech events. Energized by shaping WA's reputation, she's a force for positive change.

Aish Srinivas

Anish is a dedicated educator residing on Whadjuk Noongar country. With a decade-long track record, he's championed LGBTQIA+ youth advocacy and access to educational opportunities. Anish's roles as President and Board Director for state and national NFPs, along with policy reforms in Education, reflect his commitment. Anish, who identifies as a gay person of color, believes education has the power to enrich Australia's diverse society.

Anish Badgeri

Shaun is an engineer at BHP and serves as a co-leader of the LGBTQIA+ inclusion and ally network, Jasper. Shaun champions LGBTQIA+ support within the resources industry and the WA community, organising impactful events like Trans Day of Visibility, Trans101 Training and Drag Storytime. Shaun's technical expertise drives safety, productivity, and cost improvements, while his openness inspires allyship and authentic leadership.

Shaun Tran