Nine candidates vie for four director seats in Mardi Gras board election

Nine candidates are contesting four board seats in this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras directors’ election – four aligned with activist group Pride in Protest, four with the Protect Mardi Gras faction including a Labor Party member, and one Liberal Party member.

While current Pride in Protest Mardi Gras board member and unsuccessful Greens candidate for the federal seat of Sydney Luc Velez and non-faction-aligned director Louis Hudson will not recontest the upcoming election as their two-year terms come to a close, both Protect Mardi Gras-aligned directors Kathy Pavlich and Kyriakos Gold are running again.

Pride in Protest’s Damien Nguyen will remain in his two-year Mardi Gras directorship until the end of next year after being elected at the end of 2024, as will Labor-aligned Daniel Mitsuru Delisle, and Diana McManus – who was appointed by the board to fill the spot left by Brandon Bear’s sudden departure earlier this year.

An eighth spot on the board is soon expected to be filled with another board appointee to replace Brad Booth, who also quit midway through his term.

Directors serve two-year terms, and only people who are members of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organisation are able to vote in the election. Those who wish to apply to be members in order to vote for directors will need to do so by 5pm AEDT on Saturday, November 15.

In addition to being able to vote in the directors’ election, members are also able to vote on motions that guide Mardi Gras’ direction at its annual general meeting on November 29.

While online voting for directors will open this Friday, November 7, and close on November 25 at 5pm, members will also be able to vote in person at the annual general meeting between 10am and 12pm.

So who are the candidates? Using their candidate statements supplied to members, as well as other publicly available information, we have compiled a list below.

Kathy Pavlich (Protect Mardi Gras)

Pavlich, a current board member and co-chair, says she has more than 30 years of involvement in Mardi Gras and has focused on strengthening financial sustainability, community engagement and governance. She says she is passionate about contributing to the organisation’s future and its upcoming 50th anniversary and supports modernising the constitution while maintaining a connection to history and community. Pavlich cites her professional background in security, risk and governance and says her experience will help the board navigate discussions about potential constitutional and name changes, adding she wants to guide Mardi Gras into its “next exciting chapter”. According to her LinkedIn profile, Pavlich works as associate director of security risk education at NSW Health and has served as an industry representative on the NSW Police security licensing enforcement directorate advisory council. Pavlich confirmed she is not a member of any political party, nor has she been a member of one previously.

Kyriakos Gold (Protect Mardi Gras)

Gold, a current Mardi Gras board member, says he has helped steer the non-profit through a complex period, working to rebuild trust, strengthen governance and restore accountability. He highlights lived experience as a culturally and linguistically diverse, autistic and non-binary person, along with a background spanning law, governance, business and community engagement. Gold notes recognition including induction into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll and being a Telstra Best of Business finalist, saying he is running again to finish reform work and ensure Mardi Gras remains “fearless, transparent, and representative of the full diversity of our community”. According to his LinkedIn, Gold is the founder and CEO of Just Gold, a social-enterprise consultancy and creative agency, and has previously worked in senior public-sector and media roles including at SBS and the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Gold confirmed to GSN that he is not a member of any political party.

Shane Sturgiss (Protect Mardi Gras)

Sturgiss, a proud gay Aboriginal man with family connections to Ngarigo and Gundungurra Country, says his lived experience shapes his commitment to advocacy, inclusion and safe spaces where diverse voices are celebrated. He cites involvement in establishing First Nations initiatives across Mardi Gras and WorldPride, including the First Nations Circle at Fair Day and First Nations programming for the festival. Sturgiss says his governance and strategic experience would help strengthen Mardi Gras’ legacy of empowerment, celebration and social change. According to his LinkedIn, Sturgiss has held senior roles across First Nations organisations, including CEO of BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation and Stolen Generations NSW, and director of operations at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Sturgiss told GSN he is not a member of any political party.

Alyss Cachia (Pride in Protest)

Cachia, a trans activist, says she wants a Mardi Gras that members can be “proud of and can see ourselves in, not just a stream of corporate advertisements.” She cites campaigning at UNSW to ensure the university’s return to the parade was “more than just an ad” and supports a left-wing vision of Mardi Gras that demands “equality in FULL”, opposes police violence and supports divesting from genocide. Cachia says she supports the inclusion of victims of police, religious and colonial violence and calls on members to support the Pride in Protest ticket. According to her LinkedIn, Cachia has held student leadership and advocacy roles at UNSW, including on the student representative council and Queer Collective, and serves on the university’s gendered violence student reference group. She is completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science at UNSW and has worked in event logistics and student media. Pride in Protest confirmed Cachia is not a member of a political party.

Luna Choo (Pride in Protest)

Choo, a trans asylum seeker, says she is running to represent queer people affected by anti-trans discrimination and to advocate for Palestinian rights. She cites activism including campaigning for Alex Greenwich’s Equality Bill to be passed in full, speaking against the detention of trans refugees, and organising queer contingents at pro-Palestine rallies. Choo says she was threatened with deportation over Palestine solidarity during last year’s Mardi Gras and credits the queer community for supporting her. She pledges to “cut ties with genocide”, “end police violence” and “demand full equality – no exceptions!” Pride in Protest confirmed Choo is not a member of a political party.

Jarrod Lomas (a Liberal Party member)

Lomas says Mardi Gras is at a “crossroads” ahead of its 50th anniversary, with rising costs, operational pressures and political distractions threatening the festival and community unity. He cites experience across government, business and community roles, including as president of the Pride Business Association and board member of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation. Lomas, who confirmed to Gay Sydney News he is a Liberal Party member, says he will bring transparency and a community focus, arguing progress is built “365 days a year”. He pledged to ensure Mardi Gras is “stronger, sustainable and importantly, truly for everyone”. According to his LinkedIn, Lomas works at Supply Nation, an organisation focused on growing First Nations business participation in the economy, and has previously held senior advisory and campaign roles for Liberal MPs and senators including Dave Sharma, Ken Wyatt and Judith Adams.

Miles Carter (Pride in Protest)

Carter, a gender-non-conforming musician who uses he/she pronouns and is undertaking a music composition diploma at TAFE, says he has been supporting trans women in Villawood detention and believes Mardi Gras must confront systemic oppression, particularly of First Nations people. He says the rallying cry “Stop Police Attacks – On Gays, Women And Blaks” remains relevant and calls for Mardi Gras to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, arguing the organisation should not be linked to companies involved in “the illegal occupation of Palestinian land”. Carter says there is “no Pride in genocide” and encourages members to support the Pride in Protest ticket. Pride in Protest confirmed Carter is not a member of a political party.

Carlos Badelles-Agito, aka Tala Ka (Pride in Protest)

Badelles-Agito, a Filipino drag performer, says they use drag in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ and people of colour communities and wants Mardi Gras to reclaim its power as a global symbol of queer liberation and resistance. They reference the movement’s protest roots and say LGBTQIA+ protections are under attack globally alongside “the ongoing genocide” of Palestinians and First Nations people. They say Mardi Gras must stand against institutional violence and pinkwashing and use its platform to oppose genocide and discrimination, urging support for Pride in Protest candidates. According to their LinkedIn, Badelles-Agito has worked across customer-facing roles including as a retail assistant at Sunglass Hut, a rides attendant at Luna Park Sydney and a performer and choreographer with Evan Powis Entertainment. Pride in Protest confirmed Badelles-Agito is not a member of a political party.

Savanna Peake (Protect Mardi Gras/a Labor Party member)

Peake, a proud lesbian and former federal Labor candidate for Wentworth, says she is running because no women were elected to the board last year and she wants to ensure women’s voices are heard. She highlights work advocating for the NSW Equality Bill, her experience running parade floats and her background in education, governance and community advocacy. Peake says she wants Mardi Gras to stay strong, united and inclusive and believes the board must reflect “more women, more lesbians and more diversity”. She says she will work collaboratively to strengthen the organisation. According to publicly available information, Peake is a Pride Business Association board member and has worked across government and education, including as a public high-school teacher and for both federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek and Labor City of Sydney councillor Zann Maxwell. She also serves as co-convenor of Rainbow Labor NSW, the grassroots network of LGBTQIA+ members of the Labor Party in the state.

Editor’s note: This article was written by Ben Grubb, who pays $50 annually for Mardi Gras membership to access discounts, including at retail stores and bars, but doesn’t use the membership’s voting rights.

Clarification: Per the candidate statement, Miles uses both he/him and she/her pronouns.