NSW LGBTIQ+ advisory council members revealed

The NSW government has revealed the names that will make up the inaugural LGBTIQ+ advisory council.

The council has been created to work closely with the NSW government in providing insights and recommendations on issues affecting the LGBTIQ+ community.

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe said that the establishment of the council was key to ensuring that every person in NSW can live a life free from discrimination and prejudice.

“Establishing the LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council is another step forward for LGBTIQ+ people in our state who deserve to be visible and heard. It will drive a more inclusive and equitable NSW,” she said.

The 16 inaugural members range from national trailblazers to local champions and were selected based on their experiences and dedication to advocating for the LGBTIQ+ community.

“The diversity of expertise and experiences being brought together in this council is exceptional,” said Sharpe.

Leading the council as co-chairs are Robyn Kennedy and Dr Justin Koonin.

Kennedy is a 78er who protested in the first ever Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and has continued work in the community through roles with groups like InterPride, Sydney WorldPride and Qtopia Sydney.

“As a lesbian and 78er, I am honoured to serve as Co-Chair of this council. Our work will focus on ensuring that all LGBTIQ+ individuals in NSW are supported, respected, and have their rights upheld,” she said.

“This is what our community has always stood for through our decades of advocacy and resilience.”

Koonin has been president of LGBTQ+ health organisation ACON since 2015 and is recognised for his leadership and expertise as a long-serving convenor of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

“As Co-Chair of the council I am looking forward to working with members to ensure the NSW
Government has direct access to the communities’ experiences, ideas and solutions,” he said.

“I am proud to be part of a council that will work towards equality for all.”

Each member of the council will serve a two-year term. The first task of the council will be to work with the government to develop NSW’s first LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy.

The other members of the body include:

• Anna Brown OAM: CEO of Equality Australia, who played a critical role in the campaign for marriage equality as the co-chair of the Equality Campaign.
• Dr Morgan Carpenter: The designer of the Intersex Flag and current executive director of Intersex Human Rights Australia.
• Brad Farrugia: A director at the Australian-American Young Leaders Forum who has previous experience as an advisory council member at the US Embassy in Australia.
• Will Lawrence: A nominee for the City of Sydney Betty Makin Youth Awards for his work advocating for representation of gender diversity.
• Veronica Mason: A high-performance coach, a Pinnacle Foundation scholar alumna, and the 2024 Pinnacle alumni scholar for the University of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ executive fellowship.
• Benjamin Oh: The co-chair for the GLBTIQ Intercultural and Interfaith Network, a consultative body for representatives from LGBTIQ faith and non-dominant cultural groups.
• Dr Chris Pepin-Neff: A senior lecturer in public policy and Associate Dean at the University of Sydney who led lobbying efforts for progressive issues such as repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell”.
• Dr Victoria Rawlings: A senior lecturer and Discovery Early Career Researcher Award fellow at the University of Sydney, whose research focuses on the intersections between gender, sexuality, youth and social structures.
• Ian Roberts: the first high-profile Australian sportsperson to publicly come out as gay, and the world’s first openly gay rugby player. He has since dedicated time to advocating for LGBTI+ rights and is a co-founder of the Qtopia Sydney museum.
• Nicholas Stewart: A partner at Dowson Turco Lawyers, billed as Australia’s only “out loud and proud LGBTI law firm”, who spent four years successfully campaigning for the LGBTI gay hate inquiry.
• Dr Cris Townley: A research fellow at Western Sydney University and co-author of gender equity research on academic promotion, trans and gender diversity, and higher degree research candidature policy and practice for women with caring responsibilities.
• Kelly Young: A trans woman known as the “Queen of Dirt” in the outback town of Broadwater who uses her business to advocate for trans rights.
• Charlie Zada: The disability and social inclusion project lead at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and co-founder of the Sydney Queer and Disability Community group.
• Danny Dalton: A proud Gomeroi man who is focused on the community and, in particular, his work with Tamworth Pride.