The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Equality, Parliament of Victoria

Harriet Shing was first elected as Member for Eastern Victoria in 2014 and has since been honoured to represent this diverse and wonderful region in the Victorian Legislative Council.

In December 2022, Harriet was sworn in as Minister for Water, Regional Development, Equality and Commonwealth Games Legacy.  

Harriet was sworn in as Minister for Water, Regional Development, and Equality in June 2022, then Commonwealth Games Legacy in December the same year.

Harriet has previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries, Digital Government, Equality, Water, Emergency Services, and Mental Health.

Until she was elected to the Upper House, Harriet was a Lawyer. She has previously worked as a senior policy adviser, lawyer and industrial relations specialist in the Victorian private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

An experienced negotiator and advocate, Harriet has worked extensively in industrial relations, employment and discrimination law and dispute resolution at State and Federal levels and served as a trustee director on the board of industry superannuation fund Vision Super.

As a Labor Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet is particularly committed to identifying and enhancing opportunities that will enable communities throughout the entire region to thrive.

Harriet has lived in Morwell with a very lazy ex-racing greyhound and whippet, and now lives at the other end of the electorate, where she grew up. This gives Harriet a unique insight into the vast differences of the many communities that make up the Eastern Victoria Region.

Member of Advisory Group, Black Rainbow & Organisational Development Lead – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (APAC), Bupa

Corey is a proud GunaiKurnai, Boonwurrung and Wiradjuri man, living on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land in Canberra.

Corey’s advocacy journey began shortly after initiating his affirmation journey in 2017, experiencing the gaps in access to essential health care services, adequate policy and protections for Transgender and Gender non-conforming people and a significant lack of visibility and understanding for First Nations people. Most notably, just how difficult access to life saving gender affirming health care services are for people in  remote and regional areas.

In his day job, Corey is a Director at Deloitte leading the portfolio for Cloud Advisory in Government and the Public Sector, Corey is also a member of the Deloitte pride network “StandOUT” and involved in the Trans and Gender Diverse group in that network. Outside of work he is also a Director on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board and the first Indigenous full board Director in the history of the organisation.

Joe Ball was appointed as the new Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities in September for a three-year term. The Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities advocates for the rights, safety and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual communities. Commissioner Ball (he/him) is a proud transgender man. He is a longstanding LGBTIQA+ advocate and former CEO of Switchboard Victoria, with a 25-year career in disability, housing and homelessness, and social services. During his tenure with Switchboard, Joe lead the establishment of the statewide LGBTIQA+ Family Violence and Mental Health helpline Rainbow Door. Throughout his expansive career, Joe has drawn upon the strength and guidance of LGBTIQA+ history and most importantly, the work of activists who have paved the way, the courageous voices with lived experience and the wisdom of LGBTIQA+ elders.

Commissioner Ball is also a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the federal government’s 10-Year LGBTIQ+ Health and Wellbeing Plan and previously participated in several leading social service advisory committees and boards. This includes the Victorian Family Violence peak body Safe and Equal, the community advisory committee for 1800RESPECT, the Victorian LGBTIQA+ Taskforce, the Victorian Family Violence Reform Advisory Group, and the National Suicide Prevention Governance Committee.

In 2020, Joe was honoured as an award recipient in the 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders in Australia.

Anita is a passionate LGBTQIA+ ally and advocate, and the super proud Mum of a queer son. With 15+ years’ experience in the public sector working in communications, marketing, and PR she puts her skills to good use advocating for her LGBTQIA+ family, friends and colleagues to be treated with equality, respect, and dignity.

She has been active in the establishment and running of several APS Pride Networks, and in her new role at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is enjoying working with the Pride Committee and Pride Network to increase awareness, celebrate diversity, and build a workplace that openly values and supports LGBTIQA+ employees and understands the issues they are facing.

Founding Member | Queensland Public Sector LGBTIQ+ Steering Committee & Program Director, Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works, QLD

Martin has worked in various frontline and non-frontline roles across the state for over 11 years with the Queensland Department of Housing, with a passion for person-centred and placed-based outcomes for the most vulnerable Queenslanders. Martin was one of the founding members of his department’s LGBTIQ+ Employment Network Group, driven from wanting to see real change and acceptance for our rainbow people to be able to bring their true selves to work.  Martin is a current member of the Queensland Public Sector LGBTIQ+ Steering Committee and is particularly passionate about learning more from, growing with and walking a path towards truth and healing with our First Nations siblings.

Harriet Whyte (she/her) is a 33-year-old country girl from the Riverina, currently living in Newcastle, NSW with her wife and dog. For her day job, Harriet works for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as the Executive Director, Regional Programs and Partnerships. In this role, Harriet is responsible for a range of community, cross-border, youth, infrastructure and recovery programs delivered in partnership with all levels of government and community, youth, and Aboriginal organisations. Her background is in international relations and public policy, and she has worked in various roles across NSW Government since 2016.  

Outside of work, Harriet is on the board of Out for Australia and Women’s Community Shelters. She is a passionate believer that all young people should feel empowered to bring their authentic selves to workplaces that celebrate diversity, and everyone should have a safe place to call home. Her favourite hobbies include hosting her monthly Wine Club with friends, watching sports (AFL in particular), hanging out with her wife and dog, and travelling around regional NSW as much as possible.

Ian Thorpe stands as one of Australia’s most accomplished sportspeople, with an illustrious career both in and out of the pool. His achievements in swimming are unparalleled, having won 9 Olympic medals, 11 World Championship titles, 10 Commonwealth Games medals, and 9 Pan Pacific Games titles. Throughout his career, he has broken 22 world records, solidifying his legacy as a swimming legend.

Beyond the pool, Ian has made significant contributions to society. He was awarded an AM for his service to youth and Indigenous education, and swimming. His accolades include the Australian Sports Medal and being named Young Australian of the Year in 2000. Ian’s influence extends beyond sports; he received the Human Rights Medal in 2012 for his work advocating for better services for Indigenous children in remote communities.

Ian holds honorary doctorates from Western Sydney University and Macquarie University. He has also made his mark in the media, hosting one of the world’s largest Olympic Games broadcasts for Star Sports India at the 2016 Rio Olympics and providing expert commentary for Seven Network at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australian Swim Trials, FINA World Championships, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, he hosted the critically acclaimed ABC documentary series ‘Bullied,’ which led to ABC’s biggest-ever social media event.

As an advocate, Ian is an ambassador for Australian Marriage Equality, Invictus Games Sydney, and AIME. He serves as a patron and board member for ReachOut, a frontline youth mental health service. His advisory roles with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and STUFF further reflect his commitment to the community. Ian also maintains long-term partnerships with prominent brands such as Adidas, Optus, and Armani.

Michael West (he/they), Director, Senior’s Policy, Equality and Elder Abuse Reform, Victorian Government

Michael West, pronouns he/they, is the current Director, Senior’s Policy, Equality and Elder Abuse Reform, for the Victorian Government. Michael is responsible for leading the whole of Victorian Government response to equality reform as outlined in the 10 year LGBTIQA+ strategy 2022-2032 Pride in our future. Michael has worked across a variety of social and public policy areas including alcohol and other drugs, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, multicultural, inclusive communities and LGBTIQ+ policy areas. He is a graduate of the Benevolent Society’s Social Leadership Australia Program and has held leadership roles such as past Chair National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections (BBVSTI) standing committee, co-chair of the Victorian Expert Advisory Committee for Addiction Medicine, co-convenor, Twenty10 LGBTIQA+ Youth Homeless Service.

Daniel Witthaus (he/him), Founder & CEO, Rural Pride Australia

Daniel has spent three decades challenging homophobia and working on LGBTIQA+ inclusion one cuppa at a time in schools, rural communities, and, occasionally, developing countries like Poland, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. He’s also worked with Kids Help Line, VicHealth, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and No to Violence, a national men’s family violence organisation.

Daniel is the author of Beyond Priscilla: one gay man, one gay truck, one big idea… (2014), Beyond ‘That’s So Gay!’: Challenging homophobia in Australian schools (2010) and the Pride & Prejudice educational package (2002, 2012) – which won Human Rights Week awards for work in three Tasmanian schools.  He’s recently completed the manuscript for his latest book, Beyond Debate.

In 2013 Daniel founded Rural Pride Australia, formerly NICHE, which focuses on the needs of LGBTIQA+ people in regional, rural and remote Australia. For the last 8 years Rural Pride Australia has worked in partnership with the Victorian State Government and its Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities to deliver the LGBTIQA+ Equality Roadshow, Regional Communities of Practice and Rainbow Ready Roadmap to 29 regional and rural Victorian communities.

Nicky Bath, CEO, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

Nicky Bath is currently the CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (formerly National LGBTI Health Alliance) the national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI) and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people and communities.

Nicky has worked in the NSW Ministry of Health as the Manager of the Harm Reduction and Viral Hepatitis Branch as well as several senior positions at ACON, AIVL the national drug user organisation and the National Health Service (UK).

Nicky is committed to advancing the health and human rights of marginalised communities.

Judy Tang is a strong advocate for multiculturalism and LGBTIQA+ communities with expertise in psychology, ageing, research, and mental health. With extensive relationships across government and community groups, Judy has volunteered for more than 10 years to promote and advocate for multiculturalism and equality for migrants.

She is a former VMC Multicultural Champion and President of the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, a national body that advocates for the rights of multicultural and multifaith LGBTQIA+ people and communities. Judy has a doctorate in neuropsychology and is a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist. Dr Tang is a current Board Director for the Victorian Pride Centre, and is one of Victoria’s 12 Multicultural Commissioners at the Victorian Multicultural Commission
(VMC).

Among numerous organizations, she is a member of the Australian Association of Gerontology’s Victorian branch (AAG), a fellow of the Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN), and former National and State Convenor for the APS Psychology and Culture, and Psychology and Ageing Interest Groups, respectively.

Renee Dixson (they/them) | Member of ACT LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council & Co-founder, Chair of Forcibly Displaced People Network

Renee Dixson, a refugee of Ukrainian Qazaq heritage, is an emerging academic and the co-founder of the FDPN, the first organisation in Australia led by LGBTIQ+ displaced people. FDPN raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants at both national and global levels. Through FDPN, Renee leads advocacy, policy development, and community engagement to achieve systemic change for upholding the rights and dignity of LGBTIQ+ displaced individuals.

CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths joined the Navy in 1975 as a junior sailor communications specialist. After completing her contract she left the Navy and commenced a career in engineering, specialising in refrigeration and air conditioning. CMDR Hawkins- Griffiths was the first female refrigeration and air conditioning engineering mechanic in Australia and has worked in the mining industry, Queensland University and Private Enterprise. During this time, she gained her advanced endorsement and design qualifications.

In 1988, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was offered a job teaching refrigeration and air conditioning engineering and after gaining an Education degree, embarked on a 22- year teaching career. Concurrently, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths re-joined the Navy as a Reserve Maritime Trade Operations officer and has been posted various locations in Australia, Singapore and the UK.

In 1998, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was posted to HMAS Watson as Senior Instructor, Maritime Trade School. Given her extensive experience in adult education, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was also asked to assist with training redevelopment in the Maritime Warfare space, specifically the Junior Warfare Application Course. She resigned from her civilian teaching job to fulfill a full time military career providing educational advice and expertise to a number of courses at Training Authority Maritime Warfare.

CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths led the development and implementation of fully integrated blended learning of technical and soft skills into a homogenous learning model for several warfare training courses. This model is now the preferred delivery method for holistically blended learning for simulated warfare training in Defence and includes a number of non-traditional learning strategies.

In June 2015, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths posted to the Australian Defence Force Academy as Senior Instructor for Junior Officer Staff Skills, specifically to review and redevelop the program. Using her educational expertise in engineering and development work in the maritime warfare space, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths introduced a collaborative and interactive program specifically tailored to the learning style of the 17-22 year old.

In January 2018, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was posted into the Executive Officer job at ADFA and January 2020 was posted to the Officer Commanding Omega Squadron for Advanced Students at ADFA. 

In September 2023 CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was selected to represent Australia at the UN Military Observers course in Vietnam. In Jan 2024, she was posted to the Navy Culture Directorate as the Deputy Director of Navy Diversity and Inclusion.

CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths is married to an Army officer and has three adult children.