As she is affectionately known, Michelle Sheppard, or “Mama Mish”, is a highly respected presenter, advocate, and trainer in the gender equity space. As a transgender woman, she appreciates the difficulties within the grey created by the gender divide, traverses them herself, and willingly takes others on the ride with her.

Michelle brings her experience as a trans woman into her work, running diversity, equity, and inclusion training, mentoring colleagues, and providing extra support to anyone transitioning or affirming their gender. Michelle lays out the sobering statistics around violence and discrimination against transgender people, unemployment, financial troubles, and mental health issues but mixes them with anecdotes and funny stories from her life.

She embodies dignity, grace and the change needed to make a positive difference in others’ lives, empowers women and challenges barriers to inclusion, discrimination, and harassment.

Minister for Planning and Minister for Transport, ACT Government

Kylie Crane PSM, Deputy Secretary, Early Childhood & Youth, Department of Education

Kylie Crane is a proud career public servant with over 30 years’ experience in service delivery, policy development, program and project management, and implementation.

Kylie started her public service career in an entry level role with the Department of Defence before taking on a range of service delivery and operational roles in the Department of Social Security and Centrelink.

Since 2014, Kylie has held senior roles in the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. She has led large-scale transformation projects, worked across a range of social policy issues and programs, driven reform through bilateral arrangements and led the Care Workforce Labour Market Study, the first ‘whole of sector’ examination of the care and support workforce.

Kylie is passionate about public service and was elected to the Institute for Public Administration Australia ACT Council in 2021. In January 2022, she was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for contributions to the Disability Taskforce and to the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kylie has a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Lisa Harvey-Smith, CEO, Out For Australia

Lisa Harvey-Smith is the Chief Executive officer of Out for Australia and a Professor of Practice at the University of New South Wales. As the former Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador (2018-24), she was responsible for diversifying Australia’s workforce in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Harvey-Smith has served on numerous Australian Government advisory groups including the Australian Space Agency and Questacon. Harvey-Smith is an astrophysicist who previously held research leadership roles at CSIRO. Harvey-Smith is an author of astronomy books for adults and children, which are published worldwide.

John Neil, Assistant Secretary, Fiscal Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

John Neil (he/him) is the Assistant Secretary of Fiscal Policy Branch in the Department of the Prime Minister Cabinet (PM&C) and is the PM&C Pride champion. He has been in the public service for over 20 years, with roles in Treasury, Finance and PM&C. He has worked in a variety of policy areas, including Commonwealth-state financial relations, health policy, deregulation, remote employment and Indigenous Economic Development. Prior to joining Fiscal Policy Branch, he was looking after the Health COVID-19 Priorities Branch in PM&C.

Assistant Director, NDDA and Co-chair of Pride Network, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Rachel is the Co-Chair of PRIDE in AGD, a lawyer in the Office of International Law at the Attorney-General’s Department, where she advises on human rights, air and space law, and a lemon curd aficionado. Rachel is passionate about the intersectionality of international law and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+SB people, and has written on the experiences of transgender and intersex people in seeking justice through international institutions. Rachel began her advocacy journey with a focus on the importance of community, and to work towards ensuring the public sector is informed by as many diverse voices as possible.

Reuben Kaye is what happens when you tell your children they can be anything.

Fast, on the edge, and brutally funny, Reuben Kaye is a multi-award winning Australian comedian, singer, and writer lauded for being unapologetically loud, politically active, queer, brash, and fabulous. Reuben has taken the comedy world by storm, garnering millions of views across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and making guest appearances on Spicks and Specks (ABC), the Melbourne International Comedy Fest Galas (ABC), Celebrity Letters and Numbers (SBS), The Apprentice: You’re Fired with Tom Allen (BBC) and Kids React to Drag (Channel 4). 

Winner of multiple Best Cabaret Awards, Reuben Kaye has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in the comedy and cabaret scenes. 2019 saw the creation of two amazing shows, the self-titled “Reuben Kaye” and the adult-only late-night variety show “The Kaye Hole”. Both of these raucous and celebrated events have since been showcased around the world, collecting new fans and accolades in spades.

After touring the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning show “The Butch is Back”, Reuben is taking the world by storm by showcasing his unapologetic and unfiltered views of politics, growing up queer, and the pandemic. Comfortable in front of any microphone, Reuben’s eloquence and hilarity is as scathingly delicious on the stage, in the TV studio, and in the podcast studio with his much loved interview show “Come To Daddy.”

It is no exaggeration to say that 2023 has been Reuben’s biggest and brashest year yet, seeing the newest, edgiest, and more exhilarating iteration of Kaye Hole yet, as well as the unveiling of his award winning and seat selling new hour “Live and Intimidating”, described aptly by Timeout as “bombastic, furious and magnetic.”

Fresh from his sell-out festival season, Reuben was hand-picked by Tina Arena and the 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Festival to premier his flashiest, funniest and most fearless endeavour yet – “EnGORGEd”, an all new show backed by an 18-piece orchestra dubbed “The Afterthoughts”.  

To continue the frenzy of festival successes, Reuben was invited to debut in Just For Laughs Montreal, to perform in WorldPride’s “Opera Up Late” at the Sydney Opera House, and then went on to sell out his blockbuster run in Edinburgh Comedy Festival. Meanwhile back in his homeland of Australia, Reuben yet again went viral, with his insightful commentary on LGTBQI+ rights on ABC Q+A being shared thousands of times. 

Reuben’s unmissable live shows have sold out in Australia, London and Europe, gleefully proving that he is the much needed, Swarovski studded revolt against the ever-narrowing views of an increasingly conservative world.

Andy Lima (he/him), Chief Creative Officer, Think HQ

Andre (Andy) Lima is a multilingual, award-winning creative director with a solid educational background in the creative field. With expertise in advertising, art direction, design, filmmaking, user experience, and creative strategy. As the Chief Creative Officer at Think HQ, Andy continues to shape and elevate the creative landscape with a focus on inclusion and social impact.

Matthew Guy (he/him), Manager, LGBTIQA+ Equality Programs at the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, VIC

Matthew Guy (he/him) is the Manager of Equality Programs in the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing where he manages LGBTIQA+ funding programs and partnerships. He brings extensive experience in communications, grants administration and project management with a strong focus on working with under-represented communities including multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+ communities.

Greer McGearey (she/her), Talent in “The Unsaid Says a Lot”, President of Seahorse Victoria

President of Seahorse Victoria, a support and social group for the Victorian transgender community, where more than 1,000 people have passed through its doors since its inception 40 years ago. Greer was also one of the featured talent in “The Unsaid Says a Lot” campaign, developed by Think HQ and the Victorian Government

Angela is a proud pansexual transwoman from regional Victoria who has a passion for equity especially within workplaces and healthcare. Angela is a community advisor for Gippsland Primary Health Network providing advice on mental health and LGBTIQA+ initiatives; Angela holds a masters degree in Human Resources Management and has done extensive work for trans inclusion

Since September 2022 David Casey has been Director for the Men’s, LGBTIQA+ and Children and Young People’s Health Section in the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health Equity Branch. This section is responsible for coordinating and working with partners on the delivery of the Government’s commitment to the first ever 10 Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People. This includes delivering more than 25 roundtables with the LGBTIQA+ community across every state and territory. Prior to this role David has spent over 10 years working across the Australian Public Service, including at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Taskforce and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. In 2020, while at Infrastructure David was awarded an Australia Day Council Medallion of Achievement for his work in advocating for, establishing and chairing the then only Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Network in the APS. David is a proud gay man grateful for the immense support he has received from the LGBTIQA+ community since coming out in 2019.

Rachael Cosgrove, President, DEFGLIS

Rachael joined the Royal Australian Navy in October 1999, as a Junior Rate, qualifying as a Boatswains Mate. Following the completion of a 10-year career as a JNCO Rachael decided to apply for her commission in 2008. In 2009 Rachael joined HMAS Creswell as a Midshipman to specialise as Maritime Warfare Officer. Rachael has recently completed the Principal Warfare Officer course specialising in Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving. She completed a series of postings at sea and ashore having served on Patrol Boats, Frigates, Supply, Amphibious and more recently the Mine Hunter Coastal. 

In 2013, she married her lifelong sweetheart, Gillian in a ceremony in Wollongong that was witnessed by many family and friends. Rachael and Gillian shared a 13-year-old child at the time and decided to add to the value of three. They now have a 22-year-old son (Corban), a 7-year-old daughter. (Kaitlyn) and 5-year-old daughter, (Sophie). Rachael took some time away from the pressures of the sea-going environment to focus on family. As a family they moved to Sydney so that Rachael could pursue her career advancement course. They currently live in Mascot where they have established a happy pattern of life. 

In 2008 Rachael marched with DEFGLIS as the first contingent with Defence Approval, this milestone event saw her become passionate about the DEFGLIS platform and committed to helping in any way possible to build a more robust support network for the Defence LGBTIQ community. In 2019 Rachael marched for the first time in uniform after marching for consecutive years with her family, this was a moment that she will never forget. Rachael is an outwardly spoken advocate for all members of the community, she has an invested interest in the treatment of the TGD members as well as the barriers still being faced by same-sex families and families of non-traditional composition.        

In 2017 Rachael became a member of the Navy Reference Group- Diverse Sex, Sexuality and Gender as a founding board member, and has since been a part of the Group working under the Director Navy Diversity and Inclusion as a side bar. This is where she met other active members within DEFGLIS and made the decision in consultation with her wife to nominate for a Board position. Over the course of the 4 years Rachael has been Events Director and Families advocate, coordinating the first DEFGLIS Family Fun Day in 2021. 

Rachael believes that although much has changed there is still a long way to go before all members of our community feel the absolute effects of equality and fairness. There are areas that have seen a real positive shift and as a community we should be thankful, she believes that although change will occur it will always occur in Defence time and this is where she believes that DEFGLSI holds the greatest value, as an organisation we can share those feelings of time stall and press together through friendship, support, mentorship and peer group community events and networking. Rachael believes that DEFGLIS plays a vital role in the support and success of our members.  

Over the course of her 22 years of service Rachael has made many friends and has had the opportunity to know those in quite influential positions these days, she plans on pivoting off these friendships to help project the importance of awareness, education and peer support for the LGBTIQ community. Whilst DEFGLIS is not the policy maker and nor should it be, we can influence and empower those that are. Rachael is passionate about reconnecting with the community and bringing us together through on-line events, forums, social gatherings and of course the successful projects already established like the Rainbow Wreath Project, the Ski Trip, the introduction of a DEFGLIS Party, of course our MG attendance and the long-awaited Military Pride Ball making it’s come back in 2022.

Rachael is extremely proud to be supported as the 2022 DEFGLIS President and she will be supported by her wife Gill. What you will always get from Rachael is honesty, integrity, courage to speak up and out when required. She will listen and act if it is the best interest of the organisation and the member group.

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.