Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders 2020

Special Counsel, Corrs ChambersWestgarth and Chair of GiveOUT.

“I’m gay, wear hearing aids, and have a speech impediment … I aspire to demonstrate that no matter what initial hurdles might seem to be in your way, you can achieve anything.”

Head of Asset Management, Damstra Technology

"Being out means not only healing and saving yourself, but also potentially saving someone who is watching from a dark closet somewhere."

Chief Information Officer (CIO), EnergyAustralia

“During the marriage equality debate, my son sent me an article about Alan Joyce. The article talked about life being too short to not bring every part of yourself to work. My son said to me, “Mum, the next organisation you work for, I want them to know the whole you”.

CEO, Switchboard Victoria

“It is what you do when no one is watching that determines what kind of leader you really are.”

Police officer, Queensland Police Service

“The hands of change move very, very slowly—though, that can be a good thing. Tiny changes aren’t always noticeable to those who oppose you, but those changes eventually become an avalanche!”

Inspector, Queensland Police Service (QPS)

"We need to open our hearts and minds to difference and understand not everyone shares the majority experience of culture, class, ethnicity, ability, gender or sexuality.”

CEO, Equality Australia

“Courage is taking a stand when nobody else will stand with you.”

Chief Executive, Midsumma Festival

“Stories are powerful, as are the personal connections that stem from sharing them.”

Managing Principal of Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, Aurecon

“Trailblazing is exciting and rewarding but it can get lonely. It's hard to be what you can't see.”

Queen’s Counsel; Vice-president, Australian Bar Association

“I resolved from my earliest days in the profession that I would not be part of perpetuating a culture of invisibility and silence.”

Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Rugby Australia

“Now more than ever, social inclusion is so important. We need to make sure we are connected to community and that no one suffers or struggles alone.”

Associate Director, Pride Inclusion Programs

“Being a leader is very different to being a “boss". A true leader is not here to tell their team what to do, but to guide, assist, step in when needed, and help people develop.”

Chair, Alliance for Gambling Reform

“I believe you need to be the change you want to see. Plenty of people talk about things, but actions speak louder than words.”

Managing Partner, Perpetual Private; Board Member, GiveOUT Australia

“Inclusive leadership is a key that when used in the right ways it unlocks better ways of working, engaging and innovating. Inclusive leadership means you can be more confident that you are shining a torch in the shadows of your own understanding and that you are creating a workplace that continuously grows.”

Councillor, City of Sydney

“My family is an example of how people can have profoundly differing views on important subjects, but still advocate for their positions in a respectful, rational and empathetic way.”

Independent Member for Sydney in NSW Parliament; Chair of Inner-City Legal Centre Foundation

“Don’t be afraid to confront the difficult issues.”

Head of Technology, QBE Insurance

“Someone once said to me, ‘if you want to work in a place where you can have your partner’s photo on your desk, then put your partner’s photo on your desk’.

Lecturer in Church History and Senior Tutor, St Francis (Theological) College Brisbane

“I look forward to the day when in every walk of life, our identities are not questioned, or used as sources of privilege or denigration.”

Deputy Representative, Global Mental Health Peer Network (Western Pacific Region)

“Speak loud and speak proud! Utilise your lived experience to give a voice to others.”

Executive Manager, Personal Injury Assurance Suncorp

“Being an inclusive leader is critical to me. The role of a leader is to bring out the best in their people in pursuit of their shared goals, and you can’t bring out the best in someone who isn't being themselves.”

Executive Director, Create NSW - Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW

“There have been significant developments which have led to increased inclusion of the LGBTI+ community. Despite these welcome changes, there is a lot of work to be done to fight for the powerless who still face a daily battle for inclusion.”

Former Justice of the High Court of Australia and Chair of the Commission of Inquiry of the UN Human Rights Council on North Korea.

"The LGBTI+ community should not only be concerned with issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity; they should be engaged with all forms of discrimination, inequality and injustice.”

Deputy Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet (TAS)

“Legacy is planting seeds in a garden you may never get to see grow.”

Non-profit Executive and Economist

“Balancing being good at your job and bringing people with you is where true action and outcomes happen.”

Host of ABC’s Q+A and Radio National Breakfast

“Learning a language taught me how important it is to really listen to different voices who might otherwise go unheard. The simple act of opening a conversation in someone else’s language gave me access to stories I would likely never have been able to tell.”

Creative Director, Google

“I’ve consciously tried to be open and out about my identity, to ensure that the generation behind me has visible LGBTI+ role models, so they can see what they want to be, and know that there is a place in our industry for people like us.”

Head of Diversity & Inclusion - Woolworths Group

“You are stronger than you think, and you will build on this strength by being true to yourself.&nbsp;Do what you know is right and you will find friends and support when you least expect it.”<

Founding Director, Unicorns

“When I'm holding the microphone, I think very carefully about the words I say and consider how I could use these moments to educate, uplift, inform or  inspire.”

Partner, Financial Advisory, PwC & National Co-Sponsor, Shine (PwC’s LGBTI+ network)

“Everyone has individual stories and hardships – share and be open and honest about  yourself as vulnerability fosters a culture of inclusiveness.”

Global Chief Executive Officer, Talent International

"We all have chinks in our armour, and we all make mistakes. Owning, accepting and sharing these imperfections allows for a deeper and more meaningful connection.”

Project Manager, Goulburn Community-owned Solar Farm; President, Canberra SpringOUT Pride Association; Board Member, National Folk Festival.

“Find your tribe – which I have done. They live all over the globe and are people who understand and support me, and I them. They are my chosen family.”

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

“The privilege some of us have can obscure the struggle for others.”

Member for Gwoja in the NT Assembly, Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps, Local Government, Art, Culture and Heritage, Central Australian Reconstruction, Indigenous Essential Services.

“Don't let people define you by your sexuality. It is part of my story, not my whole story.”

CEO, ACON

“The progress we have seen is not equitable for all in our communities and there is still significant work to be done for the trans and gender-diverse community, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTI+ people, for women in our communities, and for ethnically diverse people, amongst many others.”

Deputy Commissioner, Capability, Victoria Police

“‘Coming out’ is a choice, but if you are ‘out’, then be proud and participate in all aspects of life so that others who may not be as comfortable with their sexuality can ain strength from you.

Director, Chimaera Capital Limited. Treasurer, Transgender Victoria. Treasurer, Carlton Pride. Vice Chair, YPO’s LGBTI+ Families & Allies Network.

“I used to call ahead to warn people that I was transgender - but now my gender identity is a non-negotiable object of pride!”

Senator for Western Australia; Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Employment Services

“We need to be brave and open about our own experiences, while also staying curious about others.”

Academic Educator, Researcher, and Community Organiser

“We must bring people with us and ensure we are always passing on and sharing the knowledge and resources that are provided to us.”

Content Lead, ABCQueer; Reporter, 7.30 ABC TV; Board Director, Twenty10

“I aspire to be someone who helps make the world a more empathic, fair and fun place through innovative storytelling.”

Executive Director for Schiavello Construction and Co-chair for InterBuild.

“Conversation needs to be more inclusive of those who have more traditional views. Too often we like to stay in our circles and preach to the converted, but if we want to go far, we must go together, and that means bringing along others with us, with patience, respect and education.”

Founding CEO, Minus18

“One day when I was really struggling to come up with the words to say for a broadcast, I was told, “speak from the heart, and people will listen.” This advice resonated with me and has helped me bring vulnerability to my work every day.”

Professor of Bioethics and Director of the Disability Innovation Institute, UNSW

“The organisations that are most effective, and the ones I respect most, have worked steadily towards greater inclusion for everyone, sometimes over decades.”

Parish Priest, Saint Mark's Anglican Church Fitzroy

“All who are vulnerable need those with freedoms to be open, confident, authentic and unafraid. It’s how we need to be, to advocate for those who cannot do it themselves.”

Co-convener, Victorian Pride Lobby

“Our community is full of fighters, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director - The Pinnacle Foundation and Non-Executive Chair of SHK Asia Pacific

“I like to listen, encourage and cause others to reflect. So many times, people have  the answers themselves - and making them feel confident about reaching a decision is a powerful thing.”

ACT Minister for Transport, Minister for Skills and Special Minister of State

“I received advice early on in my career to “put on your armour”. This was the advice given to me when I first ran for office and it’s all about having a calm and resilient mentality in the face of adversity.”

Postdoctoral Fellow at the Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith University, and co-founder of Social Good Outpost.

“It’s important to ask, "who's not in the room right now?" If they’re not, why not? How can we advocate for their interests anyway? And how can we ensure they are included next time?"

Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation; Board Member, The Pinnacle Foundation

“Support for the LGBTI+ community is much more comfortably demonstrated now. When I was younger, even if support was there, it was often quiet and not spoken about out loud. I hope we can continue to make these conversations more open and comfortable.”

Chairperson of the Mercer Pride Business Resource Group and the Asia Pacific Regional lead

“There is a better and deeper understanding of our community, and people are more willing to come to the party, be active allies, and stand up to discrimination in all of its forms.”

Partner, Risk Advisory, Deloitte Australia

“Having LGBTI+ role models can have a transformative impact on creating truly inclusive workplace cultures and communities.”