Our Committee

GLOBE Victoria committee members are professionals and small business owners. They selflessly volunteer their time to ensure that GLOBE Victoria operates efficiently and effectively, and they continually expand its projects and events.

President Andrew Shepherd (he/him)
Andrew Shepherd (he/him)
President Andrew Shepherd (he/him)

Andrew is currently a Leader at insurance firm EBM RentCover. He previously held a number of leadership positions at global risk management firm Marsh and McLennan, most recently as a Project Manager and Vice President within their Mergers & Acquisitions Practice.

Andrew has always had a passion for giving back to the community. Prior to joining GLOBE Victoria, he was President of Young Insurance Professionals of Australia and New Zealand, a not for profit that runs networking and educational events. During his 4 years with YIPs he held various management positions. Andrew is also a mentor for both RMIT and Out For Australia.

Andrew has been a member of the GLOBE Victoria Committee of Management since July 2018, previously holding the roles of Events Director and Individual Membership Director. He became a member of GLOBE Victoria’s Executive as Secretary in November 2019 before being elected as President in April 2022. Andrew is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organisation.

Treasurer Lyall Griffiths (he/him)
Lyall Griffiths (he/him)
Treasurer Lyall Griffiths (he/him)

Lyall works for Rio Tinto Exploration as their Finance & Compliance Manager for Australasia. His job involves making sure all aspects of finance are managed properly in diverse countries such as Mongolia, India, Laos and China.

Currently based in Perth, Lyall supports GLOBE remotely as a group that he has enjoyed being involved with in the past. He is buoyed by GLOBE’s contributions to worthwhile causes through the annual Community Grants program and regular social and community events.

Lyall is working to help GLOBE become well recognised in the LGBTI community as an organisation that is valued through its professional membership and providing resources to other parts of the community.

Lyall’s expertise in financial management and compliance support GLOBE’s day to day running and enables the organisation to achieve its goals.

Vice President & Regional Victoria Director Jo Bangles (she/her)
Jo Bangles (she/her)
Vice President & Regional Victoria Director Jo Bangles (she/her)

Born and raised in regional Victoria, Jo Bangles has travelled the world in the name of diversity and inclusion and spoken on stages to thousands of people encouraging them to be their true selves.

Most recognisable as the longest standing president of Dykes on Bikes Melbourne, she has also served as President of Geelong Rainbow Inc where she was a founding producer of the Geelong Rainbow Festival and Geelong Pride March.

Jo is the owner of Splatters Cheese Bar based in Geelong and co-director at LinkedOUT an inclusion training provider.

A graduate of the inaugural Leadership Victoria LGBTI Leaders program and a former finalist for the GLOBE LGBTI person of the year – Jo’s passion for community and the unique lived experiences of regionally based LGBTQIA+ people see her advocating for and forging connections with community all over Victoria.

Vice President & Special Events Director Walter Gee (he/him)
Walter Gee (he/him)
Vice President & Special Events Director Walter Gee (he/him)

Walter is a geriatrician – a doctor specialising in the care of older people. Walter is dedicated to his wonderful work and provides his services full-time through a public health service.

When he is not working, Walter packs his suitcase and travels the world to new and interesting places.

Walter is a long-term committee member of GLOBE. He loves to organise all kinds of events that members and guests enjoy. Walter gains immense satisfaction from managing our Community Grants program.

Secretary Gavin Dean (he/him)
Gavin Dean (he/him)
Secretary Gavin Dean (he/him)

Gavin is currently the Chief Finance & Technology Officer and Company Secretary at Future Leadership. He has held senior leadership positions across multiple sectors in finance, risk & governance, technology, and corporate services.

Gavin has a passion for sustainability and giving back to the community, acting as mentor to finance professionals and led the BCorp accreditation at Future Leadership.

Gavin is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Gavin manages the risk and governance functions of the organisation.

Marketing Director Jennifer Elmer (she/her)
Jennifer Elmer (she/her)
Marketing Director Jennifer Elmer (she/her)

Jennifer has enjoyed an extensive and varied career over 25 years in marketing, communications and advertising. She’s run an Olympics media campaign for a global sports brand, marketed high-end Swiss watches, and more recently moved to the public sector. It is here she realised her passion for serving a community, where she not only gets to do good work while doing good, but is also supported as an active member of her organisation’s employee Pride Squad.

She jumped at the opportunity to bring her marketing skills to GLOBE in 2021. Jennifer is passionate about supporting women in leadership and a firm believer in representation: “you can’t be what you can’t see”. She is so excited to be working with the amazing GLOBE team and members and can’t wait to develop further the GLOBE community and brand.

Individual Membership Director Tyson Garlick (he/him)
Tyson Garlick (he/him)
Individual Membership Director Tyson Garlick (he/him)

Tyson works in communications and stakeholder engagement.. He has experience working for both local and state government.

Tyson has previously worked in youth employment, accessibility and inclusion as well as governance.

He is a Member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Tyson looks forward to giving back to the LGBTIQA+ community as GLOBE’s Individual Membership Director.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact him via email at tyson.garlick@globevictoria.com.au. Better yet, strike up a conversation with him at GLOBE’s next event!

Partnerships & Corporate Membership Director Peter Callanan (he/him)
Peter Callanan (he/him)
Partnerships & Corporate Membership Director Peter Callanan (he/him)

Peter works for a leading non-bank commercial real estate lender based in Melbourne, managing the investment and fund operations function.

As GLOBE Victoria’s Partnerships & Corporate Membership Director, Peter strongly believes that continuing to develop and enhance these relationships supports GLOBE’s growth. In turn, it also enables the ongoing engagement with and commitment to the LGBTIQA+ community.

Peter seeks to collaborate with the broader GLOBE Victoria team to ensure it delivers to our members and community on an ongoing basis.

Small Business Membership Director Angelo Baronessa (he/him)
Angelo Baronessa (he/him)
Small Business Membership Director Angelo Baronessa (he/him)

Angelo Baronessa is a Financial Adviser with well over a decade of experience. He’s worked in a range of firms in his time, and in 2022 started his business Divergent Wealth.

Angelo has a regular segment on JOY 94.9 for Joy Breakfast, as their in house Finance Guru. In 2018 Angelo recognised people taking the medication PrEP would have issues obtaining comprehensive life insurance and by using his extensive networking in the industry he found success working with select insurers to get a solution for the LGBTQIA+ community. This was again repeated in 2023 when HIV+ people could now get comprehensive cover where previously it wasn’t possible or prohibitively expensive.

Divergent Wealth became a small business member of GLOBE in 2022, with the goal to connect with community and help more people in the diverse LGBTQIA+ with their financial goals through making professional connections.

Angelo has a passion for connecting, growing and helping small businesses, and is always available to assist where possible to make sure you get the most out of the small business membership.

Events Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Alex Wilson (he/him)
Alex Wilson (he/him)
Events Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Alex Wilson (he/him)

Alex Wilson is currently a Learning Delivery Manager working in ANZ Commercial Banking with over 14 years supporting Victorians achieve goals to start, run and grow their businesses. He brings a number of project management skills to the role and looks forward to the opportunity to get more involved with Melbourne’s LBTQIA+ community.

Having previously been involved in regional development programs and groups such as Northern Mallee Leaders and Mildura Young Professionals, Alex is excited to join with GLOBE Victoria to deliver a fantastic Victorian Pride Awards in 2024 with the VPA Subcommittee.

Communities & Inclusion Director Daisy Wheildon (they/them)
Daisy Wheildon (they/them)
Communities & Inclusion Director Daisy Wheildon (they/them)

Daisy offers coaching and strategies for the inclusion and well-being of our LGBTQIA+ members and their intersectional, diverse communities. Daisy comes to GLOBE Victoria with dedicated community education, training and practice in inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA). Daisy moved to Melbourne in 2019 with a goal to develop strong professional foundations in networks and communities similarly dedicated to inclusion and diversity. This practice began within their LGBTQI–GDTNB communities and has extended to intersecting cultural minorities, People’s with Disability’s (PWD), and the systems of resistance and influence that cause the most impact. This includes defining common ground for community building and creating value through co-design strategies and evidence-based practices. Daisy became a member of GLOBE Victoria in 2021 after uncovering its uniqueness through a research project conducted with ARCSHS. This research project traced the intersection between the growth of Midsumma festival and GLOBE Victoria’s role in solidifying inclusive communities and positive economic outcomes. Daisy is now proud to be elected to support this mission. As a recent graduate of RMIT (EMBA 2022), a graduate of La Trobe University’s Graduate Certificate in Sex and Society, and a current student of Curtain University’s professional Masters of Sexology, they are uniquely armed with complementing intersectional frameworks and practice in IDEA principals. As someone who is queer and also neuro-divergent, they offer GLOBE Victoria the benefit of a self-motivated, diverse thinker with unique analytical abilities, focused on people, innovation, and impact for the organisation. With GLOBE Victoria’s proven support in organisational practices, Daisy will be able to help refine their mission to support the core needs of all of our members and the communities at large.

Strategic Programmes Director Vikas Raheja (he/him)
Vikas Raheja (he/him)
Strategic Programmes Director Vikas Raheja (he/him)

Vikas has over 16 years of experience in Wealth Management & Superannuation. Working across Business Transformation, Strategy & Customer Experience, primarily developing and implementing business strategies. Vikas also produces a Melbourne based podcast “Let’s Talk, Melbourne”, showcasing the curious and informed voices from the city. He’s passionate about community engagement and cultural diversity.

Digital Consultant Karl Ervine (he/him)
Karl Ervine (he/him)
Digital Consultant Karl Ervine (he/him)

As the Head of Digital at Thirst Creative, a cutting-edge brand, marketing, and digital creative agency, Karl Ervine leverages over 14 years of comprehensive experience in the digital industry. Karl‘s versatile background encompasses website development, project management, and digital transformation across sectors including construction, property, festival, and professional services. He currently leads the charge in defining and executing innovative digital strategies at Thirst Creative, with a focus on aligning digital initiatives with business objectives. Karl‘s robust leadership skills, technical prowess, and ongoing passion for learning and problem-solving ensure Thirst Creative’s continuous growth and digital capability elevation.
As a committee member of GLOBE Victoria, Karl is committed to bringing his vast digital expertise to this vibrant community.

Regional Coordinator (Northern Victoria) Damien Stevens-Todd (he/him)
Damien Stevens-Todd (he/him)
Regional Coordinator (Northern Victoria) Damien Stevens-Todd (he/him)

Damien Stevens-Todd – Northern Victoria Coordinator

Regional Coordinator (Western Victoria) Em Ireland (she/her)
Em Ireland (she/her)
Regional Coordinator (Western Victoria) Em Ireland (she/her)

Em Ireland is known to many as the ChillOut festival director that bought the festival back to life in 2022 and 2023; she is deeply committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in the arts. She has actively sought opportunities to support underrepresented artists and communities, such as initiating workshops for marginalized groups and implementing accessible programming at the recent Chill Out festival. She believes that the arts should reflect our community, and is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to arts resources and opportunities. She has also worked for Big Day Out, Bluesfest, The Push, and currently runs Words in Winter, Swiss Italian Festa and is the CEO of Women to the Front. She joins the GLOBE Victoria regional team happily to promote  connection in LGBTIQ+ communities.

Social Media Coordinator Coco Greenberg (they/she)
Coco Greenberg (they/she)
Social Media Coordinator Coco Greenberg (they/she)

Coco Greenberg, a Gender Studies graduate from the University of
Melbourne, blends academic insight with a media and communications
background to advocate for equality. With a focus on LGBTQ+ advocacy
and consent education, Coco aims to combine their expertise to foster
inclusive conversations and support minority groups both within a
professional and personal sphere.

Graphic Design Coordinator Surej Sidhu (he/him)
Surej Sidhu (he/him)
Graphic Design Coordinator Surej Sidhu (he/him)

Surej is a graphic designer with over 3 years of experience in the industry. Currently running his own business – helloimsurej – where he specialises in branding, web design and social media, Surej collaborates with people, businesses and organisations that are driven by purpose and community.

Marketing Content Coordinator Mark McIntosh (he/him)
Mark McIntosh (he/him)
Marketing Content Coordinator Mark McIntosh (he/him)

Hey there, I’m Mark McIntosh, originally from Adelaide, South Australia. I’m all about fighting for LGBTIA+ rights and proudly wear the title of Mother Major, Sister of Perpetual Indulgence.

When I’m not advocating for equality, you can find me geeking out over technology and diving into creative spaces. Let’s connect and make the world a more inclusive, tech-savvy, and creatively vibrant place together!

Videography Coordinator Leo Glantschnig (he/him)
Leo Glantschnig (he/him)
Videography Coordinator Leo Glantschnig (he/him)

Leo Glantschnig – Digital Content Lead

Nominations & Judging Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Mia Jackson (she/her)
Mia Jackson (she/her)
Nominations & Judging Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Mia Jackson (she/her)

Mia is a seasoned professional in the arts and live entertainment industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise as a Stage/Production and Event Manager. Her career spans across Festivals, Theatre, and Musicals in Australia, NZ, and the UK, including notable contributions to Ticketing Management at AU/UK & NZ festivals and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In addition to her extensive career, Mia takes pride in her 20-year involvement within the LGBTQIA+ community. She has been an active ally, contributing to drag clubs, special events, and festivals. Mia’s volunteer work includes significant roles such as Stage Managing the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, serving as Entertainment Manager of Pride March Victoria for 3 years, and handling Stage and Event Management for the Darwin Pride Festival. She was also involved the inaugural Queens of the Galaxy Drag Pageant (which evolved into Miss First Nations) and has presented a segment of the Entertainment at a previous year’s Globe Awards. Beyond her professional and community endeavours, Mia is trained in Community Blind Sight Guide, Existential Well Being Counselling, and is currently pursuing studies in Mental Health.

Nominations & Ticketing Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Christopher Politis (he/him)
Christopher Politis (he/him)
Nominations & Ticketing Coordinator - Victorian Pride Awards Christopher Politis (he/him)

Christopher trained and performed from a young age in a range of different dance styles including classical, theatrical and Latin styles.  He spent years Dancing, Singing and Teaching in over 30 countries. Since graduating he has become one of Melbourne’s sought after male dancers, performing in corporate events, TVC’S, film clips, promotions and major theatre productions. Recently he has adjudicated eisteddfods and choreographed for major brands, Productions, Exam Syllabuses, Cabarets and corporate events across Australia. Chris currently plays the role of ‘The Bull’ in the touring production of Matador .