Victorian Pride Awards - Saturday 15th August - Tickets now on sale!

Boudie has five years of experience working and volunteering in queer and non-profit organisations across Australia, and is committed to fostering inclusive and multicultural spaces. He co-founded Queer Muslim Naarm, which allowed him to support LGBTIQ+ individuals in Middle Eastern and Muslim communities. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to inclusivity and addressing the unique challenges that marginalised groups face.

Boudie’s contributions have been recognised with the GLOBE Volunteer of the Year Award (2021) and a Service Award from Thorne Harbour Health, highlighting his dedication to volunteer engagement.

As a Volunteer Coordinator at Thorne Harbour Health, He oversees volunteer operations and contributes to strategic initiatives that enhance volunteer participation and support. His expertise in volunteer management has also been recognised by Volunteering Victoria, where he is registered as a Professional Leader of Volunteers. Additionally, He has worked with RMIT as a Research Assistant for QTIPOC mental health, furthering his commitment to research and advocacy in LGBTIQ+ wellbeing.

As a queer person of colour, he prioritises diversity and intersectionality in his work. He pays his respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on whose lands he lives, works, and plays. Always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli AM won the GLOBE Straight Ally Award in 2018 and is a founding member of the Australian LGBTIQA+ Multicultural Council (AGMC) since 2004. 

An Honorary Fellow at Deakin University, Maria is an academic, author and activist in the intersections of cultural diversity, gender and sexual diversity, relationship and family diversity. Maria is also a founding member of Ascolta Italian Women in 2020, critiquing, decolonising and celebrating Italian heritage and culture. Her current project is “Mobs and Wogs: First Peoples and Southern European migrants in Australia”, to be published this year. Maria wrote Australia’s first AIDS biography, Someone You Know, which is in development for theatre by Stephen Nicolazzo; and her novel about family and sexual diversity in three generations of an Italian family, Love You Two, won a Lambda award. 

Maria was also chief editor of the AGMC anthology, Living and Loving in Diversity: an Anthology of Australian Multicultural Queer Adventures.

Matthew is currently serving as Marketing Manager for Events & Experience at Dan Murphy’s. During Midsumma Festival, Matthew led Dan Murphy’s partnership, and personally participated as a Co-Chair and Endeavour Group Proud representative.

As a marketing and events professional with over 15 years of experience in the beverage and hospitality industries, Matthew has a wealth of expertise in strategic marketing, and a commitment to working with inclusive organisations that prioritise collaboration and progressive values.

As a judge for the Victorian Pride Awards, Matthew offers a unique perspective that balances commercial insight with a deep understanding of community and diversity. His professional journey reflects a dedication to supporting and empowering inclusive environments, making him an ideal contributor to celebrating LGBTQIA+ achievements.

Michelle is a dynamic and award-winning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader, a nationally respected advocate and one of Australia’s most visible transgender women. With over 15 years of cross-sector impact, she has been instrumental in driving workplace inclusion and structural reform, specialising in LGBTIQA+ advocacy and intersectional approaches to social change.

Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2023 and named LGBTIQA+ Victorian Person of the Year in 2024, Michelle combines lived experience with executive expertise to elevate marginalised voices. Her approach to leadership is characterised by powerful storytelling, strategic engagement, and a commitment to building safe and inclusive cultures. 

As a previous Victorian Pride Awards Person of the Year (2023), Michelle brings a deeply personal and professional understanding to her role as a judge, championing the diverse stories and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Zoran was admitted to the NSW Bar in August 2017 with a strong clinical and commercial background in Medicine and Surgery with diverse experience in multinational Pharmaceutical and Medical Device organisations. He signed the VIC Bar roll in March 2019 and now has an extensive and diverse practice, with a focus on Criminal Law.

Zoran is currently the President of the Victoria Chapter for PIL and Deputy Chairperson of the National Committee for PIL. Recent achievements include conducting the first LGBTQIA+ CPD event in collaboration with the South Australian Law Society, and currently establishing the first Chapter for PIL in South Australia. Zoran undertakes regular mentoring with a focus on the student community in broadening PIL’s scope for embracing and encouraging diversity. 

Zoran’s  professional practice at the Victorian Bar consists of a busy trial practice where he often prosecutes on behalf of the Office of Public Prosecutions. Most of his work is in the County Court prosecuting ‘serious indictable crime’.

Zoë is an award-winning Australian comedian, performer and actor known for her boundary-pushing comedy and unique characters. Her breakout character “Dave” – a parody of a sexist male comedian – won her the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award (formerly Barry Award) in 2016 for her show “Trigger Warning,” along with two Green Room Awards. After introducing her character “Bossy Bottom” in 2018, Zoë created a comedy special for Amazon Prime featuring this new persona. Her work regularly challenges gender norms and satirises comedy conventions. In 2023, Zoë starred in and created the ABC series “Queerstralia,” offering a fresh perspective on Australian LGBTIQA+ history.

Greg is one of Australia’s most electrifying live performers, commanding stages worldwide with his powerful vocals and magnetic presence.

Fresh from headlining prestigious events including AAMI Park Stadium Pride Cup and Sydney Mardi Gras, Greg’s 2024 album ‘Strings Attached’ reached #4 on the ARIA charts. His hit single ‘Marching On’ was the official Darwin Pride anthem 2023, while his groundbreaking song ‘Who Gave You Permission?’ addresses sexual abuse. Beyond music, Greg is a passionate LGBTI community advocate, using his platform to combat stigma around HIV/AIDS and support sexual abuse survivors. Currently touring with Synthony Dance Anthems Orchestrated, Greg continues to captivate audiences with his emotional depth and authentic artistry.

Jens is a multi-talented actor, artist and producer who creates captivating, titillating, queer, and joyful theatrical experiences.

As the creator of award-winning drag cabaret persona Skank Sinatra, Jens brings big-band flair and theatrical brilliance to international audiences. His celebrated productions include “Madame Martha’s Parisian Cabaret” (premiering at Speakeasy Theatre, Melbourne 2024), “The Cabaret Hour,” and “Skank Sinatra’s Dirty Martini Lineup.” Since 2017, Jens has worked as a producer across theatre and cabaret, including producing for prominent artists while developing his own creative projects. With qualifications in arts, music, marketing and business management, Jens splits his time between Australia and Europe, creating award-winning cabaret performances that have garnered five-star reviews.

The planet is in peril, but fear not — these Drag Titans are here to slay and save the day! In this high-camp, high-stakes spectacle, a fierce league of drag superheroes unleashes chaos, charisma, and gravity-defying glamour to rescue the world from total annihilation. Starring Lazy Suzan (Winner, Drag Race Down Under S4), Isis Avis Loren (Winner, Drag Race Down Under S3), Brenda Bressed (Drag Race Down Under S4) and Melbourne icons Paris, Kat Zowthabag, Cerulean, Randy Roy, and Roxy Rawhide, this show is a turbo-charged celebration of queer power. Featuring explosive visuals by Tom Oxnam, in this glitter-drenched action-comedy the future is fabulous — or else!

Tanzer is in the business of escapism – and escape you shall. This multi-talented musician, creative director and shimmering DJ force injects romance and glamour into the world’s most exclusive parties.

A connoisseur of ‘deep fried disco’ and master of transforming dancefloors, Tanzer transports ecstatic crowds to another time and place.

Her impressive DJ portfolio spans global fashion events (Paris, Milan, Melbourne Fashion Weeks; Chanel, Swarovski) and major LGBTIQA+ celebrations including World Pride, Sydney Mardi Gras, Melbourne NGV Gala, and RuPaul’s Drag Race premiere parties.

Tanzer has also performed at prestigious cultural institutions including the Australian Centre for Moving Image and National Gallery of Victoria.