The Victorian Pride Centre has been the result of a lot of hard work by some remarkable people. The centre wouldn’t be what it is today without the commitment of our Board of Directors and staff.
CEO - LeavePlus
Board Director - Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation
Craig is the Chair of the Victorian Pride Centre.
He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of LeavePlus, providing portable long service leave entitlements to over 200,000 Victorian construction industry workers with a fund approaching $2b. He is also former Chair and current Board Director of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Australia’s largest independent community foundation.
With over 30 years’ experience in Strategy, Finance, Investments and ICT, he has held senior positions across a number of sectors, including member-based organisations. Previously, Craig was the Chief Executive Officer at Foresters Financial and had roles in top tier investment firms in London and Melbourne, along with various financial positions in the Victorian and South Australian State Governments. He is also a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“As a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, joining the Victorian Pride Centre Board is an honour and a privilege. I am passionate about continuing the great work done to date in making the Pride Centre a safe and inclusive place for all.”
President of the IABC Australia and Director of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDIT, SAVE THE CHILDREN AUSTRALIA
DIRECTOR AND FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR, WELLWAYS AUSTRALIA
BOARD MEMBER AND FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR, EGOOD SAMARITAN INN
Scott is Head of Internal Audit for Save the Children Australia. He is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of CPA Australia. He previously led Grant Thornton Australia’s Public-Sector practice and industry focus. In addition to his role with the Victorian Pride Centre, he volunteers as a Board Member for the Good Samaritan Inn. Scott is also a Director and chairs the Finance and Resource Management Committee for Wellways Australia. He is a strong supporter of diversity in the workplace and advocate of LGBTIQ+ issues.
Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Director at Invictus Health.
Judy Tang is a strong advocate for multiculturalism and LGBTIQ+ 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, as well as for the intersectionalities of LGBTIQ+ and multiculturalism.
Judy is a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist and currently is a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC). She is a former President of the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC), and former National Convenor of the Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology and Cultures Group. In 2019, she was honoured to have won GLOBE 2019 LGBTIQ Person of the Year.
A daughter to refugee migrants, Judy is keen to ensure the Pride Centre stands as a beacon of inspiration and hope for everyone in our diverse and wonderful LGBTIQ+ communities.
Melinda is an experienced senior executive with strong skills in people and culture, risk, safety, capital works, facilities management, procurement, technology, communications, and social impact.
Her corporate experience spans leadership positions in the financial services, transport, agribusiness, mining, and manufacturing sectors, and she holds degrees in Engineering (Mechanical) and Arts (Politics/Philosophy), and a Master of Business Administration.
Melinda has extensive experience at board level in the not-for-profit space, with previous roles as a director and chair of JOY Media, and as chair of the RACV Community Foundation.
She has served on the VPC Audit, Finance & Risk Committee since February 2020 and has chaired the VPC Venue, Facilities & Activation Committee since February 2022.
Melinda is a passionate supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion and is excited to see the VPC become a vibrant and sustainable home for our LGBTIQ+ communities.
CHAIR - DEMOCRACY IN COLOUR
BOARD - OUT FOR AUSTRALIA AND GETUP!
Alan is a not-for-profit corporate governance specialist, working with communities to build power to make decisions that matter. He serves as chair of Democracy in Colour, Australia’s first racial justice initiative run by people of colour; and on the boards of the Out for Australia, an LGBTIQA+ mentoring organisation; and GetUp!.
Alan previously served as the youngest and longest-serving member of the board of Oxfam Australia, as chair of Australia’s peak body for young people, as Envoy for Young People to the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, and on the Australian National Commission for UNESCO. He was also an executive and lawyer with the Australian Government, working in the Departments of the Attorney-General, and Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Alan is admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute.
“I hope the Pride Centre will be a place for our community to come together, celebrate the hard-won gains of those who’ve come before us, and find new energy and support for our continuing journey. Together, we’re helping build a future where everyone is free to proudly be themselves.”
General Manager Victoria – Mental Health and Wellbeing Services with Wellways Australia.
Tara brings more than 14 years of experience in community-based mental health and social services. With a background as a housing support worker and, later, mental health occupational therapist, she has since undertaken further studies in leadership, business and social impact to further leverage her insights from all levels of operations and service development in her governance.
With a background spanning multiple mental health leadership roles, Tara is and is currently General Manager Victoria – Mental Health and Wellbeing Services with Wellways Australia.
Tara is passionate about ensuring organisations are equipped to deliver on and understand the key role responsive and inclusive services play in ensuring opportunity and participation for all. She is also a member of the Victoria Government LGBTIQ+ Taskforce Health and Wellbeing Working Group providing strategic advice on ways to improve the responsiveness of health services to issues faced by LGBTIQ+ people, and the Diverse Communities’ Mental Health & Wellbeing Working Group providing advice on the implementation of other Royal Commission recommendations to ensure responsiveness to diversity.
“I consider the Victorian Pride Centre a game-changer for Victorian LGBTIQ+ communities as it provides an essential platform to come together, develop understandings, and change systems, hearts and minds.”
Jane Crawley is a dynamic and creative public sector leader experienced in guiding large and complex organisations, groups and portfolios. Her most recent position was Executive Director, Creative Industries with Creative Victoria, a position she held three years. Jane’s prior role was Director, Arts Investment with Creative Victoria, a role she held for two years.
In these roles Jane led Creative Victoria’s strategy and investment in the non-government creative industries, accountable for the state’s creative industries strategy and for Victorian First Peoples, Regional, Screen, Design, Music, and Arts sectors investment. With responsibility for a $100M+ annual budget, 70 staff and scores of key stakeholders, Jane led the delivery of Creative State 2016-20 and the design and adoption of Creative State 2025 and VicScreen, Victoria’s first strategy for the screen industry.
Prior to working for the Victorian government, Jane led Arts Melbourne and other portfolios for the City of Melbourne.
Jane was involved in some of the work that led to establishing the Pride Centre, as Co-Chair of the Community Reference Group 2018-20, and as a member of the Building and Activation Sub-Committee in 2017 – 18.
“This is an incredible achievement of the LGBTIQ+ communities of Victoria: driven and established by the sheer power of community activism and volunteerism, the Centre is a beacon, signalling the collective strength, beauty and success of Victoria’s queer communities. The establishment and opening of the Centre is only the beginning – I hope to support the Centre’s ongoing development through my role as a Board member such that every LGBTIQ+ person, no matter who or where they are, feels collective ownership of the Centre as our place.”
Justine Dalla Riva is a passionate professional whose career spans both the commercial and not-for-profit sector. She is the CEO of Australia’s first purpose built LGBTIQ+ Pride Centre located on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. A proud lesbian and mother of two, Justine joined the Pride Centre in 2018 and became its inaugural CEO in 2019. Justine is passionate about inclusion, equity and access for all, ensuring spaces are welcoming and safe for vibrant and diverse LGBTIQ+ communities so they can be their true and authentic selves. She seeks to celebrate diversity, harnessing diverse lived experiences to innovate, collaborate and create more cohesive and respectful environments.
Justine is a member of the City of Port Phillip LGBTIQ+ Advisory Committee, Fitzroy Street Business Association and Director of the newly established Pride Fund Ltd that seeks to grow the philanthropic pie for LGBTIQ+ spaces and places. A lifelong learner, she holds a Diploma of Governance, Masters in Marketing, Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design, BA with Hons and was a graduate of the Victorian Government’s 2019 LGBTIQ+ Leadership program.
Bree came on board at the Victorian Pride Centre in August 2019. With a background in arts, media and community development she has three decades of experience in seeking funding support for community and creative ventures.
A City of Port Phillip resident since the early 1990’s, she’s thrilled to see Australia’s first purpose-built LGBTIQ+ Centre be built in beautiful St Kilda and even more thrilled to be supporting the sustainability of such an important beacon for equality and inclusion in Australia.
Her passions are social justice, art, eco building, her partner Sherif and queer family of friends, exes and allies.
Max is originally from the hills of Gippsland in Victoria’s east (Gunai Kurnai land). His professional background encompasses arts marketing and events programming, and is passionate about urban planning, environmental sustainability, film and food. He has previously worked at Classic Lido Cameo Cinemas, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Queen Victoria Market in various capacities. He has a Diploma of Professional Writing & Editing, Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) and is currently undertaking a Master of Urban Planning & Environment.
“The thing I love most about the Pride Centre is the feeling of possibility and potential this place has!”
Anita has worked in venue & event management for over 10 years in performing arts venues & arts organisations. In her role as Event & Bar Supervisor she is responsible for the delivery of all Pride Centre events and bar operations.
“I’m so excited to be here and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
Kerry has over 20 years experience as an EA, assisting C-Suite Executives, and has also previously worked as a photographer and videographer.
“I look forward to being part of such an amazing organisation”
