Rainbow Youth’s main contact is Executive Director – Tom Hamilton. Tom is joined in the office by our Administrator – Sam Shore, Education Coordinator – Priscilla Penniket, who works with schools and tertiary institutions and our newly appointed National Queer Youth Coordinator – Jack Trolove.
Our Staff are supported by our Youth Board Members and our Adult Advisors.
Staff
Tom Hamilton, Executive Director
Kia ora, I’m Tommy, the Executive Director of Rainbow Youth. I’m really into art, music, performance, and writing. My favorite things are meeting new people, going to live gigs and art happenings. I am 33 years old and I have zero ability to act cool or be fashionable, but I am capable of some crazy escapades and like to share a crazy story or two or three.
My job is to manage the Rainbow Youth drop-in centre and help people as much as I can. You often see me sitting at a computer, or talking on a phone, but please feel free to walk right in and make yourself at home. You can call me any time with questions. We have books and DVDs at the centre for people to watch and chill out with. If you are not sure of something, feel free to ask me.
This work is very gratifying. Every day I get to work at enhancing diversity and awareness of and for gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, fa’afafine and intersex youth. I think the most important thing in life is to care and ‘know who you are, be who you are’ which is why I am one lucky guy with a very unique and fabulous job. Email Tom.
Priscilla Penniket, Education Coordinator
Hey there, I’m Priscilla and I’m the Education Coordinator here at Rainbow Youth. That means I get to go into high schools around the Auckland region running workshops on sexual orientation and gender identity, and help students to start up diversity groups (or gay/straight alliances) in their schools. I often take rainbow youth members out to these workshops where they share their ‘coming out’ story with the students. I also do staff training and professional up-skilling for anybody working with youth or in the helping professions.
Whenever I’m not in schools I’m in the Rainbow Youth center and love to have people come in and hang out. I’m into feminism, radical action, and art in all its mediums and I love beauty, aesthetic and expression.
Let me know if you want me to come out to your school or come in and say hey if you don’t know me yet.
Sam Shore, Administrator
Coming soon.
Jack Trolove, National Queer Youth Network Coordinator
Coming soon.
Executive Board
Rainbow Youth is governed by a volunteer board that consists of ten young people (under 28) who are elected each year at our annual general meeting. The youth board members are guided by three executive advisors.
Youth Board Members
John Kingi, Chairperson, Takataapui Rep
Kia ora! I’m John and I have been involved with Rainbow Youth for about 4 years, 2 of those as Treasurer and now as Chair. I was first introduced to the organisation by my school guidance councillor. Since then I’ve seen the organisation grow to become a nationally recognised voice for Queer Youth in Aotearoa.
I believe strongly in the work of Rainbow Youth in creating a vibrant society where diversity is accepted and respected.
My role for the coming year is about leading the strategic direction of Rainbow Youth and working with our staff to achieve our goals. Also of importance is ensuring the voice of our members is heard at the governance table.
I look forward to working with the board for the coming year, and if you want to get in touch please email me at chairperson@rainbowyouth.org.
Nga Mihi
Jess Williams, Vice Chairperson
Kiaora! I’m Jess, a 24 year old physiotherapist on ‘board’ for 2011/12.
I initially became involved with Rainbow Youth in 2007, helping out where I could with such things like the Prism Alternative Ball. After meeting members of ‘the crew’ – I quickly made some new good friends and wanted to be much more involved wherever I could. This year will see my third full term on the board and I am super excited to hold the vice-chair position.
My focus this year is on a few things… mentoring new board members, working closely with staff and networking in our wider GLBT community are at the top of the list. At a strategic and governance level, I am looking forward to finding ways RY can increase and strengthen relationships with other community organisations, funders and donors.
After the amazing energy I witnessed at Kazam! I believe as an organisation, RY has the the drive, energy and most inspiring people to continue to evolve further as an amazing support network for all queer youth. This is an exciting time for our oragnisation, and it is a privilege to be a part of the team….helping young people ‘know who they are and be who they are.’
Katija Vlatkovich, Treasurer
I’m Katija. I am 25 years old and have been on the board for the last term and a half.
I am currently working in Television as a Production Manager at Sky TV. I also run the queer music night Proud Mary Club.
This year I have the pleasure of being elected Treasurer. My aim this year will be to develop our ties with the wider community and engage them in projects that Rainbow Youth undertakes.
I am very excited to see what comes out of the upcoming year. We have an extremely strong board. The passion is high and the skills that everyone brings to the group is phenomenal. I am excited about the challenges that we will face and overcome.
I look forward to representing Rainbow Youth this year and to see how far the organisation moves forward.
Andrew Grear, Secretary
Hey hey! I’m Andrew, I’m 27 years old and thus begrudgingly the oldest member of the board this year. As this is my last year as a “youth” I am very pleased to sit on the Rainbow Youth board and contribute to what I believe is a fantastic organisation and one that I am sorry I didn’t come to earlier in life. For over a year now I have been facilitating the RY group I.D with my trusty sidekick Duncan and have thoroughly enjoyed the experiences I’ve had and the opportunity to meet so many diverse people in that role. Due to a moment of what I like to think of premature senile madness I have landed the role of secretary for the board but am taking to it like a fish to water!
I graduated from Auckland University several years ago with a BA in Psychology and Philosophy and outside of the world of RY I spend my days working for AirNZ and settling into the wonderful world of the domestic bliss of my late 20’s, characterized by an inability to stay awake after 11pm, a penchant to get excited when I walk past homewares stores and being totally and utterly unable to understand what the deal is with Planking.
Kestin Stewart, Transgender Rep
Hi, I’m Kestin, I’m 24 and am the Transgender Representative. This is my third term now and I love it still, because I get to be a part of something that really makes a difference in the lives of queer youth because Rainbow Youth was there for me when I really needed it. Back when I was struggling with my own gender identity, I came to what was then known as Gender Quest, where I met other transpeople for the first time. It was so amazing to be able to meet likeminded people, to just be able to talk about the issues we faced and know how each other felt.
Pretty soon after first attending Gender Quest, I began to go to I.D. as well as volunteering whenever I could, like the PRISM ball and Big Gay Out. As I time went on I was becoming more interested in facilitation and being part of the deeper aspects of the organisation and so, started to help facilitate both I.D. and Gender Quest, the latter of which I now run and has since become Gender IQ. In other walks of life, I’m FtM, trained as a 2D animator, I work at an Op shop and I live in a house with 4 other transpeople. I have a few tattoos, stretched lobes (22mm) and a habit for extreme geekery. I also come to the centre fairly regularly, so perhaps I’ll see you there?
Cheers,
Kestin
Gender IQ Facilitator | QueerMation Facilitator
Shaun McKinney
I’m Shaun and I am happy to be a member of the Rainbow Youth board for a second term. I am from Auckland and have lived in various parts of Auckland.
As well as identifying as gay I was born with a condition known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; a condition that affects my muscles and one that requires me to use an electric wheelchair. While I won’t say that having this condition is always easy I value how having the condition and being gay has shaped who I am as a person.
I believe everyone should be valued for who they are and respected for truly being themselves. Rainbow Youth is all about acceptance, value and respect, very close to my own values. I am on the board to help turn what we do really well into features that become unmistakeably known as those of Rainbow Youth. We are run for youth by youth a truly innovative and inspiring approach. I feel we should always be looking for ways to draw on the amazing talents and ideas of our membership and Queer youth around Aotearoa New Zealand.
I look forward to working with the other board members and hearing their ideas and the ideas of our membership in the coming year, to keep Rainbow Youth moving forward!
Duncan Matthews
Hey all, I’m Duncan (24, if that matters). Joined up with Rainbow Youth after moving from Hamilton in 2009. Done a few years as a facilitator (Queer4Shore and I.D.) and now have the privilege of being in my first term on the board. By day I work as a Software Engineer (or “Computers” to many people) and have the distinction of living ‘out west’.
I’m excited by the direction Rainbow Youth is heading in and look forward to being a part of it. My focus for the term is public presence and diversity. Public presence, to increase general public awareness of who we are and what we do. Diversity, to make sure that every young person who walks through the door feels welcome and has access to the help they need.
Being more of a ‘getting it done’ type person, rather than an ‘ideas’ person, I want to hear YOUR ideas for Rainbow Youth! Please email me: duncan@rainbowyouth.org.nzand let me know what you think. I enjoy meeting new people, so if you see me out and about, come say hi.
Daniel Chorley
I’m 24 years old, born in NZ, and grew up both here and in the UK. I have a background in science and commerce and am currently undertaking my PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Auckland.
I have worked with Rainbow Youth for about 7 years, beginning as a group member when I was first coming out at the start of university. I have facilitated GQ, Rainbow Youth’s under-20s group for 6 years and have been a part of the Rainbow Youth Executive Board for about 5 terms. I have been lucky enough to have held the offices of Executive Secretary and Chairperson during my tenure.
I have also been involved with a multitude of queer youth groups and projects throughout NZ, most notably on the Executive of UniQ Auckland.
Working with Rainbow Youth has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has helped me gain confidence in myself and my skills, and has given me the opportunity to do things I would not have otherwise done, or thought myself capable of. It has given me the rare opportunity to help others who are confronting issues that many of us have faced in the past, and will continue to face. It has been amazing seeing the organisation grow over the past decade and I look forward to seeing what is in store for Rainbow Youth as the organisations expands its horizons.
Ben Isderman
Ahoy all! I’m Ben, 24 years old..
I am one of the newest board members.
I’ve started attending Rainbow Youth 2 and a half years ago to a group I.D.
It was awesome, because I get to meet all sorts of queer people all in one room.
I don’t feel like the only queer in the village anymore and Rainbow Youth had given me support strength and courage to come out to my wider friends and family.
So much awesome friends were made in Rainbow Youth and I felt a regional group is needed in East Auckland
(Only the NorthShore one exists that time), so I started ‘Out & About’ with John A in Botany (East Auckland) over one and
a half years ago. To see ‘Out & About’ started from nothing to largest regional Rainbow Youth group is amazing.
I am a multilingual speaker, and have a degree from University of Auckland.
Lived in New Zealand for the past 17 years or so. Hong Konger, Taiwanese and Japanese mix-breed Homo sapien.
I have worked and volunteered in various places, including Asian Youth Sexual Health Training Programme Pilot.
I enjoy hanging out with friends and do silly epic things (e.g. picnics on a roundabout). I love food, especially hashbrowns, sushi and bubble tea.
I feel so proud to be who I am, and so can you! 
You’ll find me in I.D. and other Rainbow Youth events. Don’t be shy to get to know me.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Choice!
Executive Advisors
Marco Creemers
I am gay man of 41 years and live with my loving partner Simon. We share the responsibility with my ex-wife and her new husband raising our 7-year-old daughter Isabella.
I’m currently the General Manager of a Property Investment Company called Samson Corporation Ltd in Auckland. My interests are rugby, tennis, skiing and painting. I also love travelling and spending time with my family and friends.
I was brought up in a small, loving, and protective country community in West Auckland, with great friends and family. The first inkling I had that I might be gay was in my early teens, it was before the Homosexual Law Reform, and I knew no gay people and none were visible, to me, in my community. I suppressed my thoughts as fantasy and felt huge guilt. This in turn led to years of denial and a strong focus on my career and trying to fit in with my peers. After years of frustration of trying to understand myself and developing an uncharacteristic aggression I finally came out at the age of 36.
My family, friends and work colleagues have not changed since I came out and what’s more I believe they respect me more now as well. I lost 20 years in the fear that that would happen. Young people of today should not have to lose the years I did.
I have volunteered to be an adult advisor for Rainbow Youth because of my strong belief in the great work it does in assisting young people to realise who they are at the right age. With the support and confidence of this organisation young people can develop with a clear, free and healthy mind, be who they really are, establish healthy consenting relationships, to become valuable citizens.
Mathijs Lucassen
I’m 36 – I was born in the Netherlands to Dutch parents and grew up in the Waikato region and Southland. I came out as gay as an undergraduate student in Dunedin.
I was a Rainbow Youth (RY) member in the 1990′s (judging from the photos I only had one shirt back then – it was orange and brown). I live with my partner David out in Waiatarua and have a new found interest in possum control!
I’m a researcher, health professional and educator: as part of my PhD research I have been looking into ways to combat depression in queer youth; I used to work for Auckland District Health Board as an occupational therapist at the Kari Centre (child and youth mental health); and I also work part-time as a tutor and lecturer (in 2011 at both AUT and Auckland University).
I have volunteered to be an executive advisor (formerly known as adult advisor/s) for RY because I believe RY is a fantastic organisation and I want to support it so it can continue doing wonderful things for queer youth.