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Meet the Staff, Board and Group Facilitators

Staff

Executive Director

Executive Board

Rainbow Youth is run by a volunteer board of eight young people who are elected each year at our AGM as well as three Adult Advisors who offer us great guidance and support. We are a diverse group of various ages and really cool people. Rainbow Youth is run for youth, by youth.

Youth Board Members

Daniel Chorley Chairperson

Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m 21 years old and studying full time at the University Of Auckland, doing a BSc/BCom (Chemistry/Biology/Management).

I have worked with Rainbow Youth for about 4 years, entering the organisation as a group member when I was first coming out at the start of university. I starting facilitating GQ, Rainbow Youths popular under 20’s group in mid 2005 and then proceeded to join the Rainbow Youth Executive Board about a year later. I have had the opportunity now to act as a board member and as the Executive Secretary on the Board and am now serving in my second term as Chairperson.

I have also worked with UniQ-Auckland as well as a few other queer-focused organisations around Auckland and New Zealand.

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.

Toni Reid Secretary

Hey, I'm Tones. I've been involved with Rainbow Youth since I was around fifteen when a RY workshop was delivered at my high school. Now, at 23 years old I have volunteered as a workshop presenter, facilitator and executive board member.
I came out in a round-about way when I was fifteen and went through a few years of trying so desperately to fit into the 'lesbian image' (think short hair + listening to KD Lang). Eight years on I feel labels are unnecessary for me, I am just Tones happy and comfortable with my identity.
I'm an Occupational Therapist working in mental health. I'm just embarking on post-graduate study and would eventually like to end up doing research into mental health issues in our Queer community. As each year passes, it is fantastic to see Rainbow Youth evolve in to such a brilliant organisation that supports our young people to know who they are and be who they are.

Daniel E
Treasurer

Ariel Liu

'Jadis, si je me souviens bien, ma vie était un festin où s'ouvraient tous les coeurs, où tous les vins coulaient.'

Yarrr, you! I am a 21 year old dandy with too many degrees and hobbies. I am interested in politics and religion, gender and feminist issues in education as well as sociology of sexualities and pornography. Most of my time is wasted on reading, photography, aesthetics, music, airship pirates, esoteric, sports (esp. cheerleading, TaeKwon Do and bellydancing) and corsets. Cogito ergo sum.

As an out and proud bisexual, I have given my energy on facilitating I.D. at RainbowYouth, being a member of UniQ and researching on any topics that can help to bring wellfare and understanding to Queer youth and their issues.

Message therapy is the new alchemy... but then again, so is Gir.

Nicola Murphy

Hello! I'm Nicola, or Nic if I think you're cool enough to call me that. I've been involved with Rainbow Youth for a couple of years, but decided that I wanted to join the Board just to get involved more, have some fun and meet new people. I'm finding it great so far, despite the long meetings! ;) I'm 19, halfway through a Bachelor of Communication Studies at AUT, hoping to major in Journalism next year and I absolutely love it. I also work part-time at a cafe, umpire netball, and am training for my first half-marathon. I am president of Out@AUT, AUT's LGBT group, and am finding that a lot of fun, but quite a challenge too. In my spare time, I like to eat (haha), read, write, and chill out at home with family or friends and a glass of wine or two.
"It is possible to be different and still be alright."

Nemo

I'm Nemo :) Fulltime student at Auckland University. I'm also an events photographer for GayNZ.com.
I've been with Rainbow Youth for two and a half years. I started as a member of GQ and then trained further to now become a Facilitator of GQ and Queer 4 Shore and a workshop presenter.
I knew I was gay when I was very young and I've always accepted who I am and my life values include working hard to make sure that sexuality and gender identity are always accepted.
I look forward to carrying on my journey with Rainbow Youth.

Jaimie Veale

I'm a 26 year old transsexual woman originally from the South Island. I'm currently doing my PhD looking at the development of gender and sexuality at Massey University. I really appreciated the services that Rainbow Youth was able to provide for me when I was first coming out on the scene in Auckland, and I've decided to give something back by helping out with the board. I'm also still a regular attender of Gender Quest. Cheers!

Clint Woolly

Hey everyone! I grew up in Papua New Guinea and Australia, but am part New Zealander and have lived in NZ now for nearly 10 years. I'm currently a co-facilitator of ID (Identity) as well as one of the executive board members for Rainbow Youth. I'm also President for UniQ Auckland and enjoy being a queer peer support leader. I think the most important part about these roles is to just be there for people, be it a shoulder they can lean on or an ear that will listen without judgment to whatever they may have to say.
I was a founding member of my high school's Peer Support Program supported by the Yellow Ribbon Foundation and I'm currently working with a group of professional councillors/therapists to form a Support network for queer professionals in counselling.
I've been on two other boards but feel I'm most passionate about working with Rainbow Youth.
I aspire to one day be the Secretary General of the United Nations and be more proactive in making the world more accepting not only of queer people but also for all people of different backgrounds.
Proud to be a part of Rainbow Youth! Peace.

Adult Advisors

Andrew Gill

Hi ya. This is my first time involved with Rainbow Youth as an adult advisor and I am really excited by being involved with Rainbow Youth.  
I returned to NZ to take on my current job about 3 years ago and prior to that I lived in Sydney, I have also lived in Detroit, Los Angeles, London, India and Japan. Although I am a New Zealander from birth and love living back in NZ.  
I am in my late 30’s and the reality is that from a very young age (6 years) I knew I had a preference for the same sex. However, the reality of what that meant did not hit me until I was in my teens. Ultimately I did not come out until my late 20’s and even then it was a selective process.  
I enjoy my life to fullest; I enjoy keeping fit and the company of my friends who help make life fun and adventurous. My other favourite past time is travel, I love going to different places with different cultures and lifestyles that challenge me and make me more accepting of diversity and other’s view on the world.  
Hopefully I can bring a youthful, enthusiastic and supportive attitude to RY and I also want to learn from an very exciting and creative group of young people. ADULT ADVISORS Adult Advisors are selected by the board each year. They provide provide a wonderful amount of support, wisdom and advice to all of us.

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.
My interests are rugby, tennis, skiing and painting. I also love travelling and spending time with my family and friends.
I’m currently the General Manager of a Property Investment Company called Samson Corporation Ltd in Auckland.
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 pre 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.
The reason I have volunteered to be an adult advisor for Rainbow Youth is my strong belief in the great work it’s doing 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.
I hope I can contribute to continue the success of the organisation.

Julie Radford-Poupard

Hi, my name is Jules and I am returning to volunteer with Rainbow Youth after a short stint across the ditch with my partner in Australia.  I was on the Board as an Adult Advisor from 2003 until 2005 which was such a great experience and I'm lucky to be returning.
I am passionate about social justice and a society where diversity is celebrated.  Compulsory heterosexuality was pretty pervasive for me while I was at school, to the extent that I didn't even know lesbians existed!
It wasn't until I went to University and joined women's groups that my life began to make sense.  We know from our own experiences and increasing amounts of research that homophobic is rife within schools and Rainbow Youth is working hard to make schools safe, inclusive and a positive experience for our communities.
I have worked in the not for profit sector for over 10 years with short stints in local and central government.  My partner, Annalise and I civil unionised in March this year which was stunning both on personal and political levels. I am looking forward to the next few years working with Rainbow Youth.

Group Facilitators

I.D. - Identity
Clint, Ariel

G.Q. - Generation Queer
Daniel, Jenn & Nemo

Queer4Shore (Q4S)
Nemo

Gender Quest
Cam

Pride Out South
Sandra

Parents Support
Linda Farr

© 2003-2008 Rainbow Youth Inc. All rights reserved.

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