Andrew Birtwistle-Smith, Chairperson
Andrew Birtwistle-Smith is a proud Meintangk/Boandik man from SE South Australia. Andrew is widowed and has 3 children, aged 24, 20, and 15.
Andrew is a strong social inclusion advocate, particularly for LGBTIQ people, Aboriginal people, people living with HIV and for people with disability. His drive also includes marriage equality. Having legally been married to his husband since April 2004, and returning to Australia to be told, they wont recognise it, and then most recently, him not formally being recognised on his husbands death certificate as a husband, here in SA, he continues to actively engage in his advocacy for marriage equality.
Andrew has a lived experience around disability and HIV, having lived with HIV for 25 years and diagnosed with Bi-Polar over 10 years ago. He recognises that there is much to do in strengthening inclusion of Aboriginal people, people living with HIV and those with disability, within the LGBTIQ and wider communities.
He has extensive experience in government policy and program development and was responsible for conceiving, leading and co-writing the South Australian Government LGBTIQ Inclusion Strategy back in 2014.
Andrew was also the Executive Officer and Aboriginal LGBTIQ advisor for the SA Rainbow Advisory Council, and is also a current committee member of Bear Men of Adelaide.
Michael Fordham, Treasurer
Michael Fordham works in the public health system and has done so for the last 26 years, both in South Australia and in the UK.
Michael is married to Richard and has 3 children plus two grandchildren, so life is hectic. He lives in the south of Adelaide and loves the mix of country and urban living.
Michael enjoys supporting and working within the broader GLBTIQ community and has done so for the last 4 years, helping to establish SARAA (formerly GLHA) to help in the ongoing struggle to improve rights and remove discrimination for the GLBITQ community here in SA and also more broadly.
“It took me a long while to come out of the closet, and no one is pushing me back. Neither will I be told or ever accept that my relationship and family are of a lesser value.”
Zoey Campbell, Secretary
Zoey Campbell is an active advocate for the Transgender and LGBTIQ community.
She has played a strong role in advocating for law reform for the transgender community over recent years. She has a background as a former public servant in policy and legislative development.
She is the co-administrator of a national Facebook network, which includes Trans Health Australia and the South Australian Trans Legal Reform Group.
Zoey lives with her ginger tom-cat, Mr Megs! And is in training to be a cat lady!
Zoey transitioned in 2013.
Carol Hannaford, Board Member
Carolyn Hannaford is the SA representative for the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia, and represents the Intersex community on the Board.
Intersex people are born with physical or biological sex characteristics that are more diverse than the stereotypical definition for male and female bodies. There are more than 40 known Intersex variations which are estimated to make up nearly 2% of the population – as common as redheads!
Born in 1952 and growing up in an era of secrecy, shame, ignorance, lack of information and limited medical understanding, Carolyn is passionate about creating change and improving information and support pathways for the benefit of future Intersex people.
In March 2017 Carolyn was privileged to be a select participant in the development of the historic Darlington Statement, a joint consensus statement by Australian and New Zealand Intersex organisations and independent advocates that sets out priorities and calls by the Intersex movement in both countries.
Carolyn is a Communications and Education professional with the SA government, a passionate oenophile, an avid world traveller and a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) with Toastmasters International. She is also the primary carer for her 96-year old father and sister with a double disability …. and a big fluffy cat called Smudgie.
Holley Skene, Board Member
Holley Skene is a passionate health and human rights advocate who works in the field of sexual and relationship wellbeing. She holds qualifications in community and not-for-profit management, public health, social sciences and psychology and has also worked in the disability and mental health sectors.
Now pursuing an interest in governance of community organisations, Holley has volunteered on the Board of Feast Festival as Deputy Chair (2014-2016) and sits on a community advisory panel of the Adelaide Primary Health Network. Holley has also been a member of Let's Get Equal, and continues to support law reform efforts in her personal time.
Holley is married to Alana and, together with their 2-year old and Spoodle, loves their little home and life near the beach in the Western suburbs of Adelaide.
Vale Ian Purcell
The Board acknowledges and honours the contribution of Ian Purcell to the Australian and South Australian LGBTIQ Community over decades of activism. Ian who passed in 2016, was the first Chairperson of the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance and the GLHA that preceded it. His wisdom and humanity will be much missed.