Our Team

National Staff

Regional Schools Coordinators

Our Board

National Staff

Tabby Besley

Managing Director

She / Her

Tabby is a Pākehā queer femme. She has been working in rainbow communities since she was 15 and founded InsideOUT in 2012 with a passionate for making Aotearoa a better place for rainbow rangatahi. Alongside her role with us Tabby studies counselling and addictions.

Email: tabby@insideout.org.nz

petazae thoms

School Services Manager

He/Him

Petazae has whakapapa that connects him to Ngāti Irapuaia of Whakatōhea iwi and Bereina of Central Province, Papua New Guinea, and grew up in Fiji. He is passionate about creating rainbow inclusive schools in Aotearoa and supporting staff and students to have more affirming experiences in their communities!

Email: petazae@insideout.org.nz

Rosie Leadbitter

Workplace Services Coordinator

She / Her

Rosie studied Public Health and is passionate about supporting mental health hauora. She believes in the importance of interconnectedness and whakawhanaungatanga.

Email: rosie@insideout.org.nz

Emmett Roberts

Rainbow Competency Coordinator

They / Them

Emmett is a Pākehā (gender)queer, educator, and librarian-in-progress from the Manawatū. Their work with InsideOUT allows them to bring their together their passions for the rainbow community, helping people learn new things, and tikkun olam (“repairing the world”).

Email: emmett@insideout.org.nz

SAVIIEy NUA

Pacific Rainbow Competency Coordinator

She/her

Saviiey is a Fa’afafine who has been involved in many initiatives regarding youth development, education, and performing arts. She is a massive advocate for the Māori and Pasifika Rainbow community of Porirua. Saviiey is the current recipient of the Aniva Arts Residency through Creative NZ and is also the Chairman of Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Māori Performing Arts and Primary Education through Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and a Master’s in Education through Victoria University.

Email: saviiey@insideout.org.nz

Neo Kenny

Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator

Ia/He/They

Neo is a femme takatāpui tāhine. They whakapapa to Kai Tahu and Te Āti Awa. Ia has been volunteering with InsideOUT since 2017. He is passionate about mental health and supporting others. They are in the process of converting to Progressive Judaism.

Email: neo@insideout.org.nz

Edie Freeman

Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator

She/They

Edie is a trans woman based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau. She previously worked in Student Academic Services at Te Herenga Waka (VUW). She is a writer with a love for fantasy and sci fi with an eye for positive queer representation. They are excited to get to work contributing to our amazing community!

Email: edie@insideout.org.nz

Ben Ayto

Communications Coordinator

He/They

Ben is a non-binary Pākehā multimedia storyteller and post-colonial scholar based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. He is an avid dancer, gaymer, and Róisín Murphy fan. They are an intersectional feminist who is passionate about social justice and curious about the uses of play and performance in collective healing.

Email: benjamin@insideout.org.nz

Alex Ker

Resource Development Lead

He / Him

Alex has been involved with InsideOUT since 2014 as a volunteer, board member and now leading the development of our resources. He completed his honours in Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies and has worked as a research assistant on the Trans-Affirmative Healthcare Pilot Clinic at Victoria University of Wellington, the Youth’19 study and the Identify survey.

Email: alex@insideout.org.nz

Alesha Ahdar

Kaimahi Hinonga Takatāpui / Takatāpui Project Coordinator

She / They

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whakaue, Tapuika and Samoa. Alesha is a takatāpui creative with a kaupapa of bringing Māori and Pacific stories to our screens and stages. She’s no stranger to challenging her own communities’ beliefs that prevent the world from being a better place for takatāpui and Pacific LGBTQIA+ people.

Email: alesha@insideout.org.nz

Alejandra Jensen

Kaimahi Taituarā

She / They

Alejandra is a mokopuna of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata & Ngāti Pōrou of te Tairāwhiti (East Coast). They are a kaiako of te reo Māori utilising creative approaches to (re)awaken the language of this whenua within the hearts and minds of all who have a desire to learn. Their mahi with InsideOUT will go towards supporting, affirming and celebrating rangatahi takatāpui+ within Kura Kaupapa and the development and delivery of our training to kaupapa Māori services.

Email: alejandra@insideout.org.nz

Etta Bollinger

Funding Coordinator

They/Them

Etta is a playwright, poet, student, twin, disability rights advocate, and a storyteller.

Email: etta@insideout.org.nz

Regional Schools Coordinators

Grace Abbott

Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau Schools Coordinator

She / Her

He uri tēnei nō Tūhoe, nō Ngāti Awa hoki. Grace was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau. She studied law and went on to work with rangatahi Māori. She is passionate about upholding mana motuhake and supporting rainbow communities.

Email: grace@insideout.org.nz

COMPASS WILTS-RAMSAY

Wellington/Te Ūpoko o te Ika Schools Coordinator

They / Them

Compass is a nonbinary queer person who is passionate about queer liberation, education and community building. Before this role Compass spent three years volunteering with InsideOUT. When they’re not working you can find Compass being an Aries, geeking out about rainbow history, and taking care of all their plants.

Email: compass@insideout.org.nz

Rose Cook

Canterbury/Waitaha Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Rose is an Ōtautahi based queer Youth Worker. She has a human services background and is passionate about rainbow wellbeing, advocacy and amplifying youth voices in leadership. Beyond mahi, she is an earring maker, a creative and a cat owner.

Email: rose@insideout.org.nz

SIOBHAN TUMAI

Canterbury/Waitaha Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Siobhan (pictured left) is a takatāpui Māmā living in Ōtautahi. She has whakapapa to multiple Waikato Tainui hapū. Siobhan studied a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies and works in Art & Mental Health. She loves having whānau time, organising & activism and drinking coffee! Siobhan uses she/her pronouns.

On Leave

Kirsty Harnden

Northland/Te Tai Tokerau Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Kirsty is originally from Scotland, grew up in Ireland, and now calls Paihia home. She lives with her gorgeous son, two cats, and too many house plants to count! She has a background in youth work and is passionate about mental health awareness. She loves to be creative, read, write poetry, and enjoys aerial yoga and swimming.

Email: kirsty@insideout.org.nz

Ebbie Lífweard

Waikato Schools Coordinator

They / Them

Ebbie is a gay non-binary Pākehā of Scots, Irish, English and West Indian descent who grew up in Oamaru. They love being in the outdoors and spending time pursuing their various hobbies which include woodwork, drag and playing the piano. They live in Kirikiriroa with their partner and also work as a community support worker for mental health and addiction services.

Email: ebbie@insideout.org.nz

Benjamin Black

Bay of Plenty Schools Coordinator

He / Him

Ben (Ngai Tūhoe, Whakatoohea, Te Whānau aa Apanui) lives in sunny Whakatāne and has a background in supporting whānau and takatāpui. He loves food, being surrounded by water and empowering everyone he meets. Ben is passionate about making a difference in Aotearoa.

Email: ben@insideout.org.nz

DANDO

Taranaki Schools Coordinator

They / Them

My name is Morgan Dando, but I go by my last name, Dando! I’m Pākehā, and queer. I’m a third year Social Work student and wear many professional hats. I’m deeply passionate about queer liberation, supporting survivors of harm, decolonisation and social justice in general. I love digital painting and spend time with my daughter, partner, sister and our cats!

Email: dando@insideout.org.nz

Aroha Lowe

Manawatū Schools Coordinator

She /Her

Aroha is Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruanui, and English, Irish, Scots. Aroha is kept busy as māmā to her sons, two kurī/dogs and one ngeru/cat. She also works as an art facilitator, likes to write poetry, and take long walks on Hīmatangi beach.

Email: aroha@insideout.org.nz

Kirstie O'Riley

Hawkes Bay / Te Matau-a-Māui Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Kirstie is a queer Pākehā living in Hawkes Bay with her partner and two cats. She has a background in social policy and healthcare. In her spare time she enjoys crafts and taking care of her house plants.

Email: kirstie@insideout.org.nz

Zen Smith

Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough / Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Māui Schools Coordinator

They / Them

Zen is a Whakatū based Youth Worker, with a passion for youth leadership & empowerment. When not working, you can find them being a Capricorn, eating bread and oversharing on their Instagram. Zen also works alongside Q-Youth, which is an organisation local to Nelson.

Email: zen@insideout.org.nz

Suzy Armstrong

West Coast / Te Tai Poutini Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Suzy is here, queer and ready to hear from the diverse and beautiful rainbow rangatahi of Aotearoa. With a social work background, Suzy’s current mahi is alternative dispute resolution and restorative justice; supporting whānau, schools, communities and individuals to achieve positive outcomes, repair harm and relationships, and move forward with their lives.

Email: suzy@insideout.org.nz

Trish Lastovicka

Otago Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Trish is in her final year of study for a BA, at Otago University. In her spare time she enjoys photography, Taekwon-Do and reading.

Email: trish@insideout.org.nz

EMMA PRINSLOO

Southland/Murihiku Schools Coordinator

She / Her

Emma is from South Africa originally, however, has lived in New Zealand since she was 6 years old. She grew up in Southland and is passionate about sports. In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time with her dogs, socialising with her friends and family.

Email: emma@insideout.org.nz