Jasmine Strom, a seasoned Chartered Accountant (CA) with over 16 years of financial expertise. Jasmine brings a unique blend of advisory acumen and an enthusiastic, outgoing personality to how she works.
Jasmine has extensive experience in financial management and a talent for building strong relationships, she’s not just an accountant; she’s a trusted advisor who values genuine connections.
Jasmine is thrilled to be part of Pride WA, and her excitement is undeniable. With her unwavering commitment to the community and her ability to foster meaningful relationships, she’s a vital contributor to our mission.
Dr Lauren Butterly is an ethical and values driven leader. Prior to commencing as CEO of PrideWA, Lauren had a successful career in law – both as a practising lawyer and legal academic. She held positions at leading law organisations and universities in Perth, Canberra and Sydney where she specialised in environmental law and protection of First Nations’ cultural heritage. Lauren’s PhD in Law was awarded the top national academic award for a legal PhD.
Since 2017, Lauren has been involved at an executive level in LGBTQIA+ sport. In particular, she has served as the President of Sydney Frontrunners, and then Co-President of Perth Frontrunners. She is a passionate slow runner (who is more concerned about having a good chat on the run than getting a fast time).
Lauren is driven by a commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion. Her roles in both law and LGBTQIA+ sport have included closely collaborating across the diverse LGBTQIA+ community, and with First Nations and disability communities.
Lauren has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for 12 years. She proudly challenges stereotypes about what MS looks like.
Kirsti Gorringe is an experienced digital campaigner and advocate.
She currently runs Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission. She previously worked for Senator Louise Pratt, as the Digital Organising Manager for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, and for GetUp, including as the digital organiser on the 2017 Marriage Equality Campaign.
She is passionate about achieving law reform to achieve true equality for LGBTQIA+ people in WA, and empowering the community to come together for change. She is also a steering group member of Rainbow Futures WA, who are currently working with community to get conversion practices banned and stop deferrable non-consensual medical interventions on intersex kids and babies.
She is also a surf life saver and loves aerial silks, hiking, and cuddling with her cats and dogs.
Gregory has been a past member of Pride WA, rejoining and participating in the marketing for PrideFest 2021. He is well-acquainted with the challenges of committee participation, serving as Vice Chair of the East Perth Community Group, and Treasurer of the LGBTQIA+ photography club Shutterpups Inc.
With post-graduate qualifications in physics and computing, Gregory is employed full-time as an Automation Solution Architect in the resources sector – a role that presents daily opportunities to become immersed in a wide range of business problems, and create the overall technical vision for a specific solution. Not surprisingly, Gregory’s free-time passion is photography, particularly landscapes, architecture, and portraits (just don’t ask him to photograph a wedding).
Paul was raised in Manchester and remained in the UK to study when his family migrated to Perth Australia in 1989.
Paul’s passion for Human Resources gained him experience in the sectors of telecommunications, not-for-profit and online startups. His career moved him from Europe to the Middle East and Africa where he gained exposure to diversity cultures. He spent 15 years working and living in the Middle East and Africa, and was very aware of the discrimination, imprisonment, torture and execution that can occur in that region. Paul was an active member in these countries where queer communities were underground.
Moving to Australia in 2017, Paul continued to support the WA community as an active volunteer and holds the position of WA Vice President for the Australian Institute of Human Resources in Western Australia. He and his partner became proud parents in 2021 and are active members of the Facebook community page Gay Dads WA, leading the groups participation in PrideFEST 2022. Their participation generated much media attention and saw a significant increase in members. The positve impact of PrideFEST on the community, encouraged Paul to become more involved with Pride WA.
A lawyer by trade, Richie’s extensive queer credentials commenced back to his university days when he was the co-convenor of the Ten Percent Club, the University of Adelaide’s queer student club of the time. Since then, Richie has been active in the leadership of many queer and other professional and sporting organisations. He has a particular interest in education, mental health advocacy, and accessible participation in sports. Outside of the PrideWA office, Richie can usually be found jogging around the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) or hunting down the latest shiraz vintage from the Barossa Valley.
Kayla is a values-driven corporate governance specialist with focuses on capacity building, policy and procedure. Kayla is a skilled problem-solver attracted to working with complex and ambitious organisations with an appetite for change and growth. An ability to adapt and respond with resilience is well-illustrated throughout both her career and her personal life.
As an aspiring polymath, Kayla satiates her intellectual curiosities with strategic decision-making (especially those pertaining to ‘wicked problems’) and hopes to pursue her PhD in this space in future. Kayla otherwise enjoys far too many hobbies including competitive martial arts, dancehall, mixing cocktails, dark humour, and any good excuse to dress up.
Kate identifies as non-binary and pansexual, combining her lived experiences with her desire to advocate for the Queer community. They are a senior fire safety engineer working in Perth who has incorporated queer advocacy into their workplaces. Kate is currently a committee member on the City of Perth LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee and for LGBTI Professionals Networking. They bring a safety focus, risk management skills and organisational experience to the executive.
In their quiet time, Kate will usually be found gardening at home or visiting small towns with their fiancée for bush-bashing getaway adventures.
Joey has also had the privilege to serve on the Rainbow Labor WA previously, Crown Pride, & Department of Communities Charged up for Work committees and is currently a committee member for the Perth Rams Rugby Union Club & LGTBI Professionals Networking Group.
Joey brings extensive knowledge of fundraising, event planning, public speaking, community organising, and project oversight.
Cynthia joined the committee in 2022. A Christian lesbian migrant from a multicultural background, she believes in equity for everyone, predominantly the unseen, discriminated and marginalised. She values giving back to the communities that she is a part of and has previously led community groups that support lesbians coming out, reconciliation groups for individuals struggling with faith and sexuality and youths.
A recovering workaholic, she runs her business Empower2Free, which equips the next generation with life skills to be future-ready while serving on several boards as Finance Director. Married to another workaholic, Cynthia and her wife try to garden, explore food places etc., in Perth to achieve a work-life balance.
Ashara is a young multicultural professional who has worked through the ups and downs of being queer from a young age. She has established a strong foundation of support through her family and friends while surrounding herself in the AFL community.
Ashara currently works in the community services and development sector, owning and operating a small website business in Perth. In her off time, Ashara is an AFL coach who focuses on player relationships, developing positive team culture and achieving results as a team. Her hobbies include all things AFL, going out 4x4ing and being around family and friends.
Ashara is all about inclusivity, sharing experiences and supporting disadvantaged groups such as young people.
Michael is a CPA who brings a high level of financial experience to PrideWA, with over 10 years of experience as head of financial operations for a leading WA agricultural machinery business, specialising in M&A and commercial growth.
Michael comes with a lot of knowledge, having worked with other leading community organisations such as WA Aids Council (WAAC) and The Samaritans.
Michael is excited about the new direction that Pride WA is going and is keen to see it move towards being a more significant part of our community and help us to be a “Community”.
Curtis has been a Pride WA’s management committee member since his election to the committee in February 2017. Curtis held the position of Committee Secretary from 2017 until he was appointed President in 2020.
Outside of Pride, WA, Curtis works as a barrister and solicitor in family law matters. He was appointed Commissioner for Legal Aid by the Attorney General of Western Australia in 2021. Curtis is also a nationally accredited Mediator, Independent Children’s Lawyer and Collaborative Professional.
In 2020, Curtis was named a Local Hero by the City of Vincent. He was recognised for his contributions to the community.
Choon joined Pride WA in 2019 and has been called upon to utilise his CPA qualification to become CEO in 2021. A former Sydneysider who now firmly calls Perth home, he had previously volunteered over some years for Mardi Gras and is excited to leverage his experience to help Pride WA grow.
Choon holds an MBA and has worked in marketing in the entertainment and online retail industries for 20 years. Along with his partner of 16 years, Choon is a foster parent to two energetic boys.
