LGBTIQA+ Community Board
Drummond Street Services & Queerspace LGBTIQA+ Community Board will ensure that the diverse perspectives of the LGBTIQA+ community is central to the development, implementation and review of Drummond Street (DS) and Queerspace services and programs, and that our values, mission, social justice framework and whole of organisation approach to intersectionality are embedded with integrity and respect.
Our Board has three main objectives. Firstly, they aim to improve awareness and understanding of the LGBTIQA+ community’s needs by creating innovative programs and services and collaborating with various groups and partners. Secondly, they support the implementation of inclusive policies and practices within Drummond Street to ensure fairness and social justice. Lastly, they work with the DS Board and Management to create a governance structure that shares power and responsibility with the LGBTIQA+ community, while also providing leadership development opportunities.
The membership of the LGBTIQA+ Community Board is designed to be inclusive and representative. It includes at least one, but no more than two DS Board directors, and a minimum of three, but no more than eight members from the LGBTIQA+ community. The aim is to reflect the diverse identities and experiences within the LGBTIQA+ community, such as sexual orientation, age, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, geography, gender, immigration status, income, indigeneity, language, marital status, race, religion, and sex. Each year, members will review their composition and actively consider strategies to enhance representation and diversity. Individual members are recommended by the Community Board and appointed by the DSS Board for a two-year term, with background checks conducted in accordance with the DS Governance Charter. Members have the opportunity to express their interest in reappointment at the end of their term.
Who is currently on the board?
- Georgie Yovanovic (She/her)
Georgie is a Trans Intersex femme, non-binary advocate, public speaker, and educator. With a strong focus on human rights, she is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting understanding of Trans and Intersex issues.
As a board member of the Zoe Belle gender collective and a consultant for Trans Femme, Georgie empowers transgender individuals and provides valuable insights. She actively contributes to intersex human rights associations and the Darlington statement, advocating for the rights of intersex people.
Georgie’s involvement in aged care projects with ACON and PCA demonstrates her commitment to improving support for elderly individuals within the LGBTIQ+ community. Additionally, her work with HAAG addresses homelessness issues specifically affecting this community.
- Margherita Coppolino (She/Her)
Margherita Coppolino is multi-award winning. highly influential disability and inclusion consultant and activist. With a strong focus on inclusion and intersectionality, she brings extensive expertise to her work. Margherita holds various qualifications and industry accreditations as a Trainer, Mediator, Auditor, and Company Director.
Throughout her consultancy career, Margherita has developed specialised skills in project management, mediation, facilitation, recruitment, case management, auditing, and keynote speaking. She has held several prominent positions as Chair and Company Director in Non-for-Profit organizations since 2013.
Driven by her belief in the power of inclusion, Margherita lives by the business philosophy that “Inclusion is the Key.” Through her collaborations with government entities, commercial businesses, and social justice organizations, she strives to empower individuals to act land improve their quality of life, as well as that of others.
Margherita’s expertise extends to providing guidance and support specifically relating to people with disabilities who identify as LGBTIQ+. Her unique perspective and experience contribute to her ability to address the intersectional challenges faced by this community.
- Manu Kailom (They/He)
Manu is a refugee, and a community advocate. They lead the work for Queer Refugee Asylum Seekers Program at Many Coloured Sky and chair the Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Services Network in Victoria. They currently served as a Board Observer on the Board of Council to Homeless Persons. Manu is also a Community Research Fellow at the Melbourne Social Equity Institute of Melbourne University with their research project looking at experiences of LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers accessing housing and homelessness services in Victoria.
- Nerida Nettelbeck (She/her)
Nerida is an accomplished executive with over 30 years’ management and leadership experience in the non-profit and social enterprise sectors. Nerida’s experience is across Consulting in Non-profit Management and Governance, delivering International Community Development, management & development of Psychiatric Employment and Social Enterprise sectors. Nerida has facilitated planning workshops with several organisations and is a qualified deep democracy facilitator. Nerida is a director for several organisations and has 15 years’ experience working with Aboriginal people in remote communities. She specialises in developing workplaces where all staff can perform well. Nerida also has 10 years’ experience working with people with disabilities in employment services which use innovative social enterprises to create new market economies for people excluded from the labour market. Her areas of expertise are in governance and management, establishing new business systems and workforce development.
Nerida has Graduate Diploma of Business (Organisational Change and Development) RMIT, Graduate Diploma of Business Deakin University, Bachelor of Economics, Monash University.
- Tiffany Overall (She/her)
Tiffany has worked in policy & advocacy in different community sector settings (including migrant/ refugee/asylum seeker, community legal centres & youth) over the last 30 years.
Most recently Tiffany worked at Youthlaw, a community legal centre for young people) for 17 years as the Human Rights and Advocacy Officer and Coordinator of Youthlaw’s Family Violence program. In this role she worked collaboratively with some key drummond street staff.
In 2022 Tiffany was honoured to be nominated and awarded the 30th Annual Tim McCoy Award for Outstanding achievement in advocacy of human rights and justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities in Victoria.
Tiffany is a proud lesbian and member of the queer community. She’s a Eurovision tragic and huge fan of the Matildas.