Tabby Besley
Managing Director
tabby@insideout.org.nz
Tabby Besley (she/her) is the founder and Managing Director of InsideOUT and identifies as a Pākehā queer femme. She has been volunteering and working in rainbow communities since she was 15 when she led her high-school queer straight alliance and has been involved with a range of organisations including Q-Youth, Out Takes Queer Film Festival, LegaliseLove, PrideNZ, Femme Club, Houhou Te Rongo Kahakura – Outing Violence and more.
In 2015 Tabby’s work was recognised internationally, as she became the first and only New Zealander to receive a Queen’s Young Leader Award. Tabby was one of five to receive the Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference Award in 2017, as well as being the Education Finalist for NEXT Woman of the Year and receiving the Wellingtonian of the Year Youth Award. In 2019 she was made a finalist for the Inclusion category of the Impact Awards and received a Kiwibank Local Hero medal. In 2020 she was announced as finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year.
When she’s not working on queer stuff, Tabby tends to be studying towards her counselling and addictions degree, obsessing over astrology or adding to her collection of all things polka dot!
Rosie Leadbitter
Volunteer and Education Coordinator
rosie@insideout.org.nz
Emmett Roberts
Schools Network Coordinator
emmett@insideout.org.nz
Emmett (they/them) is a non-binary, Pākehā queer, and librarian-in-progress from the Manawatū. They have worked delivering consent and relationship education to young people as well as rainbow education to people of all ages, and they are involved in rainbow initiatives within the local DHB. Emmett’s work with InsideOUT allows them to combine their skills of talking and colour-coding things with their passion for tikkun olam (repairing the world) and helping people learn new things.
Emmett’s role involves supporting schools nationwide, including the current project of leading our Creating Rainbow Inclusive Schools workshops around the motu in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation. When not at work, Emmett can usually be found knitting, rollerskating, reapplying glitter, and trying to talk Crouton the cat (she/her) into not interrupting zoom meetings.
Bronwyn Kerr
Wellington/Te Ūpoko o te Ika Schools Coordinator
bronwyn@insideout.org.nz
Bronwyn (Pākehā, she/her) likes art, cooking for a crowd, and anything involving being outdoors around water. She grew up in Taitoko/Levin (ngā mihi ki a Muaūpoko rāua ko Raukawa ki te Tonga), went to uni in China, worked as a tea ceremony attendant in Japan, and now loves living in Wellington (ngā mihi ki a Te Ati Awa). Bronwyn loves to kōrero Māori and likes hauora Māori ways of doing things.
Nic Dorward
Canterbury/Waitaha Schools Coordinator
nic@insideout.org.nz
Nic Dorward (she/her) is a cis Pākehā femme. She grew up in Dunedin and has spent a number of years living in Christchurch. Nic completed her Bachelor of Social Work and worked and volunteered in flax roots community settings, decolonising social work and for Qtopia. Nic is thrilled to return to work with the rainbow community and schools following a period of stay at home parenting.
Petazae Thoms
Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau Schools Coordinator
petazae@insideout.org.nz
Aroha Lowe
Manawatū Schools Coordinator
aroha@insideout.org.nz
Wesley Milne
Taranaki Schools Coordinator
wesley@insideout.org.nz
Wesley (he/him) is from Scotland originally but grew up for the most part in the beautiful Taranaki. He loves the region for its amazing landscape and wonderful people. He is excited to be in a role that can support our rainbow young people through working with the schools as that’s where our wonderful young folk are! He also work for RainbowYOUTH as the Taranaki Regional Coordinator. In his free time you can find Wesley hanging out with his rats and dogs, making balloon animals or any other clown like activity.
Emma Prinsloo
Southland/Murihiku Schools Coordinator
emma@insideout.org.nz
Emma (she/her) is from South Africa originally, however, has lived in New Zealand since she was 6 years old and is a true Kiwi. She grew up in Southland, spending her junior, intermediate and high school years in Invercargill. Emma is passionate about sports and has represented Southland in softball, cricket and football, of which she still plays at club level.
Emma has experience as a youth group facilitator and is excited to be in a role that can support our rainbow young people through working with the schools as that’s where they most need a voice.
In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time with her dogs, socialising with her friends and family.
Alex Ker
Resource Development Lead
alex@insideout.org.nz
Alex has been volunteering with InsideOUT since 2014, when he got involved with the Day of Silence campaign in his final year of high school and sat on our board until recently. Alex has been leading our resource development over 2020 in partnership with the Ministry of Education. He loves being part of the InsideOUT community and thoroughly enjoys working with dedicated, like-minded people. Alex studied Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, and is committed to creating better access to trans-affirmative healthcare. Alex enjoys reading, trail running, and is currently on leave walking the Te Araroa trail – the length of Aotearoa!
Alesha Ahdar
Kaimahi Hinonga Takatāpui/Takatāpui Project Coordinator
alesha@insideout.org.nz
Alesha (she/they) has whakapapa that connects them to Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whakaue, Tapuika and Samoa. They’re a creative freelancer, and they work in the realms of Film, Television and Theatre. Alesha is committed to a life of playing their part in changing the world, by putting mana enhancing storytelling into the world. Alesha is working with InsideOUT to implement a takatāpui awareness campaign.