The InsideOUT Kōaro Board has appointed Judy O’Brien as its new Chief Executive, effective December 8 2025. Judy will be succeeding the organisation’s founder Tabby Besley, who announced she would be stepping away from her role as Managing Director in August of this year.
Judy joins InsideOUT Kōaro from New Zealand Rugby, where she currently serves as Head of Culture, Inclusion & Safeguarding.
“I am honoured and excited to be joining the InsideOUT team at such a significant time of transition,” Judy says. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to act as kaitiaki for an organisation that plays such a vital role in the wellbeing of Rainbow and Takatāpui rangatahi and the communities who love them.”
A collaborative and pragmatic leader, Judy brings rich experience driving change across complex systems. At New Zealand Rugby, she drove system wide impact through the implementation of the organisation’s Equity Diversity & Inclusion strategy, and child safeguarding and protection practices across the rugby system. At RespectEd Aotearoa, where she served as Programme Manager, she expanded national service delivery for violence prevention education services, and built trusted relationships with schools, government partners and private sector leaders.
Judy is a member of the Board of Global Women and has enjoyed a career in service to the community. She served as Chair of the OuterSpaces Trust, an umbrella organisation for four LGBTQI+ youth groups in Wellington, was a long-time facilitator for Tranzform, a peer-support group for gender-diverse young people and was a founding member of the Rainbow Violence Prevention Network.
InsideOUT Kōaro Board Chair Brock Stobbs said the Board had conducted a rigorous search and was delighted to welcome Judy into the role.
“Judy brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, community connection, and heart, we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber step in to lead. Her experience and authenticity make her the right person to guide InsideOUT Kōaro through its next chapter of growth and impact.”
Judy will be based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and begins handover in December before stepping into the role 20 January.