Melt reference group

Luke Furness partners his career as a commercial litigation lawyer at Clayton Utz with advocacy work across the homeless, LGBTIQ+ and student communities.

He is a non-executive director of homeless meal service, Community Canteen Co Ltd, the former CEO and non-director of Out for Australia, a national LGBTIQ+ student mentoring organisation, and a past Board member of the UQ Law Alumni Association.

Luke is a vocal champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and regularly speaks at major events, including as keynote speaker at the 2021 TEDxUQ conference.

I am a strong and ambitious Gunggari, Lardil, and Kullilli Transgender Woman originally from Toowoomba on Giabal country, but relocated to Magandjin (Brisbane) to pursue a career in the Creative Arts. I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) at the Queensland University of Technology in 2023 and aspire to tell stories through creative forms to provide more authentic representation for my First Nation and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

I place a huge value on honesty, passion, love, humour, forgiveness, growth, and compassion. I’m a hard worker, a team player, and a very spiritual person, so you can always find me striving to maintain a safe space for everyone. I thrive working on projects that connect people on mental, emotional, physical and/or spiritual levels, to remind ourselves that we are only human and all we really have is each other. 

Luke is currently the Assistant Director for Diversity Equity and Inclusion within the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and has a proven track record of building industry-leading Employee Resource Groups and grassroots, employee-driven inclusion initiatives.

With 14 years’ experience working in the public sector, Luke has established himself as a passionate and trusted advisor, known for his ability to drive cultural change in complex organisational environments.

With a background in LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion, Luke was previously the driving force behind Brisbane City Council’s LGBTIQ+ inclusion agenda, paving the way for Council to emerge in 2019 as the highest ranked government authority nationally for LGBTIQ+ inclusion as measured by the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), the national benchmark for LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion. In 2017, Luke was recognised for his commitment to championing LGBTIQ+ inclusion with the Lord Mayor’s Award for Excellence and led Council to achieve Gold Employer Status in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 AWEI.

Growing up in a musical family, Luke spent his teenage years never far from an instrument, choir stalls or stage! Luke now embraces any and all opportunities to be involved in the arts – albeit from the comfort and safety of the audience!

Hollee Hibberson (she/her) is on a mission to change the face of the electronic music scene in Australia by leading the charge on representation and diversity in event lineups. Hollee is the Co-Founder and Director of QUIVR – a DJ Livestreaming Studio, DJ School, DJ Agency, and Laneway Bar in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin. QUIVR is proudly queer owned and headed by female and non-binary business owners. Their DJ school has a unique way to teach people the art of holding space with music, and ultimately increasing the talent pool of DJs that are on offer to the community. Hollee’s previous positions include CEO of a National Rail Construction Company & Project Manager. She has also had 20 years of experience on dancefloors, playing music as a DJ. Hollee is passionate about the arts, and her magic is connecting the community within it. Her philosophy is simple – community teaching community, build people up and get the traditionally unheard, heard.

Ellie Watts (they/them) is more than a Senior Relationship Manager with Pride in Diversity; they’re a catalyst for change in Australia’s corporate landscape. At the helm of groundbreaking research initiatives like ”Being Seen: A Spotlight on Bi+ Inclusion in the Workplace,” Ellie doesn’t just advocate for workplace inclusion—they personify it. Their journey as a non-binary, bisexual, neurodiverse individual, forged in the vibrant tapestry of Regional Queensland, imbues them with a unique perspective that breathes life into their advocacy.

Ellie’s work isn’t just about policies and strategies; it’s about weaving inclusivity into the very fabric of organisations. Their flair for partnership building extends across government, private, higher education, and not-for-profit sectors, crafting robust LGBTQ+ inclusion strategies. But it’s not just professional for Ellie; it’s personal. Their commitment stems from a passion to be the visible role model they wish they’d seen earlier—a trailblazer igniting conversations and transforming perceptions.

Navigating the corporate sphere with finesse and an unwavering dedication to diversity, Ellie isn’t just bridging gaps; they’re constructing bridges forged from understanding, empathy, and dialogue. Their mission isn’t just about checkmarks on a diversity checklist—it’s about nurturing understanding, fostering conversations, and amplifying the voices that often go unheard. Through their work, they’re transforming lives and creating spaces where everyone can thrive authentically.

Matt Higgins is a strategist and advocate passionate about creativity and community building.

Higgins is a member of the Queensland Government’s LGBTIQ+ Roundtable, where he has helped champion Queensland’s first whole-of-government LGBTIQ+ Strategy. Having previously served on Townsville City Council’s Inclusive Communities Advisory Committee, Matt is deeply committed to amplifying intersectional voices and addressing the unique challenges facing regional LGBTIQ+ communities to shape a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

With over a decade of experience within the cultural and creative industries, he has championed LGBTIQ+ artists and partnered extensively with diverse stakeholders to drive positive outcomes for LGBTIQ+ communities through festivals and major events. Notably, Higgins produced Cher’s iconic performance at the largest LGBTIQ+ party in the southern hemisphere for Mardi Gras’ 40th anniversary. A City of Sydney Creative Fellowship recipient, he has launched several new LGBTIQ+ programs and events across New South Wales and Queensland.

He is currently State Manager Development and Partnerships (Queensland) at Creative Australia, where he contributes to the co-design and delivery of fundraising capability programs and services to empower Queensland artists and arts organisations to cultivate private sector support through philanthropy and partnerships.

Sev Faust (he/they) is a disabled trans queer multidisciplinary artist, performer, MC, producer and surrogate father figure of the Brisbane drag scene as Lord Sev.

Sev is deeply committed to disability advocacy, visibility and improving accessibility in the arts and LGBTQIA+ community. He’s proud to champion body neutrality, fat liberation, trans excellence and disability representation through his art and advocacy.