Dyllan Curtis

Regional Coordinator, Bay of Plenty & Hauraki

(She/Her)

Well, hey there! My name is Dyllan and I am originally from the UK. I moved to Tauranga when I was seven with my mum, brother and grandparents for a more relaxed lifestyle and we sure found it. Almost nineteen years later we are still here in the Bay of Plenty with kiwi step dad and two more brother in tow. 

After finishing high school I went on to pursue a teaching degree and taught at a local preschool for almost three years before finding my true love, psychology. Currently I am back at the University of Waikato campus here in Tauranga, part time to finish my Graduate Diploma in Psychology, with the goal of going into the field of sexual health, relationships and gender studies. 

In my spare time I can be found on stage at the local musical theatre, playing taxi for my two teenage brothers, gaming with my girlfriend, or teaching drama to children at the local performing arts centre. I also love to travel and have been lucky enough to take two trips to the USA in the last six months to teach classes in psychology and hypnotherapy, in which I am also qualified. 

 I am so thrilled to be part of the team here at RainbowYOUTH and aim to make the Bay a place where queer and gender diverse youth can thrive!

Alizaa Ara

Homelessness Advisor

(She/Her)

In my journey as a Mental Health Support Worker, I often came across youth from the Rainbow Community in crisis, and discovered that they experience unique circumstances contributing to homelessness, and additional barriers to accessing required support. Working with homeless youth from the Rainbow Community prompted my growing interest in developing interventions to address and minimise the risk of homelessness for this demographic in Aotearoa.

I have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Gender Studies and volunteered at OUTLine during my studies. As a part of receiving a Summer Research Scholarship, I worked as a Research Assistant at The University of Auckland with the Social Work department on Māori and Pasifika student engagement.

I come from an Indian and Middle Eastern background and grew up in Central Auckland. I can be found dancing, doing yoga, or fostering my plant babies in my spare time. I enjoy mindfulness themed activities and cuddling fluffy creatures! 

Alesha Ahdar

Kaihautū o te Haerenga Hōu

(She/They)

Tēnā koutou katoa! Ko Ōwhawhē te maunga, ko Waitomo te awa, ko Tainui te waka, ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi, ko Ngāti Uekaha te hapū, ko Tokikapu te marae, he takatāpui wahine ahau - Tihei, Mauri Ora!

Nō Waikato ahau, engari kei te noho ahau ki Tāmaki Makaurau. Ko aku mahi matua ko te hanga kiriata, pouaka whakaata me te whare tapere. He tino nui kē tōku koa mo tēnei kaupapa!  

Lucy Cowie

Co-Chairperson

(She/Her)

I’m a 24 year old queer cis woman from Auckland. My whānau come from Tauranga Moana and Greymouth, but I grew up in Auckland and have never really left. I’m currently studying to become a psychologist and work part time as a research assistant. In my spare time, I play social football, work on my tiny house, and watch trashy tv shows.

Tycho Vandenburg

Co-Chairperson

(They/Them)

Kia ora! I’m Tycho, a queer trans person who is currently completing a PhD in community psychology, exploring the lived experiences of homeless trans and gender diverse people. This work can be pretty tough, so I’ve found my antidote in playing video games, riding anything with two wheels, and co-parenting two rescued cat children. I've volunteered and worked for a range of non-profit organisations, and look forward to contributing towards RainbowYOUTH's organisational capacity, strategy, and sustainability with such an epic team. 

Joel Gatland

Treasurer

(They/Them)

I’m Joel, a genderqueer 26-year-old engineering student at AUT. I’m from East Auckland but grew up living in South East Asia and America with my family. I first got involved in RainbowYOUTH in 2010 and have been involved in different capacities since then. I love adventure and fill my down time by playing with my cats and refereeing with the Pirate City Rollers (a local Roller Derby league).

Taylor Mitchell

Secretary

(She/Her)

I'm Taylor, a 24 year old queer, cis woman who grew up and studied in Auckland, although have recently been away from NZ on and off for the past year while studying and working in London. I started this year as a graduate lawyer in environmental, resource management and planning law at Russell McVeagh and have a massive passion for the various intersections of environmentalism, feminism and LGBTTI+ issues. In my spare time, you can find me attempting to befriend the street cats of Eden Terrace, testing out new vego recipes and biking about town with my partner.

Cinnamon Lindsay

Tangata Whenua Representative

(She/Her)

Kia ora, my name is Cinnamon and I am a queer cis wahine (Ngāti Whatua, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi). I am currently completing my masters in Psychology. My thesis explores the experiences of Māori mother’s at University and the importance of mātauranga wāhine Māori (Māori women’s knowledge’s). I work at the uni as a tutor, tuākana mentor and research assistant. In my spare time I like passionately (and poorly) lipsyncing, overpriced brunches and time with friends.

Lee Grabarek

General Board Member

(They/Them or He/Him)

Kia ora! My name is Lee and I’m 25 years old. I am originally from the United States where I got my BA in social justice, youth studies, and gender studies. I am currently working as sexual health educator for Auckland Sexual Health so I spend a lot of my time working with community groups and high schoolers across Tāmaki Makaurau teaching about safer sex, gender identity, sexuality etc. In my spare time I love being active and outside--cycling, tramping, rock-climbing, running, going to the gym, you name it!

Logan Hamley

General Board Member

(He/Him)

Ko Ruapehu te maunga, ko Whangaehu te awa, ko Ngāti Rangi, ko Ngāti Tui-o-Nuku te hapū, ko Maungārongo te marae, he takatāpui ahau. Ko André Lichtsteiner taku hoa rangatira. Kei te ako i te mātai hinengaro i te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki-makau-rau.

Micaella Stone

General Board Member

(She/Her)

I’m Micaella, a 22 year old student from Auckland. I love being outdoors, DIY projects and spending time with my partner and our four-legged family. I first got involved with RainbowYOUTH as very shy, very closeted sixteen year old. At seventeen, I became a facilitator for GQ, our under-18s peer support group. Since then I’ve thrown myself into the RY whānau – camping with Outside the Box, acting as a Rōpū leader at our most recent hui, featuring in several videos, and growing the presence of GQ.

Nick Laing

(He/Him)

I am really excited to have the opportunity to be part of the RY board in an adviser role. I am passionate about young people and I think that the work that RY does to provide safe spaces for young people to be themselves, and to develop and grow is awesome.

I’m from Auckland and live with my husband and our two griffons. I trained as a social worker and have worked in the health sector since, mostly in leadership roles for the past ten years. I’m currently General Manager Operations at New Zealand AIDS Foundation