Gain insights from the real-life experiences of queer professionals and learn how they’ve navigated coming out in the workplace.

All queer and questioning students, staff and allies are encouraged to attend to learn from our talented and informative panellists as part of Diversity + Inclusion week.

Date: Monday, September 12
Time: 4pm - 5:30pm
Where: Common Lounge, Building S, Level 2, Monash University Caulfield.

Food will be provided during the session. Make sure to register your attendance here to secure your place!

Panelists

☆ Jacob Thomas (they/them)

Jacob Thomas is an internationally recognised human rights advocate, specialising in LGBTIQA+ youth. They are the LGBTIQA+ expert in UNGEI, the LGBTQIA+ rights and mental health advisor to The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, and are the queer research lead for both the Turner Institute's Community Research Council and the Centre of Research Excellence for Health in Preconception and Pregnancy. They are also undertaking their PhD in LGBTIQA+ youth health at Monash University.

☆ Clark Ryan-Tang (Please use Clark's name instead of pronouns)

Clark: Throughout my career, I have contributed to shaping, supporting, and delivering strategic outcomes aligned with learning and development with a focus on cyber awareness uplift strategies across government and industry.

My career has involved working as a long-term contractor across heavily legislated sectors which has meant a lot of heteronormative environments, even to the extent of homo and gender phobic behaviours which were not only the norm, but accepted. As a male presenting gender diverse person, on my own path to discover myself, I look forward to sharing my experiences and how Monash has been supportive from every aspect.

☆ Nick Ginsburg (he/him)

Nick is the Executive Assistant to the Provost and Senior Vice-President at Monash University and the Founder of the Monash University EA Network. In 2018, Nick launched the Monash University Executive Assistant Network to share knowledge across the University bringing together over 250 administrative professionals.

☆ Sophie Cachia (she/her)

Sophie Cachia is a well-known and highly in-demand Digital Marketing Expert, Entrepreneur, Businesswoman and Presenter. Far exceeding her commonly referred to title of an ‘influencer’ - Sophie stands today as the CEO of multimedia company SHAW MEDIA and, Author to the bestselling memoir ‘Then There Was Her’, CEO and Founder of cosmetics company AISURU, business partner & director in BODA Hair Boutique and most famously known as the Co-Founder and Business Owner of sleepwear company CACHIA.

Sophie married young and became a mother to two children, before embarking on a self-discovery journey at the age of 28 – which led her to her now new life with fiancé Maddie (she/her) and her children. Sophie is not only a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, but a trailblazer for humans to live life exactly as they wish. She penned her best-selling memoir ‘Then There Was Her’ which took readers through an intimate, behind-closed-doors journey of her exploration and subsequent ‘coming out’ experience to the world.

☆ Svipul Kyriakopoulos (he/they)

Svipul is a digital communications coordinator at Monash who came to education from the video game industry. He has previously worked for international publisher Electronic Arts and for local trans and gender diverse advocacy body Transgender Victoria.