Meet the finalists for the 2026 Trans Visibility Awards

Transgender Victoria has announced the twenty-four finalists for the 2026 Trans Visibility Awards, celebrating trans, gender diverse and non-binary excellence.

From regional sporting clubs to Naarm’s ballroom floors, this year’s finalists continue to make an impact in communities across Victoria.

“Every one of these finalists shows what our communities make possible,” said Jack Khouri, Deputy CEO of Transgender Victoria. “They are psychologists and personal trainers, artists and researchers, community service workers and coaches, and elders who have been showing up for trans people for decades.

Now in its third year, the Awards recognise the achievements, leadership and everyday care of trans people across eight categories, including the new Sporting Icon Award.

Winners will be revealed at this year’s Gender Revel Gala as part of Trans Month.

Gender Revel Gala 2025/Photo by Dean Arcuri

“We are so proud to celebrate them,” Khouri said, “And we can’t wait to honour them all together at the Gender Revel Gala in November.”

Two of this year’s finalists, Angela Wiebenga and Shei Udeagu, are honoured posthumously.

Both made a lasting difference to the people and communities around them, and TGV is proud to recognise them alongside their fellow finalists.

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The finalists of the eight categories are…

Regional Star Award

The Regional Star Award recognises someone living regionally and having an impact in their local community.

The finalists are:

Leroy Maronian, a queer trans masc psychologist based in Geelong, practising in community youth mental health as well as supporting the community in Colac.

Maddie Sumner, a proud transgender woman, youth group facilitator, cybersecurity professional and passionate advocate for the community.

Angela Wiebenga is honoured posthumously. She brought an unwavering passion for people, diversity, and inclusion to everything she did. Angela dedicated herself to creating spaces where others felt valued, respected, and seen. Whether through her work in human resources, LGBTIQA+ advocacy, community volunteering, or one-on-one support.

Finalists for the 2026 Trans Visibility Awards/Images Supplied

Creative Excellence Award

The Creative Excellence Award recognises a performer, artist or ensemble who has made significant contributions to the arts.

The finalists are:

The House of DIESEL, Naarm’s trailblazing Ballroom house, founded in February 2024, made an unforgettable impact in their debut year.

Harry Lloyd is a trans-masc, non-binary writer and director whose work explores identity, power and belonging through genre. Named an IF Rising Talent for Directors 2026, they were the set-up director of the SBS series Homebodies. Their short film Butch won Best Screenplay at Mardi Gras Film Festival, and Harry makes bold, entertaining stories that centre queer and trans lives without reducing them to a single note.

Noa Wolf Smith Fletcher is a trans-masc, non-binary documentary photographer, artist and curator living on Bunurong Country. Their socially engaged practice explores identity, belonging and human connection through photography, storytelling and participatory public art. At the heart of Noa’s work, individual stories become moments of collective recognition.

Changemaker Award

The Changemaker Award recognises a person, project or community group who has made a substantial impact in facilitating social connection.

The finalists are:

Nic Radoll, a proud Anaiwan trans leader whose identity guides their commitment to strengthening wellbeing, safety, and inclusion across communities. As Founder and Managing Director of Deadly Sports Plus and through work with RMIT, Nic delivers community-led outcomes that uplift Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mob and LGBTIQA+SB people.

Budi Sudarto, a non-binary, queer, Muslim person from Indonesia, is a business owner, community advocate, and sexual health researcher based in Naarm/Melbourne. They dedicate their work to exploring intersections of ethnicity, faith, sexuality, and gender, and are known for sharing informed, thoughtful views to inspire systemic change.

Aria Villero is a Filipina femme queen leader and facilitator within Naarm’s ballroom scene. Her work is dedicated to providing access to shared community spaces for trans and queer youth of colour, and nurturing future generations of young queer people to find their family in ballroom.

Most Influential Award

The Most Influential Award recognises a spokesperson, media personality, influencer or any individual who has made a positive contribution to social narratives about trans people.

The finalists are:

Johanna Browne is a human rights advocate, secular activist and board member of Recovering from Religion Australia, where she leads work across growth, advocacy and fundraising. Her advocacy focuses on religious harm, freedom of belief, and the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people navigating faith, family and identity. As an intersex transgender woman, Johanna brings lived experience to her work on trans and intersex rights, bodily autonomy and equality, while helping build safer, more visible support pathways for people harmed by religion.

Ari Heart is a therapist turned educator, improving the wellbeing of trans people by educating parents and professionals. In recent years, Ari has trained over 1000 therapists and supported hundreds of parents to accept, support and advocate for their trans children. In July, they launched Return to Self, a University of Melbourne video series that has already reached thousands of viewers. Ari helps the world connect with the beautiful humanity of trans people.

Leta Taylor is a nail artist and content creator from Aotearoa, New Zealand, living in Naarm for the past 13 years. In her salon work, she most enjoys connecting with other trans people, sharing the confidence she found when first exploring her own expression through nails. In recent years, Leta has shared her experiences of transition online, not just pointing out difficult realities, but reminding fear-riddled cis people that we live full, exciting, ordinary, busy, complex, fun, quiet, love-filled lives.

Unsung Hero Award

The Unsung Hero Award recognises a dedicated volunteer or community member who works behind the scenes to give back to trans communities.

The finalists are:

T Edgell-Hall is a proud disabled and neurodivergent community advocate, Co-Founder of Euphoria Foundation and 314 Movement. Their work is shaped by lived experience, community care and a deep belief that everyone deserves to feel safe, welcome and valued.

Babi Rani Poudel is a trans woman from western Nepal, now based in Melton, Melbourne. A chef, community support worker, writer and storyteller, she advocates for trans, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ people, people living with HIV, asylum seekers and marginalised communities. Working tirelessly behind the scenes, Babi supports people experiencing mental health challenges, drug addiction and social isolation, especially those whose voices often go unheard.

Shei Udeagu is honoured posthumously. Shei was a Black, transmasculine, non-binary advocate, Specialist Family Violence Practitioner and TGD Health trainer. Across their professional and community work, Shei championed LGBTQIA+ inclusion, intersectional justice and the rights of people experiencing family and domestic violence. They brought compassion, courage and an unwavering commitment to challenging systems that exclude marginalised communities.

Young Leader Award

The Young Leader Award recognises a trans person aged 18 to 30 who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within their community or field.

The finalists are:

Connor Bayly-Jones is a postdoctoral researcher at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre investigating lymphatic regeneration and treatment pathways for lymphoedema. As a trans man and scientist, Connor is passionate about making science and healthcare more inclusive for transgender, gender-diverse and non-binary people. His passion for advocacy is shaped by his own experience of navigating science without many visible trans role models. Through research, education, and advocacy, Connor tries to be the role model he once needed and to show young trans scientists that they belong.

James Bush is a queer trans man and is the current Vice President and East Gippsland representative for the Gippsland Pride Initiative, living in beautiful Gunai Kurnai Country. Growing up with a farming background, James uses his own lived experience of mental illness, LGBTQIA+ identities, neurodiversity and disability to advocate for the importance of intersectionality, health and wellbeing literacy and reaching out for support, especially when living rurally or regionally. He has been part of the community services sector for 9 years (and counting), volunteering since age 16.

Luka Ritter is a queer transmasculine Occupational Therapist. They provide specialist OT support focusing on gender affirmation/euphoria, healthy relationships, sex, and intimacy. A strong advocate for accessible gender-affirming care, Luka champions the essential and often missed role of allied health in multidisciplinary healthcare to improve client outcomes. Their impactful work includes research, community-based peer support workshops, and providing clinical education and supervision to allied health clinicians and students on best practices for supporting trans and gender-diverse clients.

Sporting Icon Award

The Sporting Icon Award recognises a standout trans sportsperson who is a role model both on and off the field.

The finalists are:

Ty Aster has been an in-person personal trainer and online coach for the past 12 years, working locally on the Mornington Peninsula, but reaching folks all over the world with their unique approach to fitness, training and exercise. They work primarily with fellow trans and queer folks, striving to make fitness and exercise as accessible for as many folks as they can. Ty believes strongly in creating safe, affirming, client-led training sessions where folks feel safe and heard.

Kylie Collins is a passionate South Gippsland sportswoman excelling in both golf and cricket. Working in the golf industry, she has represented her region and won her club’s singles and Foursomes championship in 2026. Kylie has been Vice Captain for both Blackbridge and Traralgon Centrals Cricket Clubs. Her achievements include selection for Victoria in the 2026 Cricket Australia Masters Women’s O40s Championships. Kylie also won the batting and bowling awards along with The John Hammer League B&F in the 2026 Mid Year Cricket Association. A tireless advocate for trans inclusion, Kylie has led Centrals CC in Trans Day of Remembrance celebrations and championed acceptance across all sports.

Sam Dengate is the founder and head coach of T Gen Gyms, a trans-led and operated gym service in Coburg, Naarm. Big cat dad, sci-fi nerd, picks up heavy circles and puts them back down. Sam’s mission as a coach has always been to help trans folks get strong. Now his focus is on creating pathways for other gender expansive folks to enter the world of health and fitness both as people and as professionals.

Legacy Award

The Legacy Award recognises a trans person aged 55 or above who has shown lifelong dedication, resilience and leadership within our communities, inspiring future generations.

The finalists are:

Andrew Eklund has focused on practical support, education and policy change to improve the lives of Trans and Gender Diverse people. In 2013, he established the FTM Shed, a peer support group still offering support to Transmasculine people today. He has worked with TGV, Monash Health, Victorian Secondary Schools, Universities, Aged Care Providers, Corporate Victoria and the Criminal Justice System to bring inclusive practices for TGD people.

Greer McGearey is a Life Member of Seahorse Victoria, which is the longest continuously functioning trans social support group in Victoria since 1975. She joined Seahorse 24 years ago and was president in 2005/2006 and 2009/2025. Seahorse provided a safe, supportive environment to learn to be comfortable with herself and gave perspective for the rest of her life. Her involvement in Toastmasters, Apex and Rotary has been a driving force to ensure that social support groups like Seahorse continue.

Julie Peters became convinced as a child that her parents were dumb for not realising she was a girl. Very stressed at a boys’ high school, she sneaked out at night in her mum’s clothes. Julie had her first public speaking on trans in 1981 to Monash medical students. In the 1990s, with others, she pushed for law reform to protect trans people and ran five times for the Australian Democrats. She helped set up and was convenor of TGV in 2001. She then started a PhD at Deakin, with the aim of empowering trans and gender diverse people. And then, because not enough people had read it, she reimagined the PhD as a cabaret.