Board of Management

The Board has the collective responsibility of stewardship and trusteeship on behalf of the members, to ensure that the legal entity remains viable, relevant to its purpose and the needs of the GLBTIQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex & queer) community and effective for the future.

The Board ensures that the organisation has a secure and long-term future by:

• Appointing and evaluating the performance of the chief executive officer

• Establishing {also}'s strategic direction and priorities

• Monitoring {also}'s performance and evaluating strategic results

• Defining key relationships between {also} and it's stakeholders and other key individuals and organisations.

Current Board Members

Jason Rostant - President

Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Curtin University in 1994 and has worked in a range of GLBTIQ roles including for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, 2010 Association (NSW), Working It Out (Tas), for Senator Brian Greig (WA), HREOC/Outlink Project, Gay and Lesbian Switchboard (Vic), 1st Asia Pacific Outgames Human Rights Conference, and the {also} Foundation. Jason currently manages human rights education at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Sue Spurr - Vice President

Sue has been employed in the education sector as a teacher since 1980 after receiving her Diploma of Teaching Primary; Bachelor of Education - Librarianship.  In 2001 Sue became a Principal and continues in that role to date.

Gerard Brody - Treasurer

Gerard is a consumer advocate and lawyer, currently employed as the Senior Manager, Financial Inclusion at the Brotherhood of St Laurence.  In this role, he leads a team that develops and demonstrates effective financial inclusion programs for disadvantaged people, and also advocates for universal access to mainstream, affordable and appropriate financial services. 

He has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and has been admitted as an Australian Lawyer by the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Caren Aspinall - Executive

Caren is a new member of the {also} Board having sat on the board since December 2007. Caren has 18 years experience working with people who have an intellectual disability and is committed to the rights and freedoms of this group of people. She has had previous experience on the board of the Association for Cooperative Housing and was active volunteer in the housing cooperative area in the 1990's.

Bill Jeffrey

Bill has been involved with {also} for 22 years and serving on the board for the last 19. Has worked on the production side of theatre - mainly stage management. Was a proof reader and sub editor for The Age newspaper and is now a self funded retiree.

Daryl Higgins

Daryl is a Registered Psychologist, and works as a research manager in a public service agency. He has been a member of the {also} Board since 2002, after having been a member of the Community Development Committee, responsible for editing and publishing three editions of the organisation's well-used document:  'ALSORTS: A sexuality awareness resource'. From 2004-2006, Daryl was President of {also}. Daryl has a BA(Hons) and a PhD in psychology from Deakin University. Daryl is not currently on the Board of any other organisation.

Michael Glover

Michael is a qualified company director with special interest in not-for-profit organisations. He has more than thirty years experience in senior public affairs/public relations roles for state government agencies and was a major researcher for a major political party.

Neil Paterson

Neil has been a policeman with Victoria Police for over 21 years.  He is currently an Inspector and manages the Kingston Police Service Area of Victoria Police.   Neil holds a Diploma in Frontline Management, a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management, a Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Management and is currently completing a Juris Doctor. 

Neil has previously been a Committee of Management member of VANISH (Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self-Help) and has been a Director of The {also} Foundation since October 2004.

Liam Leonard

Liam holds a BSc (1st class hons) and BA (1st class hons).  He has been a senior policy analyst at state and federal levels on HIV, hepatitis C and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) health and wellbeing.  Liam is also a senior lecturer with Monash and RMIT Universities on sexuality and gender and senior research fellow La Trobe, researching GLBTI health, homophobic and same-sex partner abuse, and providing community-based GLBTI sensitivity training.

Catherine Roberts

Catherine has worked and volunteered in the private, public and community sectors for the past 10 years, specialising in legal and policy advice in the areas of discrimination, employment law, and human rights. Catherine is currently a Senior Advisor in the Education and Complaints unit of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.  Catherine is also a former Co-Convenor of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.  Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws (Hons); Bachelor of Arts (Major: Political Science); Admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.

Tash Roberton

Natasha is the Co-founder of a boutique brand and advertising agency based in South Melbourne. She is a marketing and advertising professional with 15 years experience working on brand and marketing communication strategies for categories as diverse as Big Oil, public health, property development, tourism, professional services, retail, food and beverage, automotive and digital services. She is co-Managing Director and Head of Brand and Creative strategy at Cheeky Pup Creative, a company that she has run for three and a half years. Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Monash Caulfield, 1994. Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology), Monash Caulfield, 1994.

Maxwell Gratton

Maxwell is a Sports Administrator by profession, with several years of experience in the sports industry. He is currently working for Football Federation Victoria in a Managerial capacity. Maxwell has a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Administration and he is currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Maxwell is involved with various other community and professional groups.

Jarrod Hassell

Jarrod has been an {also} member for over 11 years, and previously served on the minus18 and PFLAG committees as well as Convenor of minus18. He has represented minus18 on a number of occasions on JOY FM, Queer TV and the Melbourne GLBTI press.  During his time with minus18 he helped to secure FReeZA funding, as well as participating with discussions with the Victorian Government and Victoria Police on increasing their support for GLBTI youth. 

He has over 9 years experience in sales and marketing within the communications & technology industries.  Jarrod has a strong background in business and market intelligence, and extensive experience in project management spanning product launches, exhibition events, lead generation and customer retention campaigns.  He is currently a Director of the Evolved Group Pty Ltd and studying accounting and corporate governance.