Meet the 2025 South Australian Pride Awards

The South Australian Pride Awards return in 2025 to recognise the trailblazers, changemakers, quiet achievers and community champions who continue to uplift, support and celebrate LGBTQIA+ South Australians.

As we prepare to honour the best of the best, we're proud to introduce the 2025 Independent Review Panel – a trio of respected leaders from across the country who bring a wealth of experience, insight and passion to this year’s awards process.

What does the Review Panel do?

Once public nominations close on Sunday 31 March 2025, the community will have their say in the public vote, selecting the individuals, organisations and events they believe are most deserving of recognition.

Following this, the top three nominees in each category will be shortlisted and handed over to our Independent Review Panel. Each panellist will assess the shortlisted nominees against a set of criteria aligned to each category – considering impact, alignment to values, and contribution to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Scores will be tallied across the board, with the highest scoring nominees crowned as the 2025 South Australian Pride Award recipients, to be announced at the South Australian Pride Gala on Friday 27 June 2025.

Now, meet the incredible panel guiding us on this important journey:

David Elliott

Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide | Chair of Bike Adelaide

David Elliott is a passionate advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and people-first design in our city spaces. As the current Deputy Lord Mayor of Adelaide and Chair of Bike Adelaide, David is committed to ensuring everyone – regardless of age, ability, or identity – has equitable access to safe and inclusive public spaces.

His advocacy is grounded in community empowerment and sustainable transport, championing active mobility solutions that contribute to safer, more connected neighbourhoods. Through his leadership roles, David brings a strong sense of civic pride, fairness, and grassroots engagement to the Pride Awards review process.

Nicky Bath

Chief Executive Officer, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

Nicky Bath is the CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia – the national peak health organisation for individuals and organisations that provide programs, services and research focused on LGBTIQ+ people and communities across Australia.

With a career dedicated to improving health equity and human rights for marginalised groups, Nicky has held senior roles at ACON, AIVL (the national drug user organisation), and the NSW Ministry of Health. She also brings experience from the UK’s National Health Service.

Nicky is a powerful advocate for LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing, using her voice to champion inclusive policy, evidence-based care, and systemic change. Her expertise ensures a strong, values-led lens in the assessment of this year’s awards.

Jason Tuazon-McCheyne

Founder & CEO, The Equality Project®

Jason Tuazon-McCheyne is the Founder and CEO of The Equality Project®, a national health promotion charity committed to advancing LGBTIQA+ rights and improving the lives of rainbow communities in Australia. With more than eight years’ experience leading a non-profit and a strong background in diversity and inclusion advocacy, Jason has created and leads Better Together®, Australia’s largest national LGBTIQA+ conference.

Jason is a passionate advocate for connection, dialogue and unity across all intersections of the queer community. His work has helped shape policy, build movements, and empower countless LGBTQIA+ voices across the country.

We are thrilled to have these esteemed leaders join the 2025 South Australian Pride Awards as our Independent Review Panel. Their wisdom, integrity and commitment to justice will ensure our awards process is thoughtful, inclusive and representative of the incredible diversity within our community.

Nominations close 11:59pm, Sunday 31 March 2025Submit your nomination now: www.prideadelaide.org/awards