Following a three-month long recruitment period that fielded a wide variety of excellent candidates, Transgender Victoria are delighted to announce Son Vivienne as our new CEO.
Many of you will know that Son has been filling the role on an interim basis since Mama Alto formally stepped down at our AGM in December. Son is also juggling their continuing workload as General Manager. Consequently, their first priority task is to lead the search for a successor in the role of GM.
Son brings a wealth of experience and skills, gleaned in several professional contexts across an adventurous career trajectory through film production, research, advocacy and academia. Son (they/them) is non-binary, trans-masc, gender-queer, pansexual and also identifies as a ‘not young’ parent of two awesome kids. Son has white working-class roots in far north Queensland and regional South Australia and both bio and chosen family of Arrernte and Ngarrindjeri descent.
They are producer, co-director and co-writer of award-winning Adnyamathanha-language animation and series of micro-docs called ‘Wadu Matyidi’. They are author of two books ‘Digital Identity and Everyday Activism’ and ‘Queering Safe Spaces: Being Brave Beyond Binaries’, and co-editor and author of ‘Going Postal: More than Yes or No’, with Quinn Eades. You can dive deeper into the background at Son’s website here.
“Son has worked tirelessly at TGV for nearly 5 years in roles spanning Volunteer Committee Secretary, Project Manager (Peer Support), General Manager and most recently as interim CEO. They will make an excellent ongoing CEO and will lead us through an exciting phase as TGV enlarges its position as the pre-eminent organisation supporting trans and gender diverse Victorians.” — Michelle Mcnamara, TGV Treasurer
An excerpt from Son’s cover letter and application speaks to their creativity, and vision for TGV.
"The Wizard of Oz is one of my favourite stories and films, and inspiration of many queer theories and icons. It features a crystal ball that tells the future AND offers insight into parallel events elsewhere.
As I prepared for our ‘Legacy of Trans Resilience’ event recently, TERFs, Neo-Nazis, Queer students, and Trans activists clashed on the Parliament House steps. With police presence at both events, I was reminded of the minefields through which we walk in pursuit of ‘safe enough’ lives and for our well-being. Adversity flows from the past and shapes calamity in the present, with a likelihood of a spill over into the future. As threats emerge here and overseas, we need to facilitate protective resilience that is mindful of embodied and intersectional trauma — while seizing every opportunity to celebrate our community's compassion and endurance.
If I had a crystal ball, in 4-5 years I would foresee an organisational name change and rebrand — suitable to a national remit, with productive partnerships around the country and with similar organisations internationally. We will be leaders in anti-racism and accessibility work alongside trauma-informed employment practices. We will achieve a greater degree of financial independence, and sustainability beyond news or election cycles. We will spend less time wrangling moral panics and more time just being our best selves."
We are so excited for TGV's newest chapter and for what it will bring. Please join us in welcoming Son into this new journey with us!
