The GABA Charitable Trust has welcomed four new trustees. Here are their profiles: Paul Heard Paul, along with his partner Alan Granville has been owner of Urge on Auckland's Karangahape Road for the past five years. With Urge bar the couple aim to not only create a no-attitude masculine space catering towards the Bear, Rugged, Masculine, Leather crowd and their admirers, but they also strive to provide a community focal point in New Zealand's biggest city. And they have followed through, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for community causes including the NZAF, Prostate Cancer and last year's OUTLine October appeal. Cherry Sonderer Cherry is self employed and has worked as a contractor, mainly in the not-for-profit sector, since 2008 utilising her experience in finance and fundraising. Prior to working for herself, she spent three and a half years working as Director of Finance and Administration for the Mental Health Foundation. Cherry originally trained as a Radiographer specialising in Nuclear medicine and have always retained an interest in the health sector. Cherry was born in Auckland and currently lives in Grey Lynn. She has undertaken an active role for a number of years in activities run by, and fundraising to benefit, the LGBT community. Karen Knight Karen has owned a number of successful businesses and has an MBA from Auckland University. She has a background in the automotive industry and currently heads the 24/7 nationwide car accident repair company Crash Management. Karen and her long-term partner Nicky have been gaba members for 15 years, and Karen has served a number of terms on the Executive covering the Presidencies of David Grove, Judith Thompson and Johnny Givins. One of her main achievements during that time was to significantly increase female membership and develop a regular programme of woman-only events. Karen has also been an enthusiastic supporter of the Annual Charity Auction including donations from her own art collection. She has also leveraged contacts in the arts as well as the auto industry to obtain other big-ticket auction items. Glenn Sims (as President of GABA) Glenn was born in England and relocated to New Zealand in 2002. He is one of the most respected television producers in the country producing prime-time hits including The Apprentice New Zealand and HomeSick as well as the recent Qantas and Television Awards. Glenn and his company Redflame Media have actively supported the Auckland GLBT community for several years and he is the current President of GABA. Glenn was the driving force behind the OUTLine October initiative in 2009 that raised tens of thousands of dollars to save OUTLine.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 8th October 2010 - 11:07am