I took the reins as editor in March 2016, making the leap from News Corp Australia where I had cut my teeth as a journalist.

Landing at the Star Observer meant inheriting a 37-year legacy masthead with serious runs on the board: a fiercely loyal community and a respected national voice.

My editorship unfolded during one of the most turbulent — and defining — chapters in Australia’s LGBTIQ+ history. Marriage equality wasn’t just a political debate; it was the national mood.

When the Turnbull Government’s plebiscite proposal was knocked back in the Senate in November 2016, the fight didn’t stop — it intensified. Our coverage was steady, sharp and unapologetically centred on the lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ Australians. We handed the mic to advocates and everyday community members, and we held politicians to account when their decisions had real-world consequences.

The Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting in June 2016 was a gut‑punch felt right around the world.

I also steered the ship through Mardi Gras 2017, delivering wall‑to‑wall coverage of the parade, the politics and the passion that make it such a cornerstone of community life.

One of the proudest milestones of my tenure was hiring the publication’s first trans male journalist. I felt it was important we weren’t just reporting on diversity, but reflecting it in our newsroom. Journalism is strongest when it’s shaped by people with lived experience.

As editor, I oversaw the lot: print and digital, features and breaking news, commissioning, writing, team leadership and commercial relationships. I refreshed the magazine’s design to give it a more contemporary edge and national appeal, while keeping the heart and soul that made it a trusted community staple.

It was a wild, challenging, deeply meaningful time that exposed me to the best and worst of the community. I will forever remain proud of my team’s work.