Check out our amazing lineup of presenters at
Awaken / Maranga Mai 2025!
Brit Barron
she/her
Presenting:
- Keynote: Unity Not Uniformity
- Workshop: Do You Still Talk to Grandma? – Navigating Hard Conversations with Love and Accountability
- Youth Worker’s Dinner
- Public Lecture
- Public Pride Service
- Sunday Night Church
Brit comes to us from Southern California where she is a pastor in Pasadena. She is a captivating speaker who has a unique ability to share engaging narratives that inspire, educate and entertain. As an experienced story teller and author Brit is known for her ability to use personal narratives and experiences from her own life to highlight larger, universal truths.
You can get to know a bit more about Brit on her website – https://www.britbarron.com or on her socials below.
Steff Fenton
they/them
Presenting:
- Keynote: A God Beyond All Binaries
- Workshop: Queer Theology 201
- Panel: Authentically Us
- Youth Worker’s Dinner
- Pastor’s Lunch
Steff Fenton is a writer, speaker, educator, and advocate who empowers people to celebrate the intersections of being trans, queer, and Christian.
After ten years of advocacy within the Anglican Church, Steff founded and co-pastored an independent church in Sydney, a network for LGBTIQA+ supporters called Equal Voices, and served as a Chaplain in the Uniting Church. They enjoy facilitating empathetic trainings, workshops, keynotes, and group sessions, and are passionate about cultivating safe spiritual spaces for LGBTIQA+ people.
In addition, Steff is a wedding celebrant and author of an upcoming book about gender expansiveness and faith.
Aaron Hendry
he/him
Presenting:
- Workshop: A Conversation with Aaron Hendry
Aaron Hendry is a Youth Development Worker, rangatahi advocate, writer, and political commentator on social justice issues. Aaron’s mahi is largely focused on ending Youth Homelessness in Aotearoa, he has been involved in designing and developing Youth Housing and Homelessness services, and recently co-founded Kick Back, a social justice and youth development organization responding to Youth Homelessness. Alongside this he also serves on the board member for Massey Community Trust and has had a key role in developing the Safety Net Project, a community initiative to support rangatahi experiencing homelessness.
Aaron is also the founder of When Lambs Are Silent, a substack and podcast focused on highlighting both the voices and perspectives of those on the front lines of social justice mahi.
Amanda Pilbrow
she/her
Presenting:
- Workshop: Exploring the Journey of Becoming an Inclusive Faith Community
Amanda is an Ally, a person of faith, a ‘once-upon-a-time’ pastor – now spiritual director, liberation theologian, speaker, a constant student and researcher, artist, Enneagram Practitioner, celebrant, and curator/researcher/workshop presenter of www.alreadyenough.co.nz.
She is a silver-streaked, tattooed, cis-gendered woman. Mother of three adult children (and their partners), and wife of 35 years (to the same man).
Andre Afamasaga
he/him
Presenting:
- Workshop: Human Rights Commission
Andre Afamasaga (Samoan: Afega, Fasito‘otai) is a human rights advocate with 25 years’ experience in community, public health, and government roles. He has held senior positions at the NZ Human Rights Commission, including leading the civil redress response to the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act. A former pastor and conversion practices survivor, Andre is regularly asked to share thought leadership on human rights, diversity and inclusion in media and community settings. In 2024, Alofa, a documentary about his life aired on ABC Australia, exploring his journey of self-acceptance in the context of faith, culture, and family.
Benjamin Doyle
they/them
Presenting:
- Panel: From Policy to Action: Queer Advocacy in Aotearoa
Benjamin Doyle (Ngāpuhi, Te Kapotai, Te Popoto, Pākehā) is a fierce advocate for ngā mokopuna me te taiao. Benjamin is takatāpui, tangata whaikaha, a parent, and a teacher, who brings all of their communities with them to Parliament.
You can find out more about Benjamin on the Green Party Website.
Geremy Hema
he/him
Presenting:
- Workshop: Te Ao Māori & Decolonising Faith
Geremy Hema (Ngāti Paoa, Te Rarawa) B.Sc, LLB, Te Tohu Mihingare, works at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland as the Poutiaki Rangahau Māori Māori Research and Data Sovereignty Steward, in the Pro Vice Chancellor Māori Office. Through his father, Geremy affiliates strongly with Motuti, Hokianga, a number of Tamaki Iwi, and Waikato. Geremy has worked in local government, Chapman Tripp (Te Waka Ture), and the University of Auckland Law School.
Glenn Bennett
he/him
Presenting:
- MCing – Panel: Embracing the Rainbow: Faith Leaders on the Journey to Inclusion
With experience spanning business enterprise, restorative justice, community development and youth support, Glen is committed to building a stronger, fairer New Zealand. He believes in secure housing, fair incomes, high-quality education, decent healthcare and action on climate change.
You can find out more about Glenn on the Labour Party Website.
Kay McCabe
she/her
Presenting:
- Workshop: Holding Space for Yourself: Self-Care in Tough Times
Kay is an Auckland based clinical psychologist with more than 26 years’ experience in mental health, the majority with children, teenagers and their families, alongside the psychology of health and chronic illness and treatment of trauma.
Lexee Blackmore
they/them
Presenting:
Lexee is a queer, neurodivergent, Pākehā person who grew up between Waikato and Tāmaki Makaurau. As an adult, they have lived across the motu, from small rural towns to larger cities. They first became involved in the Church as a teenager and, until recently, served as a pastor and director of a social services centre.
Lexee studied theology and religion at Otago University, and has a particular interest in Public Theology and Queer Theology. They are passionate about creating spaces for deep conversations about faith, identity, and life.
You’ll usually find Lexee patting the nearest dog – and they will always be delighted to see photos of your dogs!
Mace Malcolm
they/them
Presenting:
Mace is a trans non-binary, queer, Pākehā social worker from Ōtautahi, Aotearoa. With a background in working with children and youth, their current role is a School Coordinator for InsideOUT Kōaro. As part of this role, they support schools to create safer, more inclusive environments for rainbow young people through training and policy development.
Mace is passionate about intersectionality, particularly connections between queerness, disability, and faith, and the beauty that each person’s diverse and interconnected identity brings to the world.
Peter Lineham
he/him
Presenting:
- Workshop: Theology 101 – Understanding Clobber Verses
Peter Lineham is retired Professor of History from Massey University, has an MNZM, and is chair of Auckland Rainbow Community Church and a well known commentator on religious issues in the media. He has written a number of books and articles, and more are on the go, generally about religious history and trends. Contact him through p.lineham@massey.ac.nz.
Peter Norman
he/him
Presenting:
- Panel: Embracing the Rainbow: Faith Leaders on the Journey to Inclusion
I grew up in Tūranga (Gisborne) and worked in the wine industry for over 20 years before training for ministry. People often joked that a Methodist winemaker is an oxymoron! I was ordained as a Methodist minister in 2008 and spent six and a half years at St Andrew’s Uniting Church in Motueka before moving toTakapuna to serve as Superintendent of the Northcote Takapuna Methodist Parish. I’m currently serving a two-year term as Vice President of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa. I’m married to Lynnette, and together we have five children and two grandchildren.
Petra Zaleski
she/her
Presenting:
- Workshop: Embodying Freedom: A Queer Liberation Meditation for Self-Sovereignty
The Reverend Petra Zaleski has an insatiable appetite for celebrating and affirming our enoughness.
With a lived experience of CPTSD, depression, and all those shaming hidden years as a victim/ survivor, Petra was unconscious to an inherited narrative that ‘orderliness is close to Godliness’.
Petra now knows that the state of her house, or unwashed dishes, is not a moral failure. Petra understands that the pearl of great price is formed by a single grain of sand birthed in irritation and chaos.
Robin Acheson
he/they
Presenting:
Tēnā koutou, I’m Robin (he/they) or in drag Reign Bowman. Born and grew up partly overseas. I’m a feminine transmasc person. Confused? Valid, gender is like that. When I’m not playing expensive dress ups I’m on the worship and education committee at my church and I also lead a mainly music at another church.
Seuta’afili Dr Patrick Thomsen
he/they
Presenting:
- Workshop: Pacific Rainbow+ Peoples and their Journeys with the Christian Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
Seuta’afili Dr Patrick Thomsen is a Senior Lecturer in Global Studies and a Senior Research Fellow in Pacific Health at the University of Auckland. He is the Principal Investigator for the Manalagi Project, New Zealand’s first Pacific Rainbow+ Health and Wellbeing Project to be funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Raised in a Samoan Catholic family in South Auckland, Seuta’afili’s research explores the complex intersections of queerness and Pacific identities. He is also the Queer and LGBT+ Studies Collection Editor for Lived Places Publishing based in New York, having received his PhD from the University of Washington-Seattle.
Shanan Halbert
he/him
Presenting:
- Panel: From Policy to Action: Queer Advocacy in Aotearoa
Shanan grew up in Hawke’s Bay and has whakapapa to Iwi including Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Kahungunu.
Before he was elected to Parliament in 2020, Shanan spent 15 years in education leadership and management at tertiary institutions improving access to higher learning for many young people, Māori and Pasifika.
Shanan believes that everyone deserves to be able to live freely, just as they are. In his role as Labour’s spokesperson for Rainbow Issues, he is working hard to ensure the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui are upheld in Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can find out more about Shanan on the Labour Party Website.
Staci McLean
she/her
Presenting:
- Workshop: Neurodivergence and the Church: Inclusive Faith
Staci McLean is the author of ‘A place where I belong – Neurodiversity in the Church’ and the founder of The Neurocollective NZ – an advocacy, education, and support organisation. Through her books and speaking Staci is passionate about encouraging others to find freedom, build their faith and in making church accessible and inclusive for all people.
Find her online at
www.stacimclean.co.nz and www.facebook.com/stacimcleanauthor
Fr Stephen Berecz
he/him
Presenting:
- Panel: Embracing the Rainbow: Faith Leaders on the Journey to Inclusion
Fr Stephen Berecz originates from Wellington and was brought up in the Hutt Valley. He comes from a Hungarian/Irish Catholic background and considers himself a cradle Catholic. He has studied and graduated from Victoria and Otago universities. He also hold a Grad Dip Teaching in Secondary School teaching and has been teaching for 28 years at Sacred Heart College, Auckland.
Fr Stephen has been ordained as a Catholic priest for almost 35 years. He has been in parishes in both Wellington and Auckland Dioceses. He is the Parish Priest of St John the Baptist, Parnell since 2023. He also serves as the Diocesan Director of Pontifical Mission Societies for the Diocese of Auckland.
Taine Polkinghorne
he/him
Presenting:
- Workshop: Human Rights Commission
Taine Polkinghorne is Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission’s senior human rights advisor on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. Taine has been a keen volunteer for over a decade in the areas of Rainbow youth development, and with Rainbow refugees and asylum seekers. A proud trans man, he has been part of the Counting Ourselves research team since 2022 and completed a Master of Public Health on substance use among trans and non-binary people using data from the survey. Taine is Tangata Tiriti and lives in Tāmaki Makaurau with two beautiful cats, Feta and Persil.
