Chrystal Dean - vice president

Chrystal became involved in TasPride in July 2008 in answer to a plea from a close friend saying 'we need more girls on our committee!'

It didn't take long for her to be sold on the organisation – what it was, what it was striving to be, what it could do for the Tasmanian GLBTIQ community, and what it could do for Tasmania. Six months later she was vice-president.

Chrystal brings with her a mixed bag of experience in people, media and event management. With a background in communications and public relations, Chrystal currently manages the state's premier and long-running Tasmanian Sports Awards and the prestigious Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame as part of her day job. Her voluntary work extends to the sporting arena, where she is Chair of the Football Federation Tasmania Women's Standing Committee.

Chrystal came to Tasmania from Sydney in 2004 for a working holiday, then met her partner of five years, and never left.

"Jade and I met through a tight-knit group of mostly queer friends. We all 'partnered off' after a while, but I remember those days with that group as some of the best in my life.

"Having spent most of my life in the queer scene in Sydney, this was the first time I felt a real sense of community. I think TasPride can help create that feeling for more people in Tasmania, and if I can be a part of that, then what more can I ask for?"

Chrystal's vision is for the GLBTIQ community in Tasmania to be vibrant, active, supportive and inclusive. As a member of both the Grants, and Marketing and Partnership sub-committees, Chrystal has thrown herself into shaping and promoting TasPride to Tasmanian businesses, governments and communities to build and grow partnerships that will benefit the GLBTIQ community in Tasmania.

Other sub-committees Chrystal is a part of include Mardi Gras, Bingo and Queer Quiz Nite.