Constitutions and candidates
At our AGM on 25 May, we’ll be voting on whether to adopt our new proposed constitution.
Download your copy of the proposed constitution here.
We’ll also electing a couple of new candidates and a co-chair. Here’s the people (in alphabetical order) who’ve put their hands up.
You must be registered for our AGM and as a member to vote.
General board members
Co-chair
General board members
Jonathon Davies
The Pride Festival—what is it, really? Is it something to be gatekept? Just another shiny event for our community? I believe it's much more than that. Pride is a movement—a celebration of difference, a promotion of shared values, and an embrace of individuality. It’s a living, evolving expression of community, resilience, and the ongoing fight for equality. At its best, Pride uplifts, includes, and empowers. It's not just for us—it’s for the betterment of humanity. It's not just an event, it’s a call to action: a space where we can practise communal effort, honour civic responsibility, and create something that truly belongs to everyone.
I'm Jonathon (Jono, Jane) Davies (they/them), a pre-trans, genderfluid, creative communications and community specialist with a deep passion for empowering others through collaboration. I bring over a decade of experience working with non-profits, community organisations, and creative industries, with leadership in marketing, event coordination, and community engagement. I run Caped H, a non-profit-focused creative agency supporting over 30 organisations across Wellington with marketing, digital strategy, and storytelling that empowers.
My work is grounded in equity, solidarity, and the belief that Pride should always be led by and for those most affected by discrimination: takatāpui, trans folk, disabled people, migrants, youth, and others whose stories are often pushed to the margins. I’m not here to make Pride “marketable”—I’m here to help make it meaningful.
I’m standing for the board because I believe Pride should be unapologetically political, fiercely inclusive, and radically welcoming. When I wore another hat to help run the Youth Ball i saw that this board was trying to create a space where people give, build, and belong. And I want to help that, but also build trust, amplify underrepresented voices, and ensure this festival becomes a space where all people—regardless of identity, background, or struggle—feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
Let’s make Pride braver, not just safer. Let’s build something we can all stand behind.
Existing relationships:
Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships with a range of community, advocacy, and rainbow organisations throughout Wellington. I was involved with Wellington Pride Parade as their Community Relations Specialist and Comms Lead. But have left due to moral differences.
I also volunteer with Volunteer Wellington, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wellington, and Youthline Wellington, supporting their communications, youth engagement, and storytelling efforts. Through my freelance work with Caped H, I’ve collaborated to help amplify messages through content creation, digital media, and event support.
I value working alongside mana whenua and tangata whenua, ensuring respectful engagement and promoting partnership in all aspects of community outreach. I’ve also maintained working relationships with local small businesses, queer creatives, and other Pride-aligned organisations to co-create safe, welcoming, and empowering spaces.
These relationships are built on trust, shared purpose, and a deep commitment to celebrating and advocating for our diverse communities.
Molly Callanan-Bartlett
After a rewarding experience jumping head first into the Stallholder Liason role for Out In The City 2025, I’m keen to do all I can to help Wellington Pride be bigger and better in 2026. It would be an honour to help lead, shape and support the festival as a committee member. I know that it’s a huge challenge to pull together each year, but it’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to something bigger than myself, that does so much for our community.
Co-Chair
Joanna McLeod
I'm Joanna, a fat queer pākahā cis woman, with a particular interest in fat liberation and disability rights, and the many intersections of all those areas. 1 in 3 members of the Rainbow community are disabled, so I want to build on the work I've started to make sure that Pride is truly accessible to all the community, both in its events and also its online presence.
By day I'm a public servant, specialising in digital communications, and until late last year I ran House of Boom, an ethical clothing company for fat people sizes 16-34. Alongside of clothing, House of Boom also created events like fat swims, and the yearly Camp Boom, for people to take up space and further the kaupapa of fat liberation. As part of Pride 2025 I organised the Fat Queers Eating Cake event.
I have twenty years of experience working in communications and marketing, and am very good at getting shit done. Right now I look after the WPF website, newsletter and social media, as well as gently nudging others to achieve their tasks when needed.
Existing relationships
Both in my day job and my own disabilities (ADHD and Long COVID), I have networks of disabled contacts and a sound understanding of best practice. I also belong to a group of those who work in social media across government, which gives me solid ties into the public servants of Wellington, along with the Cross Agency Rainbow Network. I have also developed a whole bunch of new relationships since joining the Wellington Pride Festival Board in 2025.
