Leif Wauters
Editor
Leif moved from the liberal hills of San Francisco to New Zealand in October 2010 to be with his partner Morris, a rough decision forced by the US Immigration laws. He approached express in February of 2011 to give his voice to the community and after a year and a half his passion for shining a light on our amazing Kiwi brothers and sisters got him the role of editor when Hannah Jennings-Voykovich left the magazine. Leif’s broad role includes organising issue themes, coordinating our many contributors, manning the gates of gayexpress online, as well as being the furry face of express at many community events. Leif had written the occasional article in the States for many years until focusing his skill on event reviews for SF Bay Area party blog The Juice Box for three fun years. Once he moved down to the tiny town of Te Aroha (for love no less) he contributed to Auckland’s Ponsonby News and GayNZ, but his voice grew most at express which is where you can find him today, sharing his balanced perspective and community spirit.

Jordan
Sales & Marketing
Jordan has been working within the publishing industry for close to 20 years both in Auckland and internationally. He is thrilled to be back in New Zealand, where The Gay Market Segment is burgeoning thanks to over 25 years since Homosexual Law Reform and the free press. After hours Jordan runs a weekly contemplative music therapy session and enjoys spending the weekends on the coast, windsurfing, reading and playing chess.

Anthony Hotere aka Tess Tickle
Sales & Marketing
You might know him as the fabulous and uproarious Tess Tickle who has been wowing the Auckland scene with high-quality drag since returning from the Sydney limelight in 2008, but Anthony is also a star member of our advertising team. Ever since our sales guru Jordan then asked him to come on board Anthony’s never looked back. By day he’s a trained video editor and is versed in digital media, but by night his sequined alter-ego has performed in mammoth events like the Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony, Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony, Sydney Mardi Gras Parades and Parties, and the iconic WOW Awards. You can safely say Anthony has both sides of the entertainment world covered, so we’re lucky to have his broad knowledge and love for the community on our advertising team.

Amy Jane Todd
Publisher & Design
Amy’s role is to oversee the running of the express and ensure its success financially and ethically. She also directs the design, marketing and branding of express in its many guises. Previously Amy worked as the Branding and Marketing manager of Premium Real Estate Group and as a designer for Brand New World, an advertising agency in Sydney. She has designed for many brands apart from the last six years with express, including The Australian, Merrily Lynch, Sunbeam, Kia Motors and Australian Doctors International. And has produced ads for publication in Conde Naste, Trend Magazine, Who, The New Zealand Herald, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age and KiaOra (Air New Zealands inflight magazine), among many others. Amy has traveled extensively and has an intense interest in the spectrum of cultures and societies of people both in New Zealand and around the world. She has lived in Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Sydney, Milan, Prague and London. Amy is a practicing artist, having had exhibitions of her work in Vienna, Melbourne and Auckland. She lives in an old villa in Ponsonby with a lovely garden along with her dog Lady Penelope.

Anthony Butler
Accounts
Anthony works as the accountant for express, and is in charge of making sure accounts payable and GST returns are up to date, as well as producing monthly management reports. Anthony has an extensive portfolio of clients, and works as the accountant for various auction houses, automotive firms and garden centres. The very suavely-dressed Anthony is available whenever express needs his help, and likes to spend his spare time cooking, gardening and playing golf.

Contributors

Robert Barry
Contributing writer – Cars
Auckland-based motoring editor Robert Barry has been reviewing cars, trucks, utes and vans for nearly a decade and he has contributed stories and photographs to daily newspapers, magazines, web sites and even co-hosted a television series dedicated to cars. A member of the NZ Motoring Writers Guild, and the editor-at-large of the business publication NZ Company Vehicle magazine, Robert is a specialist in reviewing vehicles for fleet and business operators.

Louis Bretana
Contributing writer
Before coming to Auckland to join his hometown love and partner of 12 years, Louis has had a long career as a copywriter and Creative Director in some of the Philippines’ top multinational advertising agencies. Now, he’s a communications-creative-at-large with one hand on the keyboard and a finger on the shutter-release button looking for his next creative challenge.

Alex Efimoff
Wellington photographer
A long way from his homeland of Russia, Alex has a through background in the arts.  Raised in an artistic household, his history takes him deep into the world of graphic arts and involvement in a landmark web portal company in Moscow, but for the past 11 years he’s honing his craft behind the lens of a camera. He thrives on making each image speak for itself, letting the photos tell their own story. We’re indeed chuffed to have Alex on board to help tell the story of our Wellington Community.

Miss Erin Fae
Entertainment editor and feature writer
Miss Erin Fae is thrilled to be part of the express team as Entertainment Editor. Like Leif, she’s an expat American who made her way to greener shores to be with her Kiwi sugardish. Miss Fae is a femme, a feminist and a professional queer. She’s spent the past decade advocating for the rights of sex workers, doing comms work for some of the big gay orgs in the States, self-publishing feminist art zines and generally trying to make the world safer for orgasms. Miss Fae is also the co-director of Alphabet City, a community art space in Eden Terrace focused on printing and the written word. She hopes to surprise you.

Mark Garrison
Contributing writer
Mark emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and is thrilled to be writing for and about the GLBT community. Originally from Vancouver Canada, Mark is a graduate of Simon Fraser University’s School of Communication and Langara College’s school of journalism. When he is not writing stories for Express, Mark pursues acting and is an active blogger. Despite his love of words, writing, and literature, he has yet to win a game of Scrabble against his husband Sanjeev.

Tux Hika
Contributing photographer
Tux is seasoned photographer who has supported express through exciting event shots and stunning studio work, having done a number of striking covers and centrefolds for the magazine. He has an interest in fashion photography and has worked as a runway photographer at Air New Zealand Fashion Week for two years, as well as many other catwalk shows. In his spare time, Tux enjoys times with friends and sun-filled days at the beach and volunteers his time as much as he can to the NZAF packing condoms and lube for GLBTI venues.

John Ingle
Wine reviewer
John has had a long and illustrious career as a sommelier, having stakes in places such as Vinnie’s and Prohibition. A former owner of Number 5 restaurant, he now owns and operates the impeccable Pinot Plus on Auckland’s North Shore. He was awarded sommelier of the year in 2005 at the Lewisham Awards.

Hamish Milne
Music reviewer
Hamish has been in and around the Christchurch gay scene since 2003. From 2007-2010 he worked for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, and was involved in running 3 Christchurch Pride weeks. In 2009 he help launch Bears Christchurch and he maintains strong connections to the NZ Bear community from his new base, Hamilton, where he lives with his partner Raymond. Musically his tastes are everywhere, leaning towards local and independent sounds.

Dee Morgan
Proofer and contributing writer – Opinion
Dee is a shameless, fat-positive exhibitionist and lover of many. She writes online as Curvaceous Dee about her experiences with polyamory, pansexuality and BDSM, and has done since 2006. You may have also spotted her around Auckland, where she worked for many years in the sex toy industry, and is now training to be a counsellor. Dee is always happy to answer questions about anything to do with sexuality, so why not get in touch with her?

Sarah Murphy
News journalist and feature writer
Sarah works as express’ daily news writer, keeping the community up to date with what’s going on locally and internationally. She has been a contributor for express since November 2011, writing feature articles and opinion pieces in between studying her visual arts degree. You are most likely to see her and her latest alternative lifestyle haircut walking at one of the many amazing city parks and when not writing, researching or making art, she spends her time adding to her list of every film she’s ever seen, relaxing with friends and attempting to skimboard.

Hannah Jennings-Voykovich
Contributing feature writer
With an incredible four years as express editor under her belt, Hannah’s new role with Dish magazine has only pulled her out of our office during the day. She’s very much in our hearts as a staunch community supporter and fantastic feature writer who will be shining her sharp eyes on our world when she can. Hannah previously worked as the editor of automotive trade title Autofile, and before that edited the Auckland University’s infamous Craccum magazine. She has also written for a number of lifestyle and music titles including Rip It Up, Real Groove and Pulp magazines. Hannah’s spare time is primarily taken up by the very physical sport of women’s roller derby, and as part of Auckland Roller Derby League where she is also head of public relations, writing press releases and coordinating the league’s media inquiries. Hannah is also a vintage and retro collector – her Western Springs home is full of Crown Lynn crockery, vintage cameras and typewriters.

Joey Macdonald
Contributing writer
Joey is currently living in Auckland, working at Affinity Services as a Rainbow Community Liaison and Trainer. He loves strong coffee, critical cultural studies, and his cat Bobby D. He’s passionate about social justice and community development (as queer bedmates) and is also part of Genderbridge, a local trans* support group.

Sam Orchard
Contributing writer/cartoonist
Sam Orchard has been drawing since he was a little girl. He is an artist, activist, queer transman and geek. He spends his spare time drawing comics about being queer and trans – especially for his comic blog: www.roostertailscomic.com. He also thinks that comics are awesome.

Diana Rands
Columnist – CADS, health and addiction 
Diana’s first column for express was ‘Di’s Dos and Don’ts’ in Nov.2001 – it was one of her first tasks in her new role at Auckland CADS as Gay Communities Trainer. This first column did not last long, but was reinstated in January 2006 and is still going strong. The role at CADS (and recently at OUTline) makes the most of Diana’s many years of experience. Her roles have included: social worker, family therapist, partner in an outdoor adventure company ‘Wanderwomen’ and trainer. Last year she and her partner tied the knot, and between them they have three wonderful children, who all have at least two lesbian mothers!

Andrew Rumbles
Book reviewer
Andrew Rumbles has wide experience in both book publishing and retail, and was also one of the driving forces behind the first Hero Party! Andrew is an experienced writer and avid book lover who brings his experience in hunting out the best GLBT books to express with his reviews.

Patric Seng
Contributing photographer
Patric Seng is a photographer specialising in people and corporate photography. Running his client-friendly, service-oriented business Saya Design, he believes that great creativity often is the result of team effort and he values working closely with his clients. Based in Auckland, Patric and his team are creating outstanding visuals everyday.

Yvonne Shearer
Contributing photographer
Originally from London, England, Yvonne moved to New Zealand in 2010 and has enjoyed building her career in portrait photography. She’s worked alongside student competitions such as Trash2Fashion and Smokefreerockquest which lead to her shooting at New Zealand Fashion Week 2012 and live shows for Auckland-based promoter CheeseOnToast. Every weekend, Yvonne is out and about at the hottest GLBTI events and nightclubs, snapping photographs for our scene section. she looks out for people with interesting behaviour or style and loves the flamboyant atmosphere of the gay community which she showcased through express. Beyond that she hopes to get more involved with fashion photography, currently directing her energy towards both commissioned sessions and collaborations with other artists. Learn more about Yvonne and her work here on Facebook.

Hannah Spyksma
Contributing writer
Hannah is a trained journalist with an interest in people, places, travel, the environment, LGBT issues, and the Pacific. She holds a BCS and worked as a community news reporter before making a move into communications at a NGO in September 2012. For the past few years she’s been turning her adventures into stories and has filed freelance reports on everything from Waitangi Day’s waka tete regatta, to yacht trips across the equatorial Pacific, to Gay Ski Week in Queenstown. In her spare time she volunteers on the board of Rainbow Youth, attempts to cook fancy food, and does a lot of daydreaming.

Campbell Stodart
Contributing writer – Lifestyle
Best known for his recent mixologist work at Lola Bar in Ponsonby, but can now be seen as the smiling face behind the counter at Urban Café, a gay-owned café in trendy Newmarket. It’s also home to John Key’s famous teapot! Pop in and say hi!

Amie Wee
Contributing writer – Entertainment
Amie Wee is a frank, opinionated macho femme with a penchant for shooting from the hip. When not working at her day job, editing porn for Steve Crow’s www.vixen.co.nz, she’s updating her blog, crevicecanyon. A long-standing sex writer for express, Amie’s work challenges readers to be sex-positive, body-positive and unafraid of who you are (and what turns you on).