Jesse is a bi-gender Australian Army Officer who came out formally at the start of 2023. Realising they were queer and gender diverse was quite the shock after 30 years growing up in the Pentecostal church. In opting to wear the female uniform, Jesse triggered a range of policy changes within Army and gender policy conversations nationally through ABC coverage of Jesse’s story. A member of DEFLGIS since 2023, Jesse was elected to the board in 2024.

Jesse advocates for LGBTQIA+ equality alongside their day-to-day Army role, increasingly speaking to queer intersectionality and organisational change for the inclusion and support of all TGD members in Defence. Jesse is a firm believer that we catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and that we all carry the propensity to act with love and truth simultaneously.