Jake Smith (he/him)
Program and Admin Coordinator

Jake was raised in his mum’s hair salon, went to a performing arts high school and spent his twenties at a tech company named after a fruit. While it all sounds very gay, he’s certain he was born this way.

A lifelong storyteller and community builder, Jake is passionate about bringing people together, rallying folks around worthy causes and spreading joy. At Apple, he led the LGBTQIA+ employee network and produced international, multi-channel Pride campaigns, including for Sydney WorldPride. In 2024, he helped GiveOUT Day recruit a record number of fundraising champions, adding to his volunteering resume with Minus18, Sydney Mardi Gras, Equality Australia and ACON. More recently, Jake has established his online presence as “Jake HeHim”, using his voice to advocate for trans justice, and as a hype man for queer joy.

Jake has visited over 40 countries but believes we’re at our best when we show up in our local community — and make the unique contributions only we can. Guided by this belief, he has combined his background in inclusion, love of hosting and interest in holistic health to create Big Gay Boxing: “a seriously fun werkout for unserious people,” held weekly in Sydney’s Inner West for people of all genders, sexualities and abilities to “sweat it all out”.

After a decade at Apple and a couple of years exploring the world, this Jake of all Trades is excited to anchor himself in the vital work of Rainbow Giving Australia — and to support this mighty team in making a joyful and lasting impact.