Jake Smith (he/him)
Marketing and Engagement Manager

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.

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 wellbeing to create Big Gay Boxing, held 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, Jake has now anchored himself in the vital work of Rainbow Giving Australia.