The Pride Business Association (PBA) celebrated a night of laughter, inspiration, and community pride at the 2025 Education Fund Awards Night and Comedy for a Cause, held on Thursday 9 October at the Inner West Pride Centre.
The annual event honoured three remarkable LGBTQIA+ individuals who are shaping a more inclusive future through education, leadership, and service — while also treating guests to an evening of side-splitting comedy from some of Australia’s most talented performers.
A Celebration of Talent and Tenacity
This year’s scholarship recipients reflect the diversity, resilience, and ambition within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Michael Glynn Scholarship ($10,000)
Todd Lynch (he/him)
Diploma in Law, NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB)
A proud gay man and person with a disability, Todd is studying law to create a more accessible and equitable legal system. With over a decade of experience in governance and risk advisory, he is committed to building fairness and accountability into the structures that shape society. Based near Port Macquarie, Todd balances his professional pursuits with his love of knitting, tennis, and spending time with his husband Stuart and their two dogs, Samson and Zac.
Todd Lynch is a 2025 PBA Education Fund Scholarship Recipient.
Rise Scholarship ($5,000)
Bree Mountain (she/her)
Master of Sexology, Curtin University
Bree is a social worker, counsellor, and advocate whose work has been recognised by an ACON Honour Award and inclusion in Out for Australia’s 30 Under 30. Currently completing her Master of Sexology, Bree is focused on advancing LGBTQIA+ wellbeing through evidence-based research, policy and therapeutic practice, driving change that strengthens mental health and inclusion across Australia.
Bree Mountain is a 2025 PBA Education Fund Scholarship Recipient.
Volmac Group Scholarship ($2,500)
Robert Allison (he/him)
MBA, University of New South Wales
Robert’s journey from theology graduate to founder of an inclusive landscaping business is one of resilience and reinvention. After being turned away from chaplaincy work for being “too gay,” he founded Greener-Me, a company creating safe, inclusive workplaces in the trades. Now studying an MBA at UNSW, Robert continues to advocate for inclusion and leadership in blue-collar industries.
Robert Allison is a 2025 PBA Education Fund Scholarship Recipient.
Comedy for a Cause: A Night of Laughter with Purpose
Balancing the heartfelt with the hilarious, the awards ceremony doubled as a Comedy for a Cause showcase, bringing together an outstanding lineup of comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals.
The evening’s emcee, David Smiedt, set the tone with his signature wit and warmth. A seasoned author and comedian, Smiedt guided the crowd through the night’s proceedings, celebrating community achievement with humour and heart.
Performances from Brendan Hancock, Annie Boyle, and headliner Peter Berner had the audience in stitches, proving that laughter truly connects us all. From Hancock’s razor-sharp observations to Boyle’s dry charm and Berner’s classic satire, the show reminded everyone that joy and belonging are powerful tools for social change.
Comedy for a Cause headliner Peter Berner at the PBA Education Fund Awards 2025.
Investing in the Future
Now in its second year of distribution, the PBA Education Fund has awarded a total of $17,500 in scholarships for 2025, bringing the cumulative total since inception to just under $100,000.
PBA President Jarrod Lomas praised the recipients, saying they “embody the values of leadership, service and visibility that drive the Fund’s mission.”
“Each of our winners represents what the PBA Education Fund is all about — opportunity, impact and inclusion. Todd, Bree and Robert are pursuing education not only to build their own futures, but to strengthen and uplift our community.”
Chris Colwell, Chair of the PBA Education Fund Committee, reflected on the diversity of this year’s recipients:
“From law to health to business, our scholars are driving progress across different sectors — but share a common purpose: to make the world fairer, safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ people.”
He also acknowledged the generous support of donors and sponsors, including the Volmac Group, whose continued partnership helps make these scholarships possible.
PBA Education Fund Awards 2025
GiveOUT Day and Continuing the Legacy
With GiveOUT Day approaching, the PBA encourages everyone to help grow the Fund’s impact. Donations made through GiveOUT Day are matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the difference each contribution can make in supporting future scholars.
About the PBA Education Fund
The PBA Education Fund supports adult learners returning to study to advance their careers, leadership, and community impact. Since its inception, the Fund has distributed nearly $100,000 to LGBTQIA+ individuals pursuing education and training — strengthening both individual lives and the broader rainbow economy.
To learn more or to donate, visit pba.org.au/education-fund.
PBA Education Fund Committee members Emily Evison and Chris Colwell at the PBA Education Fund Awards 2025.
