Nathan Van (They/She/He), Founder and Co-Director of Queer Connect, Nathan was inspired to create Queer Connect to celebrate the amazing talents of LGBTQ+ Melbourne Creatives and connect younger queer people with positive examples of successful queer artists!

“Naarms Favourite Gender Fluid Leo Fashion Doll” the award winning fashionista Nathan Van has earnt their place inside the Queer and Fashion Community scenes of Melbourne respectively. A Model, Designer, Stylist, Coach, Director and Creator they aim to use their art to connect with people and themselves through expression of bold colours, contrasting patterns and camp and exaggerated silhouettes.

As a Model Nathan has walked the runway for over 30 labels. Their signature walk and desire to elevate Naarm runway culture has led her to become a called upon model coach, directing and teaching models to look beyond traditional walks established overseas and breathe life and performance into runway. They are the head Model coach and Runway Choreographer for Revival Runway and have coached other shows for Malcolm Paul and RMIT as part of Melbourne Fashion Festival. 

Combining their passion for runway with their love for community Nathan used their organisation Queer Connect in collaboration with Revival Runway to produce, walk for and MC Naarms largest all queer runway event “Queer By Design” in front of a sold out audience of 200 people. The show boasted 8 queer designers, a cast of over 40 all queer models as well as a superstar team of queer makeup artists and photographers and featured an installation by RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under S3 Winner Isis Avis Loren, halftime performance by Amber Scates and runway soundtrack by DJ RE_IMAGE featuring solely Queer Naarm Musicians.

When not wearing the work of others Nathan harnesses their craft background and love for upcycling and unconventional material to design and create many of their own garments, head pieces and wearable art couture. Their work has been featured by Polish art Magazine Art Monitor, the ABC, NGV, Broadsheet Magazine, PMFF and countless editorials. 

As a passionate Queer, Genderfluid and Neurodivergent member of the LGBTQ+ community Nathan often participates and produces events to promote, uplift and spotlight community as well as educate others from within. With Queer Connect she produced the “CHOOSING LOVE” campaign which featured 13 creatives from different artistic backgrounds to highlight diversity, community and talent whilst working towards the idea of Chosen Family on an industry level. They've gone on to produce a launch event which featured a visual arts installation and performances by local drag and music entertainers, spoken in a MFW panel in collaboration with Tall Poppy “How Neurodivergent Creatives Are Shaping Fashions Future”, interviewed with ABC on the importance fashion has on Gender Affirmation and Queer Identity and produce the aforementioned “Queer By Design” runway.

RE_IMAGE (they/them) is a non-binary DJ, musician, producer, writer, and activist living on unceded Wurundjeri land. They mix house, techno, baile funk and underground queer sounds at their events to paint vivid scenes of queer joy and resistance.

RE_IMAGE works within cabaret, drag, live events and the local underground music scene and produces works by and for a queer audience. Their works explore new queer and radical perspectives, and look to deepen our insights and understandings of queer and radical possibilities.

They have been featured on Beat Magazine, Q News, Star Observer, and 3CR and is a regular or resident curator at Pride of our Footscray, The Toff in Town, The Corner Hotel, The Northcote Social Club, The Fox Hotel, and many others. In late 2025 they will be touring WA, NSW, regional VIC and other select locations.

RE_IMAGE is the co-director of Queer Connect and their work includes co-producing and DJing the 2024 “QUEER BY DESIGN” runway show, developing the online content for the “CHOOSING LOVE” campaign, developing the website, and co-producing the upcoming 2025 iteration of Queer By Design.