Nik Diesel steps back from Board during Sydney Leather Titles
We want to share an update with our members and the wider WAQK community, following the release of contestant names for the Sydney Leather Titles 2025.
The titles are about recognising people who give back to the leather and kink communities through connection, care, and service. Later this month, the competition event will crown Sydney Mr. & Ms. Leather 2025 along with Australia’s first-ever non-binary leather title, Sydney Mx. Leather 2025. The Sydney Bootblack 2025 winner will also be honoured.
WAQK can confirm that our Founding Chairperson, Nik Diesel, has announced they will be competing in the Sydney Mx. Leather category.
WAQK is still in its early days. We only recently became an incorporated association, and our first Board of Directors is still settling in. We’re working hard to build a solid foundation that supports connection, learning, and safe kink exploration through community and education.
Because WAQK is still new, and because Nik is currently serving as Chairperson, the Board has taken steps to make sure there’s no confusion about how decisions are made while the competition is happening.
From now until the competition ends on 26 July, Nik will step away from all Board and Chairperson responsibilities. During this time, they will not attend Board meetings or take part in any decision-making. They’ll simply be a regular WAQK association member like anyone else.
Once the competition is over, one of two things will happen:
If Nik does not receive the title, they’ll return to their role as Chairperson and continue their current term.
If Nik is awarded the title, they will step down from the Board completely. A new Chairperson will be chosen from the current Board, and WAQK members will be invited to express interest in joining the Board to fill a general vacancy.
We’ll keep everyone in the loop and share updates as things progress.
Nik has shared a personal message about this decision. You can read their full statement here but here’s a short excerpt they’ve given us permission to share:
"This wasn’t an easy choice. WAQK means a lot to me, and stepping back, even for a little while, was a hard call. But I know it’s the time for me to be throwing my hat into the ring for this title. The last few years have been rough. I’ve had a stroke, a bad leg injury, hearing loss, and a lot of time feeling stuck and alone. I also had to stop my testosterone for now because it might be messing with my recovery.
“All of that has made things feel really uncertain. That’s why I want to do this now. While I still can. I want to show that people like me belong here. That even when life’s hard, we can still lead, speak up, and be ourselves. I know WAQK is in good hands. And no matter what happens with the titles, I’ll always be cheering it on."
We also want to send our respect to all competitors in the Sydney Leather Titles. It takes guts to step forward, and we appreciate the time and energy people give to help grow the leather and kink communities.
If you have any questions about this update, please reach out to us at admin@waqk-au.com.
