Board members
Bringing together community voices to lead with care.
Francesca - Chairperson
Francesca’s love of leather and all things shiny has fuelled over 30 years of active involvement in the leather community. During this time, she has volunteered at Leather Pride events and workshops, and has contributed to many other not-for-profit community organisations, including ACON.
As a board member, she looks forward to organising collaborative and inclusive events that strengthen local connections and encourage active participation.
Francesca has a background in the arts, including photography, printmaking, silversmithing, and leatherwork. She is happiest when she’s active, and often enjoys knife throwing and archery.
With decades of lived experience, she brings grounded ethics, practical skills, and a deep respect for the communities she serves.
Bear - Vice Chairperson
If you know Bear, then you would already know that they genuinely care about people & genuinely care about how spaces feel. You walk in and know you are welcome. Feeling seen matters to them. They put effort into creating rooms where you can be honest, where your boundaries are respected, and where you are not pushed to perform. Whether you are new or experienced, you are met where you are.
Bear does not treat leather as a look as it is part of who they are. Kink is where they explore power, trust, and healing in a real and grounded way.
Bear carries a steady Daddy presence which is calm, direct & protective. There is warmth there, but also enough edge to keep things real. They identify as non binary trans masc and move through community with that lived experience. Inclusion is not a statement for them, as it is something they practice. Their involvement within our community backs it up:
Founding member of WAQK as an association, serving as Membership Officer on the Board
Held multiple committee roles within Dykes on Bikes, Sydney
ACON Rover, helping keep our community safe
Volunteer with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras at a number of events
Bear does not separate who they are from what they do. Their lived experience in leather and kink shapes how they show up. They believe in contributing to building community, holding space, and protecting it when needed.
Libby - Secretary
Libby grew up in a small country town, where her first exposure to kink came as a late teen watching the Mardi Gras Parade on TV. She was filled with awe and a strong desire to be part of that world.
More than two decades later, after moving to Sydney and learning a lot along the way, she has evolved into a sadistic dominant and pleasure top with a love of impact, needles, blood, sensory play, and bondage. She enjoys the creativity that kink allows and the deep connection it can build between partners.
After a few years on hiatus, Libby is excited to brush up on her skills, share knowledge, and give her time and energy back to a community she loves.
Outside of kink, she’s into baking, crafting, horror movies, and is completely obsessed with her cat and dog. Always up for a chat and a hug, say hi if you see her out and about.
Ky - Treasurer
Ky first discovered the scene nearly 30 years ago, with the Sydney Hellfire Club as her entry point into the community. She loved to dance, but it was kink that truly drew her in. The sound of the whip was electrifying and unforgettable.
Over the years, Ky evolved into a FemSwitch with a strong passion for impact play, needle play, and hook suspension. As a long-time Hellfire regular, she was invited to perform the club’s final show, delivering a powerful hook suspension performance to a packed audience. It was an experience like no other.
Ky is now passionate about sharing her knowledge and love for the community through WAQK.
Nel - Membership Officer
Nel is a proud queer leather woman who has been dabbling with kink privately for longer than she realised. It was in between covid lock downs that she started to play in the Sydney scene and hasn't looked back. She found community, passion and fun.
Joining the WAQK board is a chance for her to give back to the incredible community who welcomed her and to make a contribution by supporting those just dipping their toe in.
Yelena - Social Media Officer
Yelena is based in Dharawal country (Wollongong).
They have spent a lot of time being inspired by the kink and fetish scene artistically, and have finally gained the confidence to get involved hands-on. They are extremely passionate about the raw, unique connection and emotions that arise during play, and are a kink chameleon who plays many different roles.
Outside of kink, Yelena is a visual artist and drag king, and enjoys the odd video game.
Nik - Founding & General Member
Nik Diesel identifies as a non-binary trans masc OFOS (old-fashioned, old-school) stone butch with over 30 years of experience in the leather and kink community. They are the founder of WAQK, which they started 15 years ago as a space for women, non-binary, and genderqueer people to connect, learn, and play with safety, consent, and authenticity at the core.
Nik spent many years as a submissive, learning from the bottom up. That foundation continues to shape their approach as a Dominant today. Their play is rooted in trust and intensity, including knife and blood play, impact, needles, edging, sensation play, and breath control.
They are honoured to mentor others, share hard-earned knowledge, and carry forward the traditions of those who came before with respect and integrity.