Tributes Roll in For Sydney Businessman & LGBTQI Advocate Geoff Selig

Tributes have poured in for prominent Sydney businessman and LGBTQI+ advocate Geoff Selig, after his recent passing. 

Selig passed away at age 59 while vacationing in Europe.

Selig was the Executive Chairman of Sydney marketing and communications company IVE Group, as well as the former president of the NSW Liberal Party and a passionate and dedicated advocate for the LGBTQI+ community. 

The IVE Group board confirmed Selig’s death, saying his passing occurred due to “unforeseen complications arising from an accident in Barcelona”.

“Geoff played a major role, over 40 years, in establishing IVE as Australia’s leading marketing and communications business, in the process, reshaping the landscape of the Australian printing industry,” said the IVE Group board in a statement. 

Countless tributes for Geoff Selig

Tributes poured in after Selig’s passing was announced, from politicians to peers in the business community. 

“Very sad to hear about the passing of Geoff Selig” wrote Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, also detailing that Selig “assisted the marriage equality campaign more than people will ever know”. 

Very sad to hear about the passing of Geoff Selig. Geoff was a leader in the Sydney business community, an extremely generous supporter of many causes, assisted the marriage equality campaign more than people will ever know, and a loving family man and caring friend to so many.

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) May 6, 2024

Liberal Party MP Jacqui Munro said Selig is “recognised as a giant of the Party” and said his loss would be felt deeply. 

Very very sad to hear of the passing of Geoff Selig.

During my time as co-Chair of NSW Liberal Pride, Geoff was a consistent and active supporter of the Liberal LGTBQI+ community.

It is so important to have Party elders who are willing to give back after their time in formal…

— Jacqui Munro (@JacquiMunroMLC) May 6, 2024

Carrington Brigham, managing Director of communications agency Agenda C, said Selig was a “magnanimous individual with a ton of charisma” and passed on condolences to Selig’s family. 

I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of my friend Geoff Selig today. A magnanimous individual with a ton of charisma. I will miss him. Vale Geoff Selig.

Condolences to his family.

— Carrington Brigham (@DigitalMediaBoy) May 6, 2024

Selig’s “wonderful” impact on Star Observer

Daniel Bone, former Chair (2008-2013) and Publisher (2013-2017) of Star Observer, shared that he is “devastated” by the loss of Geoff, who was a dear friend and “a guiding light” for the masthead.

“Geoff was a dear friend and a beautiful soul. His tragic death will be felt by so many people in many walks of life across Australia and overseas,” he told Star Observer.

“Geoff came out as gay late in life, but quickly endeared himself to many in our community with his energy, passion, and love for connecting with people. He rapidly became an integral part of our community, offering support to numerous organisations through mentoring, leadership, and generous financial contributions.

“I was lucky enough to introduce Geoff to many in our community, taking him to his first Fair Day, his first Tropical Fruits, his first Queer Screen Festival and his first Mardi Gras Parade and it was amazing to see how he instantly connected with people from a great diversity of backgrounds and experience. His warmth, generosity of spirit, integrity and inner beauty always shone through.”

“As a Cornerstone supporter and non-executive director of the Pinnacle Foundation, and as a great friend of the Australian Marriage Equality campaign, his impact has been profound. In my time as Publisher of the Star Observer, Geoff was a guiding light and a wonderful friend to the masthead.

“Geoff was devoted to his family and enormously proud of them, and my deepest sympathies go out to them and to his many, many friends.”

Selig on coming out later in life

Selig spoke to Star Observer back in 2017 about his experience coming out as a gay man relatively late in life.

Despite knowing from a young age that he was gay, Selig didn’t come out publicly until age 50.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the negativity and self-loathing that runs through your veins for so long while living in the closet never really leaves you,” he said.

“[But] I couldn’t go on living my life in the closet,” he said. “It’s soul destroying and destructive to everyone you love.

“The coming out process was the most seminal time of my life, and I’m so glad I found the strength to finally ‘do it’.

“Sexual identity and one’s sexuality remain complex issues in many ways for a lot of people, so we still have a very long way to go I feel until everyone feels a level of comfort in coming out early,” Selig said.