Adam Goodes

Adam Goodes is a name synonymous with great Australian athletes. With a professional football career spanning more than 16 years, he holds an elite place in AFL/VFL history. Now CEO of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), Adam is a person to watch.

In 2014, Adam was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his work empowering the next generation of Indigenous role models and advocating in the fight against racism.

An Adnyamathanha and Narungga man born in Wallaroo, South Australia, Adam is proud of his heritage and passionate about eliminating discrimination in society. His strength of character draws from his drive to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people achieve economic independence. Working closely with federal and state governments, leaders of corporate industry and prime contractors, Adam and the team at iDiC are at the forefront of change, with the opportunity to innovate and develop a better future.

Adam will also be remembered for taking a stand against racism after being racially vilified on field by a young member of the crowd. The exemplary way in which Adam helped turn the incident into a positive public message of education and non-tolerance will be remembered for generations to come.

His commitment to invigorating support pathways for communities led to the creation of the Goodes-O’Loughlin Foundation (GO Foundation) with fellow Indigenous teammate Michael O’Loughlin. Adam also joined the National Indigenous Council and the board of Supply Nation. He has been an ambassador for many prominent brands, including Toyota, David Jones, Qantas, SCG Trust and Lend Lease. Adam is here to promote better thinking for better outcomes.

Adam is married to Natalie and enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his young family.