Denise Bowden nominated to join the AFL Commission

A Northern Territory Indigenous leader committed to growing the game at a community level has been nominated to join the AFL Commission. Read what she brings to the role.

NT Indigenous leader Denise Bowden has been nominated to join the AFL Commission.

Northern Territory Indigenous leader Denise Bowden has dedicated herself to help grow the game at the grass roots level after replacing Professor Helen Milroy as an AFL commissioner.

The Youthu Yindi Foundation chief executive and long-time Garma Festival director will become just the second Indigenous commissioner appointed to the AFL commission.

Her designation is still subject to formal endorsement at the annual general meeting in March, where Dr Milroy will formally step aside.

Mrs Bowden has close family connections to the code with her husband Sean Bowden the AFLNT chairman and brother to 265-game Richmond player Joel Bowden, a club the family has strong ties to.

Her son Michael Bowden is also the captain of NTFL club Southern Districts, and it’s that local competition level that she’s most invested in.

The descendant of the Tagalak people born on Jawoyn country, Mrs Bowden runs the not-for-profit Yothy Yindi Foundation where she has long worked at the frontline of remote Indigenous communities.

Mrs Bowden has worked on education reform policies, created education pathways and advocated for improved service delivery for disadvantaged and remote communities.

She has also overseen the growth of the renowned Garma Festival from a small community gathering to an event with national significance.

Mrs Bowden said she was looking forward to getting started and contributing to the game she has a long connection to, and bringing a perspective from the Northern Territory.

“I am honoured to be appointed and I look forward to adding value from a NT perspective but also to help the game grow right across the country,” Ms Bowden said.

“It is a proud moment for me personally and one I share with the wider Bowden family, who have been active generational participants in the game through Richmond and their work in community.

Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden. Supplied

“Watching the AFLW competition grow in strength has also been inspiring and one of my aims as a Commissioner will be to ensure we continue to drive the growth of the game at a grassroots, regional and remote level where it has such an impact on communities.”

AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder AO said Mrs Bowden joined the commission at a time when the game was driving increased participation.

“Denise joins the commission at a time when the game is driving to increase participation of Indigenous boys and girls across the country,” Mr Goyder said.

“Denise will carry on the work from Helen who has been an incredible leader not only to our game but to the wider community through her significant impact and knowledge in the fields of mental health, medicine and education.

“We thank Helen for what she brought to football and, particularly, her support in the development of programs to improve the mental health of players at all levels of the game.”

Originally published as Denise Bowden nominated to join the AFL Commission