AFL Hall of Famer, Brownlow medallist and first Indigenous player to reach 300 games — now a contemporary Indigenous artist
Gavin Wanganeen is a two-time Premiership winner, Brownlow medallist and member of the AFL Hall of Fame — widely regarded as one of the finest players the game has produced. His AFL career spanned 300 senior games across Essendon and Port Adelaide Football Clubs, earning him a level of recognition that culminated in the dedication of a grandstand at Adelaide Oval in 2015. He was the first Indigenous player to receive a Brownlow medal and to reach 300 games — a milestone that carried significance well beyond the scoreboard.
After retiring from football, Wanganeen has pursued two distinct paths. As a contemporary Indigenous artist, his work has attracted national attention and acclaim. As a community ambassador, he travels to remote Aboriginal communities — predominantly in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in north-west South Australia — through his role with Power Community Programs at Port Adelaide Football Club and Deadly Choices, an Aboriginal Health initiative promoting positive life choices through sport, education, culture and community. He is also an ambassador for the AFL's Aboriginal youth football team, the Boomerangs.
Gavin speaks to corporate, sporting, government and community audiences on resilience, leadership and triumph through challenge — drawing on a career of sustained excellence, a record-breaking path as an Indigenous trailblazer, and a post-football life dedicated to giving back. He is a natural fit for events focused on reconciliation, diversity, team culture, and the enduring lessons of elite sport.
Gavin Wanganeen is a keynote speaker based in South Australia who speaks on diversity & inclusion, leadership and motivation. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
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