Throughout the illustrious history of the National NAIDOC Awards, only 43 remarkable individuals have earned the distinguished title of Person of the Year.

This evening, a new name will be etched into that esteemed tradition as the 44th individual is honored.

For over 40 years, the award has celebrated individuals whose exceptional achievements and significant contributions span across diverse fields such as creative arts, law, health, sports, medicine, media, and advocacy.

Several recipients have been pivotal in the fight for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

These trailblazers have defied expectations, shifted paradigms, motivated generations, and played a significant role in shaping our nation’s narrative.

An illustrious history

The first recipient of the then-named ‘Aborigine of the year’ Award was Charles Dixon (1928 – 2010), a Yuin man born at Wallaga Lake on the New South Wales south coast.

Dixon, a wharfie, unionist activist and leader - who was always known as ‘Chicka’ – dedicated his life to fighting for justice and human rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He worked with fellow reformers, including Mum Shirl and Fred Hollows, to establish the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service and was a founding director and later chairman of the Aboriginal Arts Board.

Chicka campaigned strenuously for a YES vote in the 1967 referendum and was involved in the establishment of the Tent Embassy on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra.

He also received the National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

In 1985, the iconic Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993) became the first female recipient of the award. Oodgeroo was a Black rights activist, environmentalist, and educator and was Australia’s first published Aboriginal poet.

Born on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), she played a prominent role as a Queensland representative on the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) and its predecessor the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement, urging members to unite to fight for human rights.

She actively lobbied for the historic 1967 Australian Referendum and iIn 1987, she famously returned her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medal in protest of the bicentennial celebration of Australia Day.

Over the next decade of the NAIDOC Awards some of this nation most prolific leaders were recognised: Kathy Mills (1986), Sister Joan Winch (1987), Alice Kelly (1988), Jimmy Little (1989), Shirley Smith (Mum Shirl) (1990), David Mowaljarlai (1991), Geraldine Briggs (1992) and Ernie Dingo (1994).

In 1993, Charles Perkins AO (1936–2000) was named Person of the Year.

Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon man – was one of the most influential Aboriginal activists and leaders of the 20th century.

The first Aboriginal person to graduate from university, he became head of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, was an early champion of land rights, excelled as a soccer player and led the famous 1965 Freedom Ride through regional New South Wales to challenge racial segregation.

From 1993 to 2002, winners of the Award were all male: Ernie Dingo (1994), Reg Blow (1995), Tauto Sansbury (1996), Ray Robinson (1997), Patrick Dodson and Mick Dodson (joint winners 1998), Bob Randall (1999), Anthony Mundine (2000), Kutcha Edwards (2001) and Steve Gordon (2002).

Joint winners have been named only two times in the awards’ history: Cheryl Buchanan and Rodney Dillon in 2005 and Patrick and Mick Dodson in 1998.

A decade later, Dr June Oscar was named the 2018 NAIDOC Person of the Year in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for Indigenous rights, social justice, and the preservation of First Nations languages, as well as her pioneering work addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in remote communities.

Dr Oscar, a Bunuba woman from WA, was a popular winner who epitomised that year’s NAIDOC theme: Because of Her, We Can.

Since 2018, other recipients have been Dean Duncan (2019), Keri Tamwoy (2021), Ashleigh Barty AO (2022), Professor Kelvin Kong (2023), Aunty Muriel Bamblett (2024) and Dr Daniel Hunt (2025). There were no awards 2020.

Of the 43 winners, 13 recipients have come from QLD, 12 from WA, 8 from NSW, 4 from 4 NT, 4 from VIC and 1 winner each from SA and TAS.

17 Recipients of the Person of the Year Award have been women and 26 men.

Our 2026 Finalists

This year’s finalists are Pat Turner AO, Dr Lana Leslie-Henfling OAM (Kamilaroi) and Timmy Duggan OAM (Warumungu, Wagiman and Nyikina), all of whom have had decades of leadership, governance, innovation and working for community.

Pat Turner AO has had a 50-year distinguished career spanning senior public service roles, national policy reform, advocacy and community leadership at the highest levels. She made history as the first Aboriginal woman to lead a Commonwealth Government department when she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Turner – a Gudanji–Arrernte woman – has been one of the most influential national leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for more than five decades. She has experience in senior leadership positions in government, business and academia.

More recently, as Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, she played a central role in negotiating and implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, driving a landmark shift toward shared decision-making and accountability.

Amongst her many appointments, she also spent 18 months as Monash Chair of Australian Studies, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and was inaugural CEO of NITV.  Pat is the Coalition of Peaks Convenor and Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap.

In 2024, she was awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters (HonLittD) by The Australian National University for her exceptional contribution to public service, her leadership and advocacy on Indigenous health and her academic achievements in the discipline of Australian studies.

It was only earlier this year in March, that she concluded her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks.

Dr Lana Leslie-Henfling OAM is a proud Kamilaroi woman with family connections to Coonabarabran and Moree in north-west New South Wales. For more than 40 years, She has worked alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across community development, education, leadership, research, mentoring, cultural education, and advocacy.

Lana is the Founder and Managing Director of Violet and Retta, a 100% Aboriginal-owned business consultancy, and the Co-Founder and Chair of Gii Gaba Aboriginal Corporation, established to foster Aboriginal wellbeing through Culture, community and connection in the Blue Mountains. She also serves as Chair of the Indigenous and First Peoples Member Community within the International Leadership Association, providing leadership nationally and internationally.

With more than 20 years in higher education, Dr Leslie-Henfling has taught, mentored, and led university programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She holds a PhD in Human Geography (Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing).

Over more than three decades, Timmy “Jappangardi” Duggan OAM has pioneered culturally informed approaches that empower young people and strengthen communities.

A Warumungu, Wagiman and Nyikina man, he is the Founder and visionary behind Hoops 4 Health Australia, an Indigenous-led organisation transforming health, wellbeing and leadership outcomes through the power of sport

Under his leadership, Hoops 4 Health has grown from a basketball program into an Internationally recognised model, positively impacting thousands of young people across urban, regional and remote Australia and influencing best practice in community-led health promotion.

He first made history as the first person from the Northern Territory to play in the National Basketball League (Gold Coast Rollers, 1996; Cairns Taipans, 1999), using his sporting success to create opportunities and inspire future generations.

The 2026 National NAIDOC Person of the Year will be named this weekend in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) – as well as 9 other National NAIDOC Awards across art, sport, education, community empowerment and environmental and cultural preservation.

The 2026 National NAIDOC Awards will be broadcast live from centre stage in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) this Saturday August 15 from 7:30pm AEST on NITV’s Digital platforms.

Watch the ceremony live on NITV’s YouTube and Facebook, and SBS On Demand, from 7:00pm ACST / 7:30pm AEST on Saturday August 15.

NITV’s Blak Carpet coverage will also stream live on NITV’s TikTok from 5:30pm ACST or 6:00pm AEST, capturing the arrivals, fashion and atmosphere from Mparntwe.

The 2026 National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony will also broadcast on NITV on Tuesday 1 September at 10.35pm AEST.

National NAIDOC Person of the Year Award recipients