GO FOUNDERS

Adam is a proud Adnyamathanha/Narungga man born in South Australia.

When he moved to Victoria as a young boy his passion for Australian Rules Football (AFL) grew. Drafted by the Sydney Swans from the North Ballarat U18s, Adam went on to have an AFL career spanning more than 17 seasons. He retired in September 2015.

Adam’s AFL career is highly decorated. He was awarded the prestigious Rising Star medal and the Brownlow Medal – twice.

Adam has also been a member of:

• the National Indigenous Council (an advisory body to the Federal Government on Indigenous affairs)
• Supply Nation (aimed at growing the Indigenous business sector through promoting supplier diversity in Australia).

In 2014, Adam was named Australian of the Year. The award recognised his community work to empower the next generation of Indigenous role models and his advocacy in the fight against racism.

Adam is a director of:

• the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation
• S.T.A.N.D (Support Through Australian Natural Disasters), a co-venture between Woolworths and the Salvation Army. 

Adam’s the CEO and co-founder of the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC). iDic aims to increase the participation of Indigenous companies in long-term nation building projects.

He’s also an ambassador for the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign and for brands including Toyota, David Jones, Qantas and Woolworths.

Michael is a proud Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri/Narungga man born in South Australia.

During his time as an AFL player, Michael was a dual All-Australian team member and a member of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century.

In 2009 the AFL Players’ Association awarded Michael the prestigious Madden Medal. The Madden Medal recognises on- and off-field excellence and community spirit.

Since retiring from his career at the Sydney Swans, Michael has been:

• Head Coach of the AIS-AFL Academy
• Coach for the Indigenous All-Stars team that toured Ireland in 2013
• Head Coach of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

He’s the Managing Director and Owner of ARA Indigenous Services.

Michael brings many years’ experience to his role at GO, including:

• as a Director on the Board of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy
• as a Director on the Board of the Sydney Swans
• at many community-based programs over the past 20 years, including the Sydney Swans on their Healthy Choices Schools Program and Books in Homes.

Michael has also been an ambassador for:

• Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation
• the AFL Indigenous Academy.

James has spent more than two decades working in the information technology sector in Australia and overseas in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, including with IBM. He has worked with Indigenous organisations, both in the philanthropic and private sector, for more than a decade including MessageStick and ARA Indigenous Services.

As a Co-Founder, James was instrumental in the establishment of the GO Foundaton and its initial journey of providing community programs in Dareton. James was a Non-Executive Director of the GO Foundation since September 2009, before resigning from ther Board in April 2022.

Michael O’Loughlin, Co-Founder