Tagalaka and Gumatj man Conor Bowden is widely regarded as one of the most inspiring leaders of his generation.
A Darwin schoolteacher, Conor first gained national recognition during the Voice to Parliament referendum campaign. Alongside First Nations advocate, Jaiden McGregor, he created TikTok videos that used humour, cultural references and accessible language to explain complex constitutional ideas. Reaching over 1.1 million views, the videos became a trusted source of information, especially for young people.
Conor teaches and mentors students from remote communities at a boarding school in Darwin while continuing his work at the intersection of local action and national reform. In 2024, he contributed to the Youth Voice Northern Territory Theory of Change, a strategic initiative to improve youth engagement, and is part of several other community mentoring programs. Conor is a powerful advocate for equity, truth and justice who never loses sight of who he represents.