Nova Peris

Nova Peris OAM is recognized as the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, achieving this milestone as part of the Hockeyroos at the Atlanta Games. She was also the first Australian mother to win gold since 1956. A descendant of the Gija people of the East Kimberley, the Yawuru people of the West Kimberley, and the Iwatja and Gagudju peoples of West Arnhem Land, Peris has represented her heritage throughout her public life.

Peris is notable for her achievements across multiple sports, having represented Australia in both hockey and athletics at separate Olympic Games. She is the only person globally to reach back-to-back Summer Olympic finals in two sports and to win both Olympic and Commonwealth gold medals in different disciplines. After her Olympic hockey success, Peris transitioned to athletics, winning the 200-meter and 4x100-meter gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. She later competed in the Sydney Olympics, reaching the semi-finals of the 400 meters and participating in the 4x400-meter relay. Peris was the first Australian to run with the Olympic torch on home soil, carrying it around Uluru after it was passed through the hands of Aboriginal elders. Her athletic records have remained in the Australian all-time top 10 for the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events.

Peris has received several honors, including Young Australian of the Year and selection for the national athletics team in the 4x100-meter relay at the World Championships. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to sport as a gold medallist at the Atlanta Olympic Games and received the Australian Sports Medal. Peris was inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame in the Multisport Category, becoming the first woman and one of only nine First Nations athletes to be honored in this category. A bronze statue of Nova Peris OAM OLY stands at Federation Square in Melbourne, created by artists Gillie and Marc in collaboration with Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung descendant and artist Jandamarra Cadd as part of the Statues for Equality initiative.

Beyond her athletic career, Peris became Australia's first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament, serving as Senator for the Northern Territory. In her maiden speech, she referenced the apology to the Stolen Generations. Peris founded the Nova Peris Girls' Academy at St John's Catholic College in Darwin, focusing on keeping Indigenous girls in education, and became an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. She later established the Nova Peris Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering Aboriginal communities in remote areas through partnerships that provide infrastructure, education, and health initiatives.

Peris is a keynote speaker and author of two books: the autobiography "Nova: My Story" and a compilation of speeches titled "Nova: Finding My Voice." Drawing from her experiences in sport, government, and as a leader within Australia's Aboriginal community, she tailors her presentations to a wide range of audiences. Since the mid-1990s, Peris has advocated for Aboriginal people, visiting communities to understand their challenges and using her platform to amplify their voices. Her story encompasses historic firsts, personal resilience, and a commitment to justice, establishing her as a prominent voice in Australian public life.