Michael Long
Former champion Essendon footballer Michael Long has forged a deserved reputation as one of the most influential and enduring Aboriginal figures.
He is a proud Anmatyerre, Maranunggu and Tiwi Aboriginal man.
Michael's father and mother were part of the stolen generation; taken as infants from near Ti Tree and Daly River, respectively, to the Tiwi Islands, where Michael was later born and raised.
He has dedicated his life to advancing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cause and was the 2018 Northern Territorian of the Year, in recognition of his significant contributions.
Andrew Dillon
Andrew Dillon is the AFL's general counsel and general manager of game development, and its long-time representative on the AFLNT board.
His wide-ranging experience and skillset make him an integral member of the Michael Long Foundation board.
Andrew's involvement stems from his admiration for how the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre's programs are assisting Aboriginal youth in the Northern Territory.
He hopes he can help raise more funds to include even more indigenous students.
Andrew, who has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, completed an articled clerkship at Corrs Chambers Westgarth before working as an in-house legal counsel at Village Roadshow.
He joined the AFL in August 2000 and has become one of the organisation's most influential people.
Andrew was appointed the AFL's general manager of legal and business affairs in June 2004, with responsibility for legal and business operations.
He has served as general counsel of the AFL since November 2011 and his other roles include general manager of national and international development (November 2011 to July 2013) and general manager of legal, integrity and compliance (since July 2013).
Andrew was appointed general manager of game development in March 2017, on top of his position as general counsel.
That role involves overseeing community and state football, diversity programs, legal, risk, integrity, security and government.
Andrew is also a board member of AFL Queensland, the AFL (Victoria), AFL New South Wales, Champion Data Holdings Pty Ltd, Cure for MND Foundation and Aardvark Worldwide Inc.
Narelle Long
Narelle Long is an Anmatyerre and Maranunggu Aboriginal woman born and raised in Darwin, with family ties to the Tiwi Islands, Daly River and Ti Tree communities.
Narelle left Darwin when she was 19 to pursue her education and sporting goals in Melbourne.
She accepted a full-time position with the AFL in the diversity team after completing a double degree in Sport and Recreation Management and Exercise Science and Human Movement.
Narelle started as a program coordinator for the AFL's national indigenous programs and has since led and managed all the organisation's indigenous and multicultural programs.
Her major accomplishments are establishing the AFL Women's indigenous team, the Woomeras, and the AFL Female Kickstart Championships, a week-long tournament involving all states and territories.
Narelle also spent time at the Port Adelaide Football Club as its indigenous programs coordinator, which involved travelling to remote communities to deliver indigenous programs in schools.
She became the first Aboriginal Australian woman to set foot on Antarctica in 2010.
Narelle spent two weeks aboard a Russian Ice Breaker with 40 other young leaders from 20 different countries.
A documentary called Cool School was made from the trip and can be seen on NITV.
Narelle was once an aspiring Olympian and earned an invite to Athletics Australia's Games Experience Camp for emerging athletes during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Michael Solomon
Michael Solomon brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as the Michael Long Foundation's chairman, including previously being AFLNT's chief executive.
He has a deep commitment to indigenous youth after almost three years in charge of NT football, working alongside Michael Long and experiencing firsthand the difference the right programs can make.
Michael considers himself fortunate to lead a commercial life that has consistently crossed over with his passions.
He is the global chief operating officer at MitchelLake Group, where he is responsible for driving excellence in the design and delivery of global services, partnerships and strategies to enable strong business outcomes.
Michael's roles have varied from coaching leaders and teams as a management consultant, to heading emerging technology ventures for News Corp, to driving digital transformation and operational excellence at the AFL.
Among his active positions are being an Australian Institute of Company Directors member, Enex Carbon shareholder and adviser. Previously he was the director of Darwin’s International Essington School and Chairman for Southern Cross Grammar.
Michael is also on the Adelaide Crows' women's football advisory committee and was pivotal in the successful joint bid between the club and AFLNT for an inaugural AFLW licence in 2016.