Ms Denise Bowden

Biography:

Denise Bowden was born in Katherine, Northern Territory (NT) where her family lived on Carbeen Park, a working cattle and horse racing pastoral station. Her interests have been to advance and promote the NT in a positive light, including a span of time in Darwin, the desert country of Alice Springs and NE Arnhem Land.

She has been the Chief Executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF) and the Director of the Garma Festival since 2010. Presently, she is the most Senior Lead for YYF’s Garma Institute, a Major Project for the NT. Due to throw our doors open in 2028, construction phase is underway to build a VET tertiary education facility based in the very remote Yolngu community of Gunyangara, Arnhem Land.

Denise has hosted many forums, spoken as a keynote address to the nation, and worked with four Prime Minister’s of Australia, including foreign dignatories and Ambassadors for International Embassy’s. Denise Bowden is an NT iconic figure who’s advice is sought from senior business executives within Australia’s largest business sectors.

Denise has proudly led international delegations to East Timor, Dallas Texas, Albuquerque New Mexico, Cupertino California, Greenbelt Maryland, Los Angeles, Wellington New Zealand

A selection of Governance and Committee roles Denise has contributed to have included:

• Director Garma Festival across Youth Forum, Education Day, Musical Programming, Gapan Gallery, Cultural Activities, artistic curation of exhibition spaces.
• Advisory Member to the Yolngu Dilak Council, 13 clan governance authority
• NT Delegate on the Referendum Council for Constitutional Reform
• Director of Aboriginal Hostels Limited
• Member Charles Darwin University Indigenous Advisory Committee
• Member Menzies School of Health Learning for Hearing Initiative
• Founding partner of Dhupuma Barker School Gunyangara
• The Collection, Coalition of Indigenous Festivals, Northern Territory
• Member of the Senior Advisory Group for the Joint Management of Commonwealth National Parks
• Director of Studio Schools Australia Ltd 
• AFL Commissioner