Clontarf Foundation is welcoming the wisdom of decades in experience to their ongoing efforts to empower young Indigenous men across the country.

Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and federal government department branch lead Jonathan McLeod have been appointed to the Foundation's board as non-executive directors.

Since 2000, Clontarf has supported thousands of boys around the country through their education, graduating their final year of high school and entering the workforce.

Mr Gooda and Mr McLeod's appointments come after the retirements from the board of founder chief executive Gerard Neesham and deputy chief executive Craig Brierty.

With it, Clontarf enter a 'new chapter' and what the organisation has called a milestone for its long-term sustainability and stakeholder engagement in establishing an Indigenous majority on the board.

Mr Gooda, a Gangulu and Yiman man, has a long history in advocating for First Peoples.

He served as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for over six years before taking on the position of Royal Commissioner for the Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems of the Northern Territory in 2016.

Mr Gooda has also worked as chief executive at both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health.

Indigenous Territorian and descendant of the Katherine and Victoria River Districts people and Mabuiag Island Torres Strait Islander man, Mr McLeod is branch head of Kakadu National Park at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Mr McLeod comes with over 30 years of experience in government and statutory authorities.

Clontarf operates in over 150 schools across schools in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Using sport as a vehicle for engagement, the foundation partners with schools to empower, educate and develop life skills in their young men they work with.

"We recognise the extraordinary vision, dedication and leadership of Gerard who, along with Craig, helped shape our success over the past 26 years. Under their watch, Clontarf has expanded to 162 academies, with over 12,000 academy members enrolled in 2025, including over 1,000 Year 12 graduates," Clontarf Foundation chair Tom O'Leary said.

"The achievements of the boys and young men participating in Clontarf Academies across Australia are meaningful contributions towards Closing the Gap."

"As Clontarf begins a new chapter, we congratulate Jonathan and Mick on their appointments, and we look forward to the contributions they will bring through their extensive leadership, governance and Indigenous policy expertise."

Mr Gooda and Mr McLeod join directors Isaac Gibbs, Jenni Collard, Karen Jones and William Johnstone as Indigenous board members.

With Mr Neesham's departure, Clontarf have started their considerations for the appointment of its next chief executive.