Explore AFL and AFLW Stars on the ICMI Roster
Bright lights, roaring cheers and thrilling tackles, passes and goals, nothing gets Australians pumped quite like footy. The ICMI roster has plenty of star speakers to inspire, motivate and bring new insights to your audiences, with players and coaches from the AFL and AFLW.
Since its invention in 1858, AFL has been one of the most-watched sports in Australia, bringing an average of 35,000 punters to each game, while the grand final brings a crowd of more than 100,000 and a television audience of millions. From former players to top coaches and big brains behind the scenes, our roster is bursting with visionaries from this iconic Australian game.
Browse our roster of AFL speakers here at ICMI
Michelle Cowan
Head of Women’s Football at West Coast Eagles, Michelle Cowan has over 20 years experience in the AFL. Her impressive career launched as a talent scout for Geelong when she was 17, before being appointed as the first female assistant coach in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) at the age of 21. Michelle is an incredible resource for insights on the sport as well as team dynamics, winning cultures and the importance of perseverance and passion in your own journey.
Gavin Wanganeen
AFL legend and acclaimed contemporary Indigenous artist Gavin Wanganeen is one of the best to ever play the game with 300 games, two premierships, a Brownlow and a spot in the AFL Hall of Fame. Beyond his footy accolades, he continues to break new ground and achieve widespread acclaim as a contemporary Indigenous artist and activist. Gavin is also passionate about giving back to the community as an ambassador for Indigenous health initiatives and travelling to remote communities to encourage positive life choice. He’s an endless resource of insights as a speaker, covering everything from sport to art, culture, education, health and community.
Akec Makur Chuot
From a childhood spent in a refugee camp to a star AFLW player, Akec Makur Chuot is an inspirational figure. Having tried footy for the first time after moving to Perth in 2009, she fell in love with the game and quickly rose up the ranks to the AFLW draft. Having played for Freo, Carlton and Richmond, she played with Hawthorn for 2 seasons before hanging up the boots at the end of 2023. Now she focuses on advocating for refugees and women in sport.
Mick Malthouse
Iconic AFL premiership coach Mick Malthouse is an inspiring and well known figure of the game. With a total of 639 games coached across VFL and AFL, he’s coached the second most footy games of all time. Highlights include leading West Coast to 2 premierships and lifting Collingwood out of one of their worst long-term slumps to their 2010 premiership, breaking their 20 year drought. On the speaking circuit, he has a way of taking his experiences in footy and applying the lessons to life and business more broadly, all while doing so in an endearing and highly entertaining way.
Erin Phillips OAM
Former AFLW player for Adelaide and Port Adelaide, Erin Phillips has been an inspiration for female athletes across all sporting codes in Australia. She wanted to be a pro footy player all her life, but with limited professional opportunities, she switched her focus to basketball, playing nine seasons in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). When the AFLW launched in 2017, Erin quickly emerged as the league’s best player and one of its biggest stars. Following her 2023 retirement, she continues to inspire and advocate for women’s sport as a speaker while working in the AFL Operations Department.
Craig McRae
Having led Collingwood to their 2023 premiership, Craig McRae is one AFL’s most respected active coaches, with a unique prowess for building a winning team and finding the formula to victory. As a player he kicked off his career in Adelaide in the 90’s before playing a crucial role as a formidable forward in Brisbane’s 2001, 2002, and 2003 premierships. He’s got plenty of lessons to share as a speaker, from how to lead from the front to going from zero to hero.
Bec Goddard OAM
Inaugural AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard OAM is a passionate advocate for diversity and equality in Australian sport. She also holds the rare title of coaching success in two elite women’s sports – the AFLW and WNBL. Bec also spent 20 years as a member of the AFP, where she was deployed around the world to assist with natural disasters and tragedies. Describing herself as a ‘professional optimist’, Bec believes winning comes from focusing on the ‘1 percenters’, a big topic in her talks.