Craig Foster AM is the 2023 NSW Australian of the Year, a former athlete, member of the Australian Multicultural Council and Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement.

With 29 caps for the Socceroos including as Captain, Craig was also Captain and Club Captain of Crystal Palace FC in England, followed by a 20+ year broadcast career with SBS television, part of the triple Logie winning SBS football coverage and now with Stan Australia.

Well known for his human rights advocacy, his high-profile campaigns include the rescue of a young Bahraini refugee from the Thai Government captured in the book ‘Fighting for Hakeem’ and a new documentary film, ‘The Defenders’ on Amazon Prime Video which won most popular audience award at this year’s Sydney Film Festival. Craig helped many Afghan women and girls to flee the Taliban in 2021 including the Afghan women’s National football team and a group of 15 young girls which is captured in the online, award-winning film, ‘Die or Die Trying: Escaping the Taliban’ and led the successful ‘Game Over’ campaign to free hundreds of refugees offshore.

He is the face of various anti-racism campaigns, is an author, speaker, human rights activist and holds a Masters in Sport and a law degree.