Kirby Bentley
Artist & Professional Athlete
Gnalla Country & Western Bulldogs AFLW
Melbourne, AUS
Kirby is a proud GORENG – NYAKI-NYAKI, WADJAK – BALARDOG woman, hailing from the Southwest of W.A. in a small town called Mount Barker.
A talented sportswoman, Kirby played elite level netball for the West Coast Fever, before trying her hand at AFL where she became a multiple All Australian. She is the first Aboriginal woman to hold a coaching position in the AFL, as a development coach with The Western Bulldogs AFLW program and currently Essendon AFLW.
In her home state of W.A., Kirby also established the Kirby Bentley Cup a charity carnival aimed at improving inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal girls, something that has been adopted and run by the WAFC.
Professionally, Kirby has held many leadership roles across a diverse group of industries, along with her qualifications in construction (riggers, shot firers and doggers license).
Kirby’s most recent venture is starting an Ally friendly First Nations apparel brand–Gnalla, which means ‘Ours’ in Noongar language. Gnalla aims to create conversation and education of First Nations culture through fashion and art.
Kirby is a dynamic and talented presenter, both in key notes sharing her story, TV as an AFL commentator and in programs. Kirby is passionate about creating the conversation between what she describes as the “3 Worlds” of Australia–your world, my world, our world.
