MEET THE AMBASSADORS
Football South Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Bruce Djite, Isabel Hodgson and Natasha Stott Despoja AO as Ambassadors for the Football South Australia FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Legacy Plan and Committee.
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The Football SA FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Legacy Plan provides a unique opportunity to inspire long-term positive change for girls and women not only in the sport but more broadly across the community. The Ambassadors will represent, leverage and influence to achieve greater representation for girls and women and initiate positive societal and cultural changes.”
Natasha Stott Despoja AO is the founding Chairperson of Our Watch (the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children).
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On January 1 2021, Natasha Commenced a four-year term as an independent expert on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
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She has been Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls since December 2021 which involved 45 country visits between December 2013 and 2016 to promote women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and reduce violence against women and girls.
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A member of the World Bank Gender Advisory Council and, currently, sits on the UN High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents.
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A former Senator for South Australia, a former leader and deputy leader of the Australian Democrats, the longest-serving Democrats Senator in the history of the party and the youngest woman to enter the Australian Federal Parliament.
In 2011, Natasha was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
In 2001, she was made a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.
Is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide; a columnist for The Adelaide Advertiser and was a guest panellist on Channel 10’s The Project.
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A former Deputy Chair of BeyondBlue, a former Burnet Institute Board member (now Patron); served on the board of the South Australian Museum (SAM) (2009-2013), the Advertising Standards Board (ASB) (2008-2013) and the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD) (2010-2013). Is a member of the Australian Privacy Foundation Advisory Board and the Global Women's Institute Leadership Council.
Has been Patron or Ambassador for a number of not-for-profit groups including The Orangutan Project; Ovarian Cancer Australia, and ENUF the HIV/AIDS anti-stigma campaign.
Isabel is the current captain of Adelaide United A-League Women.
She started playing with Adelaide United at the age of 17, making her W-League debut in 2013.
She has represented South Australia and the Young Matildas Team.
Adelaide United is the only A-League Club that Isabel has played for.
She has played for two clubs in Adelaide being Fulham United and Adelaide City as well as playing half a season in the top league in NSW for Bankstown City in 2021.
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Isabel has spent time away from Adelaide completing a scholarship in the USA at East Tennessee University.
In her first year, she was named captain of the team and continued to lead the team for four years. During her time at East Tennessee, she was named in the NCAA Southern Conference team in 2016 and 2018, as well as breaking the record at East Tennessee University as the colleges most capped Women's Soccer Player.
A theatre major at College, Isabel is heavily involved in Performing Arts and has played lead roles in Musicals such as RENT, Oliver, The Simpsons and Sound of Music.
Bruce was a former Professional Footballer.
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Played his youth football in NSW, also attending the AIS on a scholarship.
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Signed for Adelaide United for two seasons in 2006 prior to moving to Turkey in 2008 for a further two seasons.
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Returned to Australia and played with Gold Coast United in 2010 for one season including a loan stint in the Chinese Super League with Jiangsu, prior to returning to Adelaide United in 2011, where he played until 2016.
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In 2016 Bruce signed for Suwon FC in the South Korean (K-League), finishing his professional career in 2018 with Indonesian Team, PSM Makassar.
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Represented Australia at Under 20, Under 23 and Senior Level.
Since retiring as a professional player, Bruce continued to work in Football as Director of Football for Adelaide United, which he held until July 2021, when he took up the position of CEO for the Committee for Adelaide, an organisation that exists to help shape the future of Greater Adelaide and South Australia by informing and influencing government policy.
Bruce continues to be a commentator for football on Network 10.
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Club Honours
Individual Honours