Tagalaka and Gumatj man Conor Bowden has received the Fitzgerald Youth Award at the NT Human Rights Awards for his outstanding contributions to the public conversation about the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

The NT Human Rights Awards recognise unsung people and organisations from across the Northern Territory who share a common goal in promoting and protecting fundamental human rights found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr Bowden, who was a delegate at the Hands on Heart National Youth Conference held at Barangaroo in Sydney earlier this year and hosted by the Uluru Youth Dialogue, received the award alongside First Nations man Jaiden McGregor.

In the lead up to the October 2023 Referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Conor and Jaiden saw a need to educate and better engage young Territorians in the conversations about the Voice. In recognition of their existing status as young local leaders and commitment to this work, NTCOSS' Youth Voice project supported their advocacy efforts.

They produced a wide range of educational social media content and were sought out by traditional media such as the ABC to contribute to the public conversation on the Voice.

The 2023 NT Human Rights Awards ceremony was held on 7 December 2023 at the Supreme Court in Darwin.