Eleni Glouftsis made history at the age of 25 – by becoming the first woman to officiate Australian Football League (AFL) games as a field umpire. While in high school, she began umpiring for amateur leagues and was awarded an AFL Female Pathway Scholarship.
Through her dedication to the sport, Eleni became the first female umpire in the South Australian National Football League – before going on to umpire 33 senior games for the Victorian Football League. After working hard on her fitness levels, Eleni finally broke though at the highest level in 2017.
With no female umpire to look up to in her own career, Eleni hopes her debut will open doors for other young girls who are passionate about professional umpiring. Her tenacity and commitment to overcoming barriers have enabled her to smash through this glass ceiling and redefine the role of women in sport. As a Greek-Australian, Eleni also inspires culturally diverse communities to be included in Australian institutions.