NT News Territory Leader of the Year brought to you by Sitzler 2025
From more than 100 nominations, 24 inspiring finalists have been selected in the 2025 NT News Territory Leader of the Year awards, brought to you by Sitzler. See all the finalists.
From health and wellbeing industry workers changing and saving lives, to those selflessly giving back to their communities for decades and business leaders shaping the Territory’s future, 24 inspiring finalists have been selected in the 2025 NT News Territory Leader of the Year awards, brought to you by Sitzler.
After an incredible first year in 2024, the NT News Territory Leader of the Year advocacy campaign and awards return in 2025 to honour our trailblazers and established leaders.
Now in their second year, the awards continue to build momentum with more than 100 nominations received across six categories, highlighting the depth of talent, community spirit and success across the Northern Territory.
All finalists are now in the running for the People’s Choice award, sponsored by the Northern Territory Government, as voted by ntnews.com.au subscribers.
NT News Territory Leader of the Year People's Choice award
An overall NT Leader of the Year, brought to you by Sitzler, will also be crowned from the category finalists.
The winners of each category, plus the people’s choice and overall leader award recipients, will be announced at a special cocktail ceremony event at Mindil Beach Casino Resort on Wednesday, November 26.
Corporate Leader
Sponsored by NEC
Shaun Pearce
The CEO of Ironbark Aboriginal Corporation for more than a decade, Shaun Pearce has transformed the IAC into one of the Territory’s most successful and respected Aboriginal organisations. Mr Pearce, who is heralded as visionary and inclusive, has grown the organisation fourfold to now employ more than 130 Territorians. Outside of his day job, Mr Pearce gives back by volunteering with The Man Walk Darwin and Just One Reason and contributes to the Chamber of Commerce NT, Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, Tourism NT and more.
Georgia Hendy
As the CEO of the AANT Centre, Georgia Hendy has positioned the Centre as a cultural powerhouse for the Northern Territory.
Under her innovative and inclusive leadership, AANT Centre in 2025 held the inaugural Darwin Comedy Festival with such success major expansion plans are in the pipeline.
Ms Hendy also champions the Creative Learning program to ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, can experience the transformative power of the arts.
Rachael Bowker
For more than 20 years, Rachael Bowker has worked across the community and not-for-profit sectors and currently leads Darwin Community Legal Service as its CEO.
She has grown DCLS from 25 staff and a $4.5 million budget to more than $7m in annual funding and expanded outreach to remote regions and introduced new advocacy and education programs. Ms Bowker also serves on the boards of NTCOSS, the Mental Health Coalition of the NT, Economic Justice Australia, and the NT Community Legal Centres Association.
Neill Carberry
Described as a visionary leader whose commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation has transformed culture and performance, Neill Carberry is the owner and managing director of SolarCity NT and director of NC Electrical & Air Conditioning and Smart Energy NT.
Under his guidance, record growth has been achieved as well as streamlined operations and a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and empowerment.
Health and Wellbeing Leader
Sponsored by NT News
Jessy Hall
In 2022, Jessy Hall launched youth support organisation Pathfinders NT in a bid to drive social change. As the NT’s first certified social enterprise, Pathfinders NT has a team of 18 local staff that supports more than 500 young people each year. Pathfinders NT actively
partners with local organisations including Red Dust Role Models, IBC Social Enterprise, Reeling Veterans, The Mindful Project, Youth Yarn, OzFish, and more.
Helen Lamech
From building a community of people with lived experience to advocating for patients, Alice Springs health practitioner Helen Lamech has changed the lives of countless Territorians. For more than 30 years, she has dedicated her nursing career to the Territory, transforming lives through her expertise, compassion, and leadership, particularly through her work as a diabetes educator. It is in the diabetes space particularly that she empowers individuals and families to take control of their health and advocates for accessible, patient-centred care.
Tyson Carmody
As the founder and CEO of Kings Narrative, Tyson Carmody has pioneered a powerful, culturally grounded model of health and mentoring, driven by community partnership, and lived experience. His work has reached hundreds of men across the NT, with Kings Narrative having employed and trained Aboriginal facilitators, collaborated with government and industry partners, and embedded trauma-informed practices into community development.
Annie Rily
As CEO of Carpentaria Disability Services, Annie Rily dedicates her life to enhancing the health and wellbeing outcomes for Territorians living with disability, particularly in remote and regional communities. Since taking on the role in 2017, Ms Rily has driven the expansion of crucial disability and therapy services and expanded Carpentaria’s allied health program to provide services across all ages. Ms Riley is the only nationally-selected NT representative on the NDIS Reform Advisory Committee and has made significant contributions to the NDIS Review in response to the Disability Royal Commission.
Emerging Leader
Sponsored by Sitzler
Alfred Farrell
As an Aboriginal liaison officer at the Katherine District hospital, Rockhole man Alfred ‘Alfie’ Farrell guides medical staff, patients and their families through sensitive situations by breaking down language barriers and making people feel at ease and understood.
Fluent in multiple languages, Mr Farrell was an interpreter of the department of the Chief Minister in Katherine and was heavily involved in interpreting key messages to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time he also undertook training to be able to be a part of Covid-19 testing in communities.
Ryan Cooney
As the People Operations Manager for NAAJA, Ryan Cooney has led transformative initiatives that strengthen workforce capability, wellbeing, and cultural safety not just with NAAJA, but also St John NT, Catholic Education, City of Darwin and Kalano Community Association. He also volunteers on the NT Reform Committee and founded and led Fair Go
Association, a small not-for-profit dedicated to providing free employment law advice to
disadvantaged groups across the NT.
Tom McMaster
As manager of the Territory True Cafe in Durack, Tom McMaster has built a workplace where people with disability gain real, award-rate hospitality jobs and job-ready skills through his True Crew supported employment model. His leadership means participants don’t just volunteer or shadow, they are fully employed, valued team members contributing to a thriving cafe environment. On top of running a successful business, he is also currently enrolled in a Batchelor of Business at CDU.
Meg Irvine
As a member of the Gove Peninsula SurfLife Saving Club Board, Meg Irvine holds the critical leadership roles of Director of Youth Activities and Director of Education. While personally completing about 80 hours of beach patrols this season, Ms Irvine oversees the club’s Nipper program, planning and delivering engaging sessions that build surf awareness, safety, and lifesaving skills. She also mentors junior members, supports age managers, liaises with families, and ensures compliance with Surf Life Saving standards.
Hall of Fame Leader
Sponsored by Mindil Beach Casino Resort
Victor Samuel Ludwig
At age 97, Victor Samuel Ludwig is showing no signs of slowing down. Mr Ludwig, often referred to as the ‘Godfather of the Green and Gold’, has given decades of his life to furthering the Northern Territory’s Australian Football Rules community. After first joining St Marys Football Club in 1952 as player, Mr Ludwig later joined the club’s committee in 1958/59, becoming president in the 1963/64 season and remarkably, has held the role ever since – for a whopping 39 years. He is a life member of both St Marys and the NTFL and under his leadership St Mary’s has thrived as a club both on and off the field.
Professor Len Notaras AO
As executive director of the Australian Government-funded National Critical Care
and Trauma Response Centre, headquarters for the Australian Medical
Assistance Team, in Darwin Professor Len Notaras AO has helped countless Territorians, and Australians more broadly, in their time of need.
With about 40 years of healthcare service in the Territory to his name, 20 of them at the helm of NCCTRC, he leads a team that trains, exercises, and deploys to humanitarian responses both domestically and overseas.
Shane Dignan
From running a hugely successful business to donating thousands of dollars to charity, Shane Dignan is dedicated to making the Northern Territory a better place for all. Mr Dignan, a founder, managing director and CEO of DCOH, has helped shape the NT business, community and economic landscapes for almost 40 years. DCOH delivers excellence across development, construction, operations and hospitality with a focus on local procurement and employment. DCOH also supports dozens of local charities and community organisations, with more than
$250,000 in community and charitable partnerships in 2025 alone.
Kathryn Stenson
If you have had any experience in the Territory’s vocational education, training, and employment industries, chances are you have come across Kathryn Stenson.
Ms Stenson has built an exceptional career spanning 25 years and dedicates her professional life to advancing apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities across the NT and beyond. She is the CEO of GTNT Group, helping thousands of Territorians get a start in their chosen trade pathway. She is also the Chairman and CEO of the Institute of Skills and Training Australia and is involved in Apprentice Employment Network QLD and NT, the National Australian Apprenticeships Association, YouthWorX NT, and the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia.
Community Leader
Sponsored by Sunday Territorian
Meg Hansen
As a vet nurse, Meg Hansen is passionate about the care and welfare of all animals. After witnessing far too many animals that simply needed care being euthanised, an idea was born to raise the funds to cover the costs of care and find new homes for these animals. She began by sewing bandannas to sell at Litchfield Vet to raise funds and later teamed up with workmate Indie. The pair then founded Save a Paw and in just over 18 months have rehomed 564 pets through funds raised by community events and public donations.
Colin Southam
As the director commercial services of St John NT, Colin Southam oversees operations including first aid training, sales, property management, purchasing, fleet, vehicle services, and warehousing. But it his dedication to going the extra mile that really makes him stand out, particularly when it comes to expanding public access to lifesaving defibrillators (AEDs).
Since 2022, Colin has been the driving force behind the installation of 107 Public Access Defibrillators in communities across the NT, even sourcing a grant to replace three AEDs at Milingimbi School when its original devices were destroyed in a fire, and driving to the school to deliver them and ensure training was carried out.
Danyelle Haigh
From running an outback tourism business to supporting rural women and families, Danyelle Haigh is a true wonder woman. On top of raising a family and running remote businesses Athelle Outback Hideaway and Murranji Water Drilling, Mrs Haigh has for the past three years run the Red Centre Rural Ladies Day which brings together women from across the Territory and beyond, providing connection, support, and inspiration for those living in isolation. She also volunteers as President of the Isolated Childrens Parents Association Alice Springs Branch and serves as a Director for Women in Trucking Australia.
Donna Digby
As chair of the NT AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Alumni, Donna Digby is passionate about raising up Territory women. For many years she has mentored and coached more than 50 Rural Womens Award applicants, guided project development, and reconnected alumni networks across vast distances. On top of that, she is the founder of Territory Connect and through her Leadership on Larapinta fundraising initiatives, has created life-changing leadership opportunities. If that wasn’t enough, she is also director of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, chair of the Outback Advisory Board, and a founding member of Desert Poppies.
Small Business Leader
Sponsored by NT Business Review
Joan Liwanag Tran
After arriving in the Territory as an international student, Joan Liwanag Tran co-founded Darwin Detailing and Tinting with her husband and it was through this venture that she discovered the challenges many individuals face in navigating tax and financial systems.
While completing a Master of Professional Accounting at CDU, she began volunteering with CDU’s free tax clinic to help people, particularly those from migrant and low-income backgrounds, gain confidence and access support.
Just before graduating with her Masters, she opened her first firm – JLT & Associates Pty Ltd to continue her work.
Veronica Larson
With just two part-time employees and a stack of volunteers, Neighbourhood Watch NT is at the frontline of some of the biggest challenges the Territory faces, and Veronica Larson is leading the charge. As CEO of Neighbourhood Watch NT Ms Larson is passionate about helping to make Territorians feel and be safer. Over the past two years, she and the NWNT team have added nine community-minded, young professionals to the organisation’s board and have done everything from creating a one-stop learning safety expo where connections are formed and safety tool kits are built to running scam and cyber security workshop tours from Nhulunbuy to Santa Teresa.
Tammy Karambetis
Mellowed Out Greek Takeaway in Gray is more than just a corner shop, it’s a place of community connection and at its heart is owner Tammy Karambetis.
Outside of serving up delicious food, Ms Karambetis has over the past two years used her business to unite the community through major events to make the suburb safer and more connected. One such standout event was when Mellowed Out Greek Takeaway partnered with the Northern Territory’s National Survivors Day ambassador, to host a special brunch in 2024 that stood in solidarity with survivors and brought attention to vital social issues in the community.
Rebecca Beaumont
As the owner of Katherine business Willow Blu Boutique, Rebecca Beaumont allows for Katherine locals and regional locals to be able to purchase high quality clothing and boutique items locally instead of online. Ms Beaumont is also a leader in demonstraing the rising expectation of a business presence on social media and access online, as well as being all inclusive with sizes from 6 to 24. Willow Blu stocks a large range of Australian brands and caters specifically to our hot and humid climate over the wet season.
Originally published as NT News Territory Leader of the Year brought to you by Sitzler 2025
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