Lhere Artepe CEO stepping down, Alice Springs office shut to public after police attend ‘disturbance’

‘Eight months of persistent threats’ is forcing the CEO of an NT Aboriginal corporation to leave her post, a fortnight after cops responded to a ‘disturbance’ at the main office.

The Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation office on Gap Rd, Alice Springs. May 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The interim chief executive of an Alice Springs Aboriginal Corporation is set to leave after eight months at the helm, weeks after cops responded to a “disturbance” at the corporation’s office.

A whistleblower and a source have told this masthead Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation (LAAC) interim chief executive Jane Ndove is stepping down.

She is stepping down “due to eight months of persistent threats and intimidation that have put her personal and physical safety at serious risk,” the whistleblower said.

The resignation comes as Lhere Artepe corporate staff are working from home, and the front gate to the office is padlocked, due to an alleged violent confrontation involving two men, sources have told this masthead.

A sign with the opening hours on a padlocked gate at the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation on Gap Rd in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The two men have been allegedly threatening employees and disrupting operations for months – even years according to one source – an email from a whistleblower and another source has said.

An NT Police spokesperson said police responded to a “disturbance” at the Lhere Artepe’s Gap Rd office on May 7.

“Upon police arrival, it was reported that a 54-year-old male, known to the organisation, was at the premises and making threats to employees at the location,” they said.

“The matter was de-escalated, and the male is expected to be served with a Trespass Notice.

“Over the course of investigations, another man was identified as having made historical threats to the organisation and it is expected he will also be served a trespass notice.”

An email sent by a whistleblower to this masthead alleges the men have created an “unsafe workplace” and are using intimidation and aggression “towards female board members and female corporate staff”.

The Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation office on Gap Rd, Alice Springs. May 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“This behaviour appears to be fuelled by reforms introduced by LAAC’s new board,” the email reads.

The email further called for “proper accountability” and “urges the police and judicial system to ensure that those responsible for this violence and intimidation are held to account”.

A fortnight from when police were at the office, police confirmed the men had been served the trespass notices.

“At this stage, the matter remains under investigation and a brief is being compiled for further assessment of the circumstances,” they said.

The Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation office. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Currently, the Lhere Artepe Gap Rd office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, according to the corporation’s website, while a paper sign outside the building said the office hours are 10am to 2pm.

When this masthead visited on Tuesday and Wednesday, the front gate to the office was padlocked – at 11.45am in the morning, and 3pm in the afternoon.

Ms Ndove succeeded previous Lhere Artepe chief executive Scott McConnell, who stood down in November last year.

The latest Lhere Artepe director’s report, released March this year, states the “board will also be recruiting a new CEO at the end of the financial year”.

Lhere Artepe acting chief executive Jane Ndove and chair Kirsty Bloomfield have been repeatedly contacted for comment.