NT’s inspirational women and their legacy in the Territory
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we reveal the 40+ powerful women across the Northern Territory. See how they break through barriers to fight for a better NT.
Northern Territory
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International Women’s Day will this year celebrate the theme of DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.
In the 2022 annual NT Most’s Powerful list, which tracks and ranks the most influential Territorians across all sectors, 41 of the top 120 were women.
Seven women made the top 10 and the most powerful person for 2022 was a woman.
It is testament to the work, dedication and passion these women play, the way they wield their power and shape a better future for all.
These women do not appear in order as they did on the Most Powerful list – the spirit of International Women’s Day is not about who is the most influential, but who they are.
They deserve recognition and should serve as a conversation starter about the other women across the Northern Territory who perhaps do not receive the same recognition daily for what they do.
This is your chance to highlight the women in your world who inspire you and everyone around them.
Send your nomination to news@ntnews.com.au with a short statement on why they inspire you.
We will celebrate them on March 8 – International Womens’ Day 2023.
Elisabeth Armitage
The Territory Coroner faced one of her most high-profile and challenging inquests in 2022, just months after being appointed to the role in July.
After presiding over a months’ long inquiry into the 2019 police shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker at Yuendumu, Armitage will continue to oversee the hearings when Zach Rolfe returns to the witness stand in February.
Armitage withstood her first major legal challenge as Territory Coroner in December, after her ruling compelling Constable Rolfe to testify was vindicated on appeal in the Supreme Court. When the inquiry finally comes to a close, it will be Armitage’s solemn – and Herculean – task to piece together the voluminous strands of evidence collected from dozens of witnesses to hand down her recommendations.
With so much at stake, including the hopes and expectations of Mr Walker’s family and community, and the entirety of the NT Police force and government watching on, the pressure will be intense.
But with a steady hand on the wheel of proceedings so far, Armitage has shown she is up to the task and her final report will be eagerly anticipated in 2023.
Vicki Telfer
The challenge for Public Service Commissioner Telfer is to turn around the disastrous results from the 2021 People Matter survey that show all is not well in the NTPS.
The survey identified more than 60 employees within the Chief Minister’s Department alone had witnessed ‘improper conduct’ at work and that 20 per cent of staff in the agency had been bullied in the previous 12-months.
At the same time only 46 per cent of surveyed staff reported their manager dealt with poorly performing employees appropriately.
Another spotlight was shone in July when ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches dropped a bombshell report that accused the government of “favouritism, nepotism and cronyism” in public service recruitment and selection.
Telfer prefers to operate behind the scenes rather than voicing her opinions through the media but public servants are rightly waiting for their boss to outline a plan for correcting the key shortcomings identified last year.
Kaia Wright
A writer and model by trade and increasingly notable public figure, Wright has had a big year in 2022.
The numbers speak for themselves – Wright’s Instagram following jumped from 20,900 to 91,700 since May.
Wright announced the pregnancy and birth of her daughter Dusty alongside partner Matt, and made her global television debut in Netflix’s Wild Territory.
She also stepped into the beauty world with a Biolage hair-care partnership, claiming she was ditching the “mum bun” for weekly self-care that started at her roots.
Her claim to fame no doubt increased thanks to her husband’s popular TV series and adventure tourism businesses but the beauty has no doubt stepped out of his shadow and made waves of her own in the Territory community.
Jacinta Price
Jumping more than 30 places in 2022 to skyrocket into third spot on the Most Powerful list, Price has become one of the most influential people in the Territory.
An outspoken opponent to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, the CLP Senator will not hesitate to ruffle feathers in doing what she believes is right for Territorians.
After being elected to the senate, Price vowed to hold the Albanese government accountable while also labelling Labor’s push for the Voice as “symbolism”.
As the first Indigenous woman elected as deputy mayor of Alice Springs, Price also called for the federal government to extend the Stronger Futures laws that keep Indigenous communities dry.
With the debate over the Voice set to rage on until the proposed referendum in 2023, and likely long after, Price will be one of the loudest and most influential voices in the Territory.
Anya Lorimer and Dee Madigan
The power duo of Lorimer and Madigan have cemented their spot in the top 120 by being an unshakeable force in advertising in the NT.
The two joined up to form Campaign Edge Sprout and have had a chokehold on the marketing landscape ever since.
Madigan has a huge influence in political campaigns, including wins for Labor in the NT and Queensland.
Lorimer is best known for creating her media agency in 2001 at age 28 and coming in at number 45 on the NT’s Most Powerful Women list.
She is also on the board of the NT Chamber of Commerce and chairwoman of Activate Darwin, which is tasked with reinvigorating Darwin as a destination.
The pair continues to be the firm of choice for places like City of Darwin, making their mark on the annual reports, and the Darwin Cup Carnival.
Karen Sheldon
The president of the NT’s largest and most representative business organisation, the Chamber of Commerce, Sheldon continues to be a giant of the Territory business world.
Although she has slipped some 21 spots from last year’s most powerful list, Sheldon’s influence as head of the Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 1200 businesses, cannot be underestimated.
Her own business, Karen Sheldon Catering, was behind feeding the thousands of people who went through the Howard Springs quarantine facility.
On top of that, Sheldon’s ever-expanding training program boasts nationally recognised accredited qualifications across hospitality, retail, leadership and management, childcare, tourism and community services.
Natasha Fyles
From tackling the NT’s Covid response as Health Minister to taking over as Chief Minister, 2022 was a massive year for Fyles.
Fyles has always been one of the faces of Territory Labor taking on press conferences and unafraid to answer the tough questions, even if she doesn’t always give a straight answer.
There were still question marks on who would take over when Michael Gunner announced he was stepping down in May.
However, when the Labor caucus unanimously voted in her favour it seemed a natural fit.
Even before climbing to the top spot she was often the face of the Territory government fronting press conferences in her role as Health Minister as Covid gripped the NT.
Health is one of the portfolios she kept under her name after ascending to the top seat alongside defence, alcohol policy and major projects, all important areas for the foreseeable future.
But as Chief it is how she deals with the complex and enduring issue of crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in Alice Springs, that could define her tenure.
Karen Weston
Coming up to three years as the Department of Education’s chief executive, Weston has been highly influential in one of the country’s most challenging education sectors.
The department has banned mobile phones in all state schools, a move that comes into effect in 2023, as well as commissioned a broad review into secondary schooling across the Territory.
Ms Weston’s team has also been involved in a major change to the way the government recognises school attendance, and therefore allocates funding.
In 2021, the department also released its 10-year education engagement strategy, aimed to get Territory children from the city to the bush into classrooms.
She brings more than two decades’ experience to the important role, with stints in her departmental counterparts in both South Australia and Victoria.
Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann
A true Territory treasure, Ungunmerr-Baumann was one of just 10 everyday Australians chosen to attend Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September last year.
Born near the Daly River, Ungunmerr-Baumann became the first fully-qualified Aboriginal teacher in the NT and is a strong advocate for inclusive education, as well as Indigenous teachers working with non-Indigenous children.
After training as a teaching assistant in 1968 she became principal of the Catholic school in her home community.
From there, Ungunmerr-Baumann has dedicated her life to ensuring children can express themselves through art and education.
She speaks five local languages along with English and is responsible for establishing the highly successful Merrepen Arts centre in Nauiyu.
The educator and activist has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Charles Darwin University for her life-changing work, as well as the esteemed Australian Senior of the Year award in 2021.
Dr Kirsty Howey
The Northern Territory’s natural landscape is considered a national treasure and intrinsic to Territorians’ way of life.
In the wake of threats to land and water, the Environment Centre chief executive has been at the centre of protests and law suits that regularly cause Territory Labor and mining companies headaches.
Her team’s work has impacted progress on a number of the government’s major projects, including the Middle Arm development, McArthur River Mine expansion and Beetaloo Basin. She is also a passionate advocate for the Territory’s smallest residents, the Gouldian finch and has worked to halt Defence housing development in Lee Point.
As the 2024 Territory elections loom, Howey is one to watch.
Elizabeth Morris
As the Territory’s Chief Judge, Elizabeth Morris will continue to wield significant power within the NT’s judicial system in 2023. While already managing what is a significant workload for the Local Court system, Ms Morris will be in the gun to address worsening delays and backlogs experienced in 2022.
In July, Ms Morris presided over a “super directions hearing” in which she assigned dates well into 2023 for dozens of defendants who were unable to have their day in court last year, including cases dating back as far as 2020.
At the time, a court spokeswoman said the backlog had been caused by high volumes of cases coming through along with limited resources in judges’ chambers as well as prosecution and defence offices.
How well Ms Morris is able to address the issues from her side of the bench will decide to what extent she is able to earn her place on this year’s list.
Lis Clark
Katherine mayor Lis Clark has graduated to the main list after coming in at number 60 on last year’s Most Powerful Women docket as she continues to steer the ship for the outback hub.
The long-serving former alderman has lived in Katherine for 52 years and continues to advocate for the town’s 6000 residents since taking over as mayor in 2020.
As is the case elsewhere in the NT, anti-social behaviour has been an issue in Katherine in recent months with Clark speaking out in September.
“At the moment there has been quite a bit of damage occurring in town,” Clark said.
“We need to mitigate these things before they happen, not after they happen.
“The damage is worse than we’ve seen.”
Nicole Manison
Manison has proven herself as a capable second-in-command to the Territory’s leader.
Before Michael Gunner’s resignation as chief minister came in 2022, Manison’s name had often been in the mix as next in line for the top job, with many believing the Wanguri MLA was being groomed for the role.
Ultimately, she would continue to play second fiddle to the chief minister but ever-present in the public eye, Manison seems content with her standing in the leadership.
Nevertheless, should rumours of a spill circulate, one would assume her name would be right back in the mix.
And with major portfolios like Mining and Industry and Tourism and Hospitality, Manison’s role in the government’s plans for a $40b economy by 2030 cannot be underestimated.
VASSY
Vassy is undeniably one of the Territory’s biggest claims to fame on the world stage.
The singer and songwriter was the first Australian Artist to go No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Chart with her solo single – and debut – release, “We Are Young”.
Her music has been featured in hit Disney film Frozen and popular TV drama Grey’s Anatomy, while she has also collaborated with David Guetta and other huge names.
Vassy’s songs have been featured in EA Games, Nickelodeon, Sketchers, Victoria’s Secret and Pepsi commercials, while she’s also featured in some of the globe’s biggest EDM music festivals.
The Darwin High School alumni regularly talks up her tropical home town and has used her career to promote Top End businesses and locations.
Today she boasts more than 228,000 Instagram followers and fans of her unique dance, reggae and soul music.
Lia Finocchiaro
Since taking the reins as Opposition Leader in 2020, Finocchiaro has worked to cement herself as a formidable alternative to Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, scrutinising the Labor government at every opportunity.
Crime has been the CLP leader’s go-to pressure point in the past 12 months, and with rates up across the Territory and Alice Springs in the grips of its worst crime wave in years, 2023 may prove the time for Finocchiaro to make serious inroads into disrupting Labor’s plans of developing a stronghold on the Territory.
Having proven herself to be a capable attack dog and pouncing on any government indiscretion, no matter how minor, Finocchiaro will take the fight to Fyles right up to the 2024 election.
But with the CLP’s “tough on crime” mantra doing little to rattle the Chief Minister, Finocchiaro may need to look elsewhere for the government’s sore point.
And with talks of a leadership spill ever-present between party insiders, the Opposition Leader will need to add another string to her bow if she is to make a tilt at the Territory’s top job.
Kay Densley
Community and Public Sector Union secretary Kay Densley was one of several union bosses that took on the Territory government head on in 2022 over its controversial wage freeze.
Ms Densley was among those celebrating when new Chief Minister Natasha Fyles finally dropped the policy in October after CPSU members voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposal the previous month.
While the wage freeze has now been consigned to the annals of history, Ms Densley remains a fierce advocate for her members, who include hundreds of the Territory’s public servants, and will not shy away from continuing to hold the government to account in 2023.
With CPSU members making up such a large number of such a crucial voting block for Territory Labor, Ms Densley’s words are sure not to go unheeded in the corridors of power during any future industrial disputes.
Leanne Liddle
Leanne Liddle continued to cement her reputation as a woman who speaks her mind in 2022, telling audiences at the Garma Festival of the structural racism that traps Indigenous Territorians in a cycle of crime and punishment.
“Judges are often faced with limited sentencing options including repeated incarceration often for short periods in a revolving door of offending and imprisonment,” she said.
The NT Australian of the Year and Aboriginal Justice Unit director’s comments drew criticism from Supreme Court judge Judith Kelly, who rejected Ms Liddle’s assessment of a legal system “handcuffed” to a broken idea of justice.
Justice Kelly slammed the speech in one of her own as containing “false claims of systemic racism”, but far from being chastened, Ms Liddle stood by her comments noting the “overwhelmingly positive feedback” she had received from others.
With no sign Ms Liddle will pull back on her advocacy in 2023, her public comments are sure to continue to provoke strong reactions.
Samara Fernandez-Brown
Fernandez-Brown is a proud Warlpiri woman and fierce advocate for her community in Yuendumu.
Fernandez-Brown gave powerful evidence at an inquest in Alice Springs in 2022 into the death of her cousin, Kumanjayi Walker, and was a daily presence inside and outside of court.
In a year when the Warlpiri community has again been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Fernandez-Brown has remained a staunch defender of the dignity and humanity of her Central Australian mob amid commentary from outsiders as her family continues to grieve their tragic loss.
Darlene Chin
She’s already got the retail space locked down, so the next logical step was to expand into a boutique liquor store, right?
Number 36 on the NT News’ Most Powerful Women list in 2022, Chin has been a stable fixture of the business community in Darwin for decades.
She has channelled an internationally-honed business acumen, which runs through her veins, into every challenge she has taken on, including the redevelopment of Knuckey St’s Attitude for Men.
She clearly has a good grasp on what her customers want and will be one to watch as her shops go from strength to strength.
Chin’s advocacy for the CBD and Darwin retail community does not go unnoticed.
Judy Dent
In 1996, Dent’s husband Beb was the first person in the world to use voluntary assisted dying, right here in the Territory.
However, less than a year later voluntary euthanasia legislation was revoked by federal laws. Dent launched almost a quarter-of-century long campaign to have those rights’ restored.
In November last year that “first battle” was won when the federal senate restored the Territory’s ability legislate on the issue.
Dent has now vowed to lobby the Territory government until they fully restore those rights to Territorians; a battle that is contingent on a Labor conscious vote.
Cathryn Tilmouth
A former Territory government insider is leading the push to expand mining across the Top End as the new Minerals Council of Australia Northern Australian Executive Director. Tilmouth is a 120 Most Powerful list first-timer after coming in at number 69 in the Most Powerful Women earlier this year.
She has been around the halls of power for the best part of two decades and before that her dad Tracker loved and loathed the Labor Party, eventually falling out over preselection of Aboriginal candidates.
Appointed Minerals Council of Australia Northern Territory executive director in February, Tilmouth has taken on an advocacy role on behalf of the mining industry.
She worked for the Martin Labor government soon after it won office in 2001 and in 2009 she left the Territory to work as a policy and media adviser to then federal resources, energy and tourism minister Martin Ferguson.
From 2013, for 18 months, she worked in one of the most difficult jobs, media adviser to then opposition leader Delia Lawrie.
She has long understood the benefits of mining to economies and worked as an adviser to then primary industries and resources minister Ken Vowles between 2016 and 2018.
After Vowles’ career clashed with former chief minister Michael Gunner, Tilmouth became manager of onshore gas reform until May 2019, which was code for getting fracking going.
She then moved to Santos as the senior government and public affairs adviser for three years before taking on the MCA role.
She has been a Darwin Festival board member since May 2021, despite protests from environmental activists Fossil Fuel Free Arts NT.
Denise Bowden
As chief executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Bowden is a major figure in the world of Indigenous education and economic reform.
Born and bred in the Territory, Bowden has time again proven herself as a fierce advocate for both Indigenous and women’s rights.
Constantly pushing the agenda for both, Bowden has worked extensively with Yolngu clans in northeast Arnhem Land.
Bowden also doubles as the director of the Garma Festival, the event Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used to springboard his government’s push for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. That the festival also makes this list is testament to Bowden’s status as a national figure on Indigenous affairs and her achievements leading the event back from the pandemic.
And with the Voice to parliament debate set to be front and centre of Indigenous affairs in 2023, Bowden’s influence is only likely to grow in the next 12 months.
Louise McCormick
The NT’s first Infrastructure Commissioner, McCormick is pivotal to the Territory government’s strategy to grow the economy to $40bn by 2030.
Close to Infrastructure Australia’s influential boss Romilly Madew, McCormick’s appointment in March 2022 put the Territory at the table where national discussions around infrastructure allocation take place.
An award-winning engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in the transport and infrastructure sectors, one of her priorities will be the establishment of the Middle Arm precinct, while she is also an advocate for projects including the Darwin Regional Water Supply and the Beetaloo Sub-Basin development.
She is also instrumental in inner-city projects the Civic and State Square redevelopment and new art gallery.
McCormick represents the Northern Territory on several national boards, committees and working groups including as the Deputy Chair of Austroads, Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), the Infrastructure Investment Forum and I-Body National Forum.
A Territorian of close to two decades, McCormick knows the NT better than most, particularly for the opportunities it presents.
Nicole Hucks
The country has again turned its attention to child protection and detention, with media zeroing in on the NT.
Yet despite only being the Acting Children’s Commissioner, Hucks has used the position to be accountable to mob and expose ongoing issues to the NT government.
The Larrakia/Arrernte woman has advocated for Aboriginal-led decision making and funded diversion services.
She revealed “grave concerns” for the mental wellbeing of children inside Territory Detention centres, which were backed by Danila Dilba, NTCOSS and AMSANT, who together held Territory Families accountable to the royal commission recommendations from 2017.
Her role advocating for the Rights of the Child has led to the NT being the first jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.
Malarndirri McCarthy
Last year was a big one for the Territory’s three-term Senator.
After six years parked on the opposition benches, McCarthy is finally enjoying the fruits of government.
On a personal level, she married long-time partner Richard Bryant.
With her finger on the pulse of life in the Territory’s communities, she has an opportunity to bring about significant policy benefits for Aboriginal people right across the NT.
Clearly these are needed, particularly in Wadeye which has seen unlimited strife over the past year and is in desperate need of change.
Federal Labor has an opportunity to improve conditions for Aboriginal people – here’s hoping they don’t waste it.
McCarthy bucked the Covid trend by speaking against mandatory Covid vaccinations, preferring incentives.
Tracey Hayes
People involved with the Country Liberal Party still shake their heads at the one that got away.
Hayes put her hand up to take-on the chief minister in his Fannie Bay electorate at the 2020 election and looked a chance until Covid kicked in and gave Labor an easy run home on polling day.
But some in the party had her earmarked for a shot at Solomon where, had she won, her skills as a pastoralist and businesswoman – not to mention her knowledge of the Territory – would have been a valuable addition to the Coalition’s women-averse ranks.
Instead, she accepted a position as chair of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (the NAIF), which has billions of dollars to potentially invest in projects to grow the Northern Australia economy.
This gives her an opportunity to make a difference to the Territory without the ritualistic abuse and suspicion that goes with a career in politics.
Kate Worden
As crime continues to be a hot issue across the Territory, Worden’s role as Police Minister will undoubtedly come under even more scrutiny in 2023.
With the CLP’s “tough on crime” mantra being pedalled out on a regular basis and Alice Springs in the grip of a crime crisis, just how much influence the Sanderson MLA has on policing in the Territory will be at the forefront of her work this year.
And despite repeated attacks from the opposition on Labor’s “soft on crime” approach, Worden has weathered the storm thus far.
With an already sizeable collection of portfolios, Worden was last year appointed as the Territory’s first Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
Responsibility for two of the Territory’s biggest social issues will no doubt test Worden in 2023 as pressure mounts on the government to take drastic action on both.
But with a political career stretching back almost 30 years, she has learnt a thing or two.
Robyn Lambley
The Araluen MLA is a wildcard in the parliament chambers and often does a better job of calling out the government’s tricks and trip-ups better than the Opposition.
Despite an incredibly difficult year for Lambley with the sudden loss of her son, she has remained strong and forthright.
The independent member’s at-times unpredictable nature is both lauded and condemned, often seeing her in trouble with the Speaker.
Lambley was formerly the deputy chief minister as a CLP member and remains aligned with the opposition’s values and views.
Like the CLP, she counts major reforms on raising the age of criminal responsibility and the Anti-Discrimation Act changes as losses.
Head into 2023, we can expect Lambley to remain a loud voice for Alice on issues surrounding crime, police and prisons.
Erina Early
Fierce advocate and United Workers Union NT secretary, Early has been the forefront of several major industrial actions against the NT government this year.
While initially losing the four-year pay freeze battle — with public servants initially accepting a cash bonus in lieu of a raise — Early ended up winning the war after Chief Minister Natasha Fyles agreed to a 2 per cent pay rise in October.
And since stepping down as ALP party branch president, Early seems to have become even more outspoken.
Only in the Territory would the unions be at war with Labor.
Yet in this battle Early appears to have the power of NT’s teachers, nurses, health workers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers and public servants behind her.
Di Stephens
The last few years have been eventful for Stephens and she’s recently taken on one of her biggest roles yet.
The medical director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre recently became the inaugural dean of the Charles Darwin University Menzies School of Medicine.
Her role affords her the chance to transform the medical landscape of the Northern Territory by creating opportunities to develop a homegrown frontline health workforce and meet the dire medical needs of communities.
Currently, the Territory is dependent on medicine graduates relocating from interstate to source its supply of doctors.
Stephens is lobbying for a greater share in the federal government’s 80 additional Commonwealth Support Places to meet the Territory’s demand for health workers.
Avril Baynes
Baynes is the general manager of Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
Baynes took over the casino during the Covid pandemic and faced an enormous challenge to steer the multimillion-dollar business out of the bleakness of coronavirus.
The casino’s return to business as usual is testament to Baynes’ ability to lead that recovery on the back of the forced closure of Territory venues with gaming machines during the pandemic.
Not to be put off by the possibility of coronavirus halting business, Baynes oversaw an upgrade of hotel rooms at the casino, while her continued commitment to move forward following the pandemic has no doubt contributed to her rise nine places up the Most Powerful list.
Her next challenge will be recouping the loss of staff after the pandemic to have the casino firing on all cylinders.
Justice Judith Kelly
Justice Kelly has been no stranger to controversy in 2022, with her passionate views on issues like domestic violence polarising many in the legal and wider community.
After inviting the media’s cameras into her courtroom as she sentenced a brutal domestic murderer to life in prison at the end of 2021, Justice Kelly again fronted the media in June, granting an exclusive interview to The Weekend Australian.
In it, Justice Kelly called out the Territory’s “total epidemic of domestic violence” and questioned whether police shootings of Aboriginal men should be treated as more of a priority than the scores of deaths of Aboriginal women at the hands of their partners.
Justice Kelly again caused an outcry in some circles when she rejected accusations of institutional racism in Australia’s justice system during a speech to women lawyers in August. Whether Justice Kelly continues her outspoken approach or retreats from the spotlight in 2023 remains to be seen, but there can be no doubt that if and when she does choose to speak, her remarks will not go unnoticed.
Ruth Palmer
Palmer is the executive director of the Property Council of Australia NT and represents the interest of members in the property sector, and has advocated against anti-social behaviour.
Using her industry influence, she urged Alice Springs Council and the NT government to increase their response to crime in Alice Springs, which led to the controversial Social Order Response policy.
An industry leader, she continues to advocate for increased student accommodation and population growth in the NT.
She is well-known for pushing for public reporting, transparency and accountability in order to hold the NT government to account.
Eva Lawler
It was a big year for Lawler, with the Drysdale MLA becoming the Territory’s newest number cruncher after the change of chief ministers and a cabinet reshuffle.
While she is grappling with the massive task of turning around a forecast debt nearing $10bn, the economy has come under fire with the fallouts from the shiplift and Sun Cable solar projects, while a decision to scrap the wage freeze is expected to cost the Territory $245m over four years.
Meanwhile, the Territory government is striving towards a $40bn economy by 2030.
Lawler also holds the education portfolio, as well as infrastructure, planning and logistics and Territory development.
The former teacher and Jingili Primary School principal has made some massive changes to education recently, with mobile phones to be banned in all state schools this year alongside a shake-up to the way the government funds schools on attendance and enrolment figures.
Selena Uibo
The Territory’s energy future, Treaty framework and housing crises all sit on the shoulders of one woman, Uibo.
But 18 months out from an election, the Arnhem MLA will have to battle to secure her own future in her marginal electorate following a nailbiter contest with independents in 2020.
After being shuffled from Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Uibo has juggled five portfolios as the Energy, Essential Services, Housing, and Treaty and Local Decision Making Minister — critical departments for her bush electorate.
Under these roles she’s been able to announce updates to major renewable energy projects, hand over keys for new houses to hundreds of Territorians, unlocked development for social housing, offered rental discounts to essential workers and announced millions in construction contracts for public and social housing.
Uibo has made strides in remote and urban housing but her portfolio is battling against the grim reality of a decade-long public housing waitlist, overcrowding and backlog of repairs and rebuilds.
As Treaty Minister, Uibo also had to announce the government would be shelving a key 2016 Labor platform.
In December — while most Territorians were on holiday — Uibo announced she would be shelving development of a Aboriginal Treaty in favour of establishing a Treaty Unit.
Uibo said the treaty process was “complex and require more work”, giving no clear statements on time-frame or rollout commitments.
After slipping 29 spots on the NT’s most powerful index, the next 12 months will determine if the 2021 Most Powerful Woman will have a hope of remaining on our list.
Ngaree Ah Kit
Traditionally, being granted the Speaker’s role is a polite way for a leader to thank burnt-out MLAs in a mostly harmless, well-paid job — but Ah Kit has managed to shuffle her way into the front bench.
Following the Natasha Fyles coup, Ah Kit moved from her “apprenticeship” in the chair to the Disabilities, International Education, Multicultural Affairs and Digital Development portfolios.
Ah Kit has set targets to lure in 10,000 international students to the Territory, restart digital innovation and bring in future-focused skilled workers, boost signals from the bush and oversee a major update to the health record system.
As Disability Minister, Ah Kit has fought to bring the unique struggles for people with a disability in remote and very remote communities, challenging the federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten to visit the Territory.
The Karama representative comfortably held her safe seat in 2020 but Labor’s highly criticised crime response could has been flagged a challenge to a smooth third term.
Cath Hatcher
The hangover from the Territory government’s controversial wage freeze remains a hot-button issue heading into 2023 with Australian Nursing and Midwifery NT secretary Cath Hatcher still locked in negotiations with Natasha Fyles’ administration.
Fyles replaced the wage freeze with a 2 per cent per annum pay rise policy in August but is yet to reach an agreement with workers in a number of industries.
Ms Hatcher represents one of several sectors still holding out after Territory teachers accepted a 3 per cent pay rise by a two-thirds majority vote in December, with the ANMF set to return to the negotiating table in the coming weeks.
Depending on how those talks go, Hatcher’s union could remain a thorn in the government’s side for some time to come as it seeks to put the policy introduced by former chief minister Michael Gunner behind it.
Mary Chalmers SC
Chalmers’ star as one of the NT’s top legal minds has only continued to rise since the experienced advocate and serving vice-president of the NT Bar Association took silk in 2021. The long-term Territorian graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the former NT University in 2001 and was appointed Senior Counsel just three years after joining the independent bar in 2018.
More recently, Chalmers served as counsel for the NT government at two royal commissions, including inquiries into abuse and neglect of people with disabilities and defence and veteran suicides.
Meanwhile, as a Captain in the Australian Army Legal Corps, Chalmers regularly appears for defendants in Defence Force Magistrate and Court Martial proceedings at the Territory’s numerous Defence facilities.
As one of Darwin’s most sought after advocates, Chalmers will no doubt continue to be a fixture in courts and tribunals across the Territory as a number of high-profile cases make their way through the justice system in 2023.
Marion Scrymgour
The new member for Lingiari has some big shoes to fill in 2023 after taking over from the long-serving father of the house, Warren Snowdon, when the Albanese government took power in May.
While Scrymgour is yet to make waves as a potential inheritor of Snowdon’s legacy, she used her maiden speech to parliament in July to outline her goals, including protecting vulnerable Territorians after the expiry of the Stronger Futures legislation.
“What is at least needed is for both governments, federal and Northern Territory, to work out a plan to protect the innocent victims who are being swamped by waves of violence, now that takeaway alcohol is getting let back into town camps,” she said.
As one of three Territory voices now inside the tent as part of a federal Labor government, Scrymgour will be perfectly placed to make a real difference for her constituents in 2023 — if she seizes her chance.
Athina Pascoe-Bell
The mayor of Palmerston may appear to be the silent type but she’s been sticking to her guns in the past 12 months.
In the latest council elections held in August 2021, Pascoe-Bell reclaimed her position with a landslide win claiming 74 per cent of the votes.
Since then, she has strongly opposed the introduction of wards to Palmerston – as have more than two-thirds of respondents in an NT News survey.
Pascoe-Bell’s council also initiated the Swimming, Wellness, Events, Leisure, Lifestyle (SWELL) centre project, to create a truly family-friendly venue.
The new centre will include a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course, a second pool, and a half basketball court.
For these reasons, Pascoe-Bell has almost maintained her spot on the list, dropping just one place since 2021.
Jane Lewis
Raintree Art gallery owner Lewis has amassed a cult following on TikTok after sharing some of the NT’s Aboriginal artists painting their artwork before it is sold.
Lewis shares work from artists across the Top End and Central Australia with more than 83,400 followers, and art-lovers can purchase the one-of-a-kind pieces for themselves online.
She launched the account in February 2020 and has said the women are “flourishing in the art industry”.
The gallery itself is located in Victoria, but its no surprise the vibrant account has made a splash across the country.
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