NT News’ Most Powerful list 2024: Numbers 120-1 named
The Chief Minister, one of the most recognised politicians in the country, the top judge, and the man who may soon wield the most power in the Territory – FIND OUT WHO IS NUMBER ONE.
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It’s that time of year again, Territorians.
Welcome to the first installation of the 120 Most Powerful list of 2024.
We have compiled the cream of the crop of Territorians who are working hard for the betterment of our community.
Last year was one for the books for the NT; we saw crisis levels of crime leading to curfews in Alice Springs, celebrated our strong women at the inaugural Woman of the Year awards, and had an election that resulted in a sweeping change of government.
Read on to see who made the cut with names up to #1 revealed.
Jump to: 100-81, 80-61, 60-41,40-21, 20-11, 10-6, 5-1
120. Baker Boy
Widely regarded as one of the Territory’s most influential figures, award-winning Yolngu rapper, dancer, artist and actor Danzal Baker – better known as Baker Boy – has yet again shown why he is regarded as such.
He took a giant leap in 2024 by featuring in a single by American Pop rock band Imagine Dragons titled Take Me to the Beach. The band average about 58 million listeners per month on Spotify.
Earlier in the year, the local talent released his new single, King, and headlined Blaktivism 2024, a one-night-only concert featuring First Nations living legends and rising voices.
Baker Boy’s social media status continued to climb over the year, with the influencer accumulating more than 105,000 Instagram followers, 61,700 followers on TikTok and 363,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
119. Natasha Fyles
Replacing Lawson Broad as chief executive of Somerville will be no mean feat, even for a former Chief Minister.
The seven-year veteran in the role relocated to Sydney late last year, with Natasha Fyles replacing him in December 2024 in the coveted community services position after a competitive recruitment process that included at least two of her former Labor government colleagues.
In the larger states, former jurisdictional leaders would usually be offered board positions or some such sinecure, but few similar opportunities exist in the Territory.
Unlike the three chief’s before her, Fyles has stayed in the Territory.
Lawson Broad changed Somerville’s operational model from a housing, homelessness and financial counselling provider to delivering disability services and supported living.
Ms Fyles will now have a clean canvas onto which she can leave her own impression at the crucial community service provider.
118. Chansey Paech
He headed into 2024 as one of the Territory’s most powerful politicians, but after a landslide election loss, Chansey Paech, despite retaining his Gwoja seat, made a swift descent down the rungs of the Most Powerful 120 list.
The former Deputy Chief Minister has fallen to 118th position after placing 20th in 2023 and 2nd in 2022.
But not all was bad for Mr Paech, the former Attorney-General was one of four Labor MLAs to retain his seat in the 2024 NT election.
Mr Paech is now the shadow minister for about 11 different portfolios.
117. Mick Burns
If the producers of the axed Netflix series Territory want a change from dust and cattle, they could do worse than base a storyline around crocodile king Mick Burns.
A Territorian since 1981, he was originally a colourful NT copper before moving into hospitality and then pioneering the untapped business of crocodile farming.
He has teamed with French fashion label Hermes and others to supply top-shelf Territory leather.
Burns farms about 70,000 saltwater crocodiles across the Top End, and earlier this year hired a 100-tonne crane to deliver massive saltie Bullo to Crocosaurus Cove in Mitchell Street, which he helped develop two decades ago.
His big 2024 business play was divesting The Cavenagh Hotel, which he’s had since the early 2000s.
“I’ve had it for a long time and it’s time to move on,” he said when the sale was finalised.
116. Joel Bowden
Over the past two years, Joel Bowden’s position on the Most Powerful list has gone a bit like a footy match: He started strong, gained a lead but eventually fumbled the ball.
The former Johnston MLA and Richmond Footballer, Mr Bowden, who climbed from 79 to 56 in 2023, has dropped to spot 116 in 2024.
Mr Bowden in March 2024 faced harsh criticism from protesters who had urged him to revoke Defence Housing Australia’s permit to clear Lee Point for development.
The protesters claimed Mr Bowden had the “power to revoke” the permit.
In August, Mr Bowden was “asked to leave” Eaton polling booth for boisterous behaviour as voters turned up for pre-polling.
Although once considered a potential competitor for the Territory’s top leadership position, Mr Bowden in the 2024 NT election instead saw him ousted by Independent candidate Justine Davis in a staggering defeat that saw him come in third place.
Mr Bowden has since returned to his previous position as general manager of the NT Trades and Labour Council, a position he held for two years prior to being elected in 2020, according to his LinkedIn.
115. Thijs Bors
Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors has snagged a spot in the NT News’ Most Powerful list after he oversaw a massive year in the country’s richest fishing competition.
In April, on the final day of Season 9 of the Million Dollar Fish competition, Mr Bors oversaw the competition’s first ever million dollar winner.
In October at the start of Season 10, about $176k was paid out to anglers and Cancer Council NT, which Mr Bors also oversaw.
Mr Bors, who was not on 2023’s list, was born in the Netherlands, grew up in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 2005.
He joined Sportsbet NT in 2013 and moved through the ranks to become the NT Operations and Partnerships Manager in 2022.
114. Dr Albert Foreman
A visit to the Nakara surgery of 93-year-old Territory doctor Albert Foreman is like a trip back in time – except for the quality of care the ear nose and throat specialist delivers, which is thoroughly modern.
His walls are full of the memorabilia of a life interestingly lived, much of it in the service of Territorians – but also from exotic locations around the world.
He was 40 when he entered medicine, training in Papua New Guinea after working for years as a civil engineer building infrastructure like roads, towers and suburbs that are still used to this day.
He arrived here with the Commonwealth Department of Works in 1957 and executed high-profile projects like the Ludmilla subdivision, the Parap water tower and supervising unexploded bomb in Darwin Harbour.
His work took him to the Barkly and Alice Springs and even more exotic locations including Swaziland, Tanzania, Israel and India.
His surgery is open five days a week, and he is one of Australia’s oldest practising doctors.
A 2017 OAM went some way to honouring the achievements and contribution of this Northern Territory treasure.
113. Tom O’Neill-Thorne
In a sporting sense there are few Territory names that have accomplished as much as O’Neill-Thorne has in the past couple of years.
When it comes to the court there are few that can match his skills.
O’Neill-Thorne led the Darwin Salties to their second consecutive NWBL title last year, and it couldn’t have been anyone but him to sink the winning shot with seconds left on the clock.
That final was the type of scenario he thrives on and is why he has been a mainstay of the national side since breaking through in the 2014 World Championships.
He often takes his trade overseas to mix it with the best in the world, but when he’s back home he, alongside Clarence McCarthy-Grogan, helps teach the next generation the ins and outs of the sport.
112. Rob McPhee
Rob McPhee has proven a steady hand as chief executive of Danila Dilba for another year, inching forward in the rankings.
In 2024, Mr McPhee hosted a Timor Leste delegation to discuss potential solutions to the small island’s health struggles.
Conversations jumped from chronic understaffing, poverty, geographic barriers and dependency on other jurisdictions to accept referrals.
Mr McPhee told the Timor Leste delegates the heart of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health model was that it was “community-driven, they are run by the community.”
“They’ve got Indigenous populations who face very similar sorts of health issues to what we do here,” he said.
“Often they [the Aboriginal health practitioner] will know the family or they’ll be able to understand the circumstances of that individual, so it creates this whole lot of understanding right at the beginning of the process, and I think that’s what we can share with a place like Timor Leste.”
The Danila Dilba Health Service in February also received $3.3m for its new Darwin Healing and Recovery Service from the NT government and NT Primary Health Network.
111. Rebecca Bullen
As Darwin’s first and only female distiller, Rebecca Bullen has been a familiar face in the Territory hospitality scene.
Ms Bullen opened her first venue, Stone House Wine Bar and Kitchen, in 2016 and later founded Charlie’s of Darwin and Darwin Distilling.
Charlie’s of Darwin was named in the Top 20 bars to visit in the world in 2021.
In 2024, she, along with a handful of Top End businesses, combined to deliver a world-first tourist experience to the NT known as Heli-foraging.
Under the collaboration, parties of up to six fly by helicopter from Darwin Airport to Finiss River Lodge to search for the ‘botanicals’ used to flavour Darwin Distilling Co’s gin.
Bullen said she hoped the collaboration would draw attention to the NT.
“I think if we offer a unique experience like this, the world will want to come and experience Darwin,” she told this masthead.
“They want to experience the wonderful landscapes of the NT, and I think this will be on everyone’s to do list.”
Ms Bullen also represents the NT on the Australian Distillers Association and is chair of the Liquor Accord committee.
110. Patrick Moran
Chicago born and Iowa educated, Patrick Moran has lived in Darwin for a decade, working on policy with then Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro before responding to a call late last year to fill the vacant chief executive officer role with NT Live Exporters Association.
Through no fault of his, Moran joined the organisation at a challenging time, following a year without executive leadership after previous chief executive Tom Dawkins and chairman Ken Vowels were ‘disappeared’ from the organisation without explanation early last year.
The lack of CEO leadership was particularly stark when it was left to the NT Cattlemen Association’s Will Evans to deal with everything from a biosecurity threat that closed four export facilities to an outbreak of botulism on a boat an Indonesian-bound vessel that would normally have been the purview of exporters.
Regarded as a diligent operator with a broad interest in the Territory – he serves on the AFL tribunal and has undertaken other non-profit work – Moran is charged with restoring relevance to the once influential industry body.
109. Donna Ah Chee
Donna Ah Chee’s role as chief executive of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress continued to be an important one in 2024.
As a strong advocate for Aboriginal health, Ms Ah Chee has consistently pushed for policies addressing social determinants of health and severe workforce shortages.
She was named as the recipient of the 2024 Menzies Medallion, the highest award offered by the Menzies School of Health Research.
The proud Budjalung woman was also awarded the Excellence in Rural/Remote Health Administration award at the National Rural and Remote Health Awards in November.
A credit to her achievements and advocacy, she was a finalist in the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for the Northern Territory.
She retains her place at 107.
108. Hugh Heggie
He’s been at the top and at the bottom, but regardless of where he ends up the Northern Territory’s administrator finds a way on to the most powerful list.
The former chief health officer was the most powerful man during the Covid pandemic is now the NT’s 23rd Administrator.
Dr Heggie, alongside his wife Ruth, are a constant friendly face at countless functions and events as he takes chance after chance to get involved with the NT community.
Upon being appointed he said he would fill the role with “compassion and love” and it’s clear he’s still over the moon to get out and about to the community as much as possible.
The job has a three-year term in total, with a possible two year extension, and covers statutory, civic and ceremonial responsibilities.
Dr Heggie remains a campaigner for Indigenous health and is remembered for the role he played in helping keep the region safe during the pandemic.
107. Di Stephens
Dianne Stephens’ professional biography speaks for itself.
She graduated from University of Melbourne Medical School in 1988, specialising in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine.
She moved to Darwin in 1998 as the Territory’s first ICU specialist and as inaugural Director of Royal Darwin Hospital Intensive Care Unit, which she led until 2016.
Over almost three decades in the Territory, her expertise has broadened to include sepsis, melioidosis, critical illness, renal disease, Indigenous health and disaster medicine.
In 2016 she took her family to Fiji for a sabbatical year teaching ICU medicine through Fiji National University.
The following year she returned to Darwin as medical director at the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, drawing on her disaster medicine experience with the Bali bombings, deployment into Iraq with the RAAF and working through Cyclone Winston in Fiji.
She led the NT’s medical response to Covid-19 and in recent years the successful push to found a stand-alone NT medical school – the first ever – in conjunction with CDU and Menzies School of Medicine.
Funding was finally announced last year for the school after much umming and ahing by the Commonwealth, and is expected to accept its first intake of 20 students in 2026.
106. Elizabeth Morris
The Chief Judge of the Local Court has remained a constant feature in the most powerful list, but has seen a fall in the rankings this time around.
Ms Morris in October fined Parks Australia $200,000 after a walkway was constructed against the advice of traditional owners, exposing a sacred men’s site to the public.
She said not only were the sacred rock artworks visible to the public, but it exposed women and children to the site Jawoyn leaders believed would cause them harm.
A month later, a controversial leaked email revealed a directive approved by Ms Morris, which stated any bail applications in the Alice Springs Local Court not finalised by 3pm would be marked as “not reached and adjourned.”
Prior to her appointment to the Local Court, Ms Morris served as executive director of racing, gaming and licensing, Department of Justice deputy chief executive and as deputy coroner.
As Territory courts brace for an expected record-breaking number of cases after tough on crime reforms put an ‘unsustainable’ pressure on the justice system, all eyes are on Ms Morris.
NT courts expect to see more than 22,000 criminal and domestic violence cases by the end of the 2024-25 financial year, an additional 3394 cases compared to 2023-24.
105. Grahame Webb
The Territory’s resident crocodile expert has again featured among the most powerful.
A zoology researcher and croc extraordinaire, Grahame Webb is a powerful environmental voice among Territorians.
The founder of Crocodylus Park and long-time reptile has made a huge contribution to crocodile management in the NT over the years.
But after a relatively quiet 2024, Mr Webb has climbed up a few rungs from last year’s 27 spot.
104. Dan Richards
Humpty Doo Barra chief executive Dan Richards’ influence can only grow in 2025.
Late 2024, Mr Richards was appointed as a member of the NT government’s Approvals Fast Track Taskforce, a team comprising of eight members and chaired by NT Property Council president Mark Garraway.
The task forces will work on “identifying reforms that can pave the way for a stronger NT economy, driving business growth and unlocking investment opportunities for local businesses”, according to a post by Mr Richards on his LinkedIn.
“I look forward to contributing to this important work and bringing my insights as a local business owner to the task force,” he stated.
Humpty Doo Barra sells between 100-110 tonnes of stock a week, almost exclusively to Australian buyers.
Local outlets selling the product include Wharf One, The Hilton, Shenanigans, The Beachfront, Pink Chopstix, Saffrron, Madame Za and Snapper Rocks.
103. Jason Schoolmeester
With more than a quarter of a century experience in the NT Public Service, Schoolmeester has survived several changes of government, where many others have not.
A Certified Practising Accountant, his first government gig was in the dying days of last century when he was appointed principal analyst, financial management reforms with NT Treasury.
He was made a senior policy officer with the chief minister’s department in 2010 and then when the CLP ousted Labor in 2012, he was appointed major projects director and then executive director of economic development.
He was made Major Projects Commissioner by Michael Gunner in a high-profile 2021 announcement and when the CLP swept Labor aside last year and dumped the commissioner’s model, he was appointed to a general manager’s role with the Office of Territory Co-ordinator.
His fingerprints are all over a number of major NT projects including the Alice Springs to Darwin railway, the Darwin Marine Supply Base and the Northern Gas Pipeline.
He was born in and is now raising a family in the Northern Territory.
102. Cath Hatcher
Despite straying further from the top 100, Cath Hatcher has never shied away from advocating for health care workers in the Territory.
As the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary, Ms Hatcher, along with other health care workers, in April protested the potential toxic health risks of the Middle Arm gas and green energy development.
“The Northern Territory has the highest rates per capita of respirator and cardiac diseases as well as the most preterm births and neonatal deaths … “It is an undeniable fact that poor air quality will intensify these issues,” Ms Hatcher said.
“As it stands, our health system is not coping – at the beginning of this year we had 444 full time equivalent nurse and midwife positions vacant.”
And throughout the year she actively advocated for frontline workers who were constantly “doing it tough”.
“They (specialty roles in the emergency department, intensive care unit and renal centres) are doing the hardest to make sure that every patient is accurately looked after and getting all their needs, and they’re exhausted and they’re tired,” Ms Hatcher said in May.
101. Mark Furlotte
Mark Furlotte migrated from the freezing cold of Canada to the balmy climes of the Northern Territory to head Glencore’s McArthur River Mine operation in late 2022.
Before that he headed Glencore’s zinc division from Ontario, Canada and for seven years was general manager of the conglomerate’s Matagami Mine in Quebec.
A metallurgical engineer by profession, he committed the company to protecting cultural heritage and environmental management at the mine to ensure “McArthur River stays healthy and the fish are safe to eat”.
The company was last year in court for illegally working at a “barramundi dreaming” site without proper Aboriginal Area Protection Authority approvals, a legacy issue Furlotte inherited when he took up the role.
Opened by then Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1995, the 30-year-old zinc mine is expected to play a key role in Australia’s energy transition, with the resource essential in the manufacture of everything from road signs to sunscreen to wind turbines.
100. Tanya Egerton
Tanya Egerton made headlines in 2024 as the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner, recognised for her work in sustainability and community empowerment.
She founded the Remote Opshop Project, an initiative that provides economic opportunities for women in remote Indigenous communities while addressing Australia’s fast fashion waste crisis.
Her vision extends beyond this project.
She is now working to establish a network of Reuse and Recycling hubs across the NT, tackling both environmental and social challenges.
99. Michael Buckley
Michael Buckley is a leading figure in the Territory’s building and construction industry, known for his hands-on leadership and commitment to quality.
As the founder of M+J Builders, he has grown the company into a trusted name, setting high standards for innovation and risk management.
In 2024, his influence was recognised when he was named a finalist for the NT News’ Emerging Leader Award.
That same year, he was also appointed to the CLP Government’s Approvals Fast Track Taskforce, a select group working to cut red tape and accelerate development in the NT.
98. Kat McNamara
Kat McNamara made history in 2024 as the NT Greens’ first-ever Member of Parliament in the Northern Territory, elected to the seat Nightcliff.
She took the seat from former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, and was sworn in on October 15.
In November, McNamara revealed her personal domestic violence survival story as she called for bipartisan action against the “national shame”.
Their progressive voice has garnered a keen following of Territorians who support social justice reform and equality.
With their office in Nightcliff now a hub of activity, McNamara is set to bring a fresh and determined voice to Parliament in 2025.
97. King Stingray
King Stingray’s rise from Arnhem Land to global recognition has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The Yolngu surf-rock band, known for blending indie rock with deep cultural roots, climbed three spots on this year’s list after a massive 2024.
Their sophomore album For the Dreams showcased the band’s growth, and highlighted their dedication to family and culture.
From August to November 2024, they took their sound to North America, playing to crowds of up to 15,000 on a tour across the states and Canada.
With a new band member, Yimila Gurruwiwi, and a national tour set for 2025, King Stingray continues to prove they’re not just a band – they’re a movement, taking Yolngu culture to the world.
96. Len Notaras
Professor Len Notaras has long been a driving force in global health and emergency medical response, and in 2024, his influence only grew.
As Executive Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, he played a pivotal role in shaping crisis response strategies.
Chairing the WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Strategic Advisory Group, he led high-level discussions in Geneva alongside WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, focusing on medical responses to conflicts and disasters in Gaza, Crimea, Sudan, Armenia, and Turkey.
In November, he delivered a keynote at the 6th EMT Global Meeting in Abu Dhabi, earning a standing ovation for his contributions to global health security.
95. David Connolly
David Connolly may have called time on his three-year tenure as president of the NT Cattlemen’s Association, but he’s still a man with his finger on the pulse.
There’s no doubting he’s still one of the Territory’s top pastoralists and farming innovators holding down the fort as the Tipperary Group of Stations general manager since 2015.
Mr Connolly knows the significance of cattle to the NT economy and stands up for the industry every time against what he sees as government blundering or environmental hand-wringing.
He took on Federal Labor in Canberra for its miserly compensation offer to NT cattlemen for the 2011 live export ban, which fell hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars short of what is owed
He’s also been driving the economy in different ways than cattle with the launch of the Western Australia-Northern Territory cotton gin near Katherine in 2023.
94. Pina Somerville and Darren Lynch
As stalwarts of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct for years, Darren Lynch’s and Pina Somerville’s 2024 proved to be another impressive one for Territory business.
Mr Lynch and Ms Somerville, who jointly ranked 106 in 2023’s rankings, currently run Wharf One and Bella Fresh Pasta in the tourism area, as well as the bustling pub on the corner, The Precinct.
In mid-2024, the business partners kicked off their latest venture, the Dock One Bar, an instant hit that further cemented their dominance in the Waterfront’s hospitality scene.
Courtesy of its nifty design, punters at the outpost can opt to sit out over the harbour and down cocktails while nibbling at tapas.
Their adventure tourism brand has also taken off over the years, starting with 00 Seven Jet Ski Adventures at the Waterfront shortly after the pandemic, before growing to quad biking through the Charles Darwin National Park.
As every year, the business partners still have big plans for the Waterfront including a surf park, tropical snorkelling lagoon and new hotels.
93. Gary Clarke
NT racing hall-of-famer Gary Clarke added to his tremendous list of accolades in another very successful 2024 as a trainer.
The trainer was already a legend of the Darwin racing fraternity but made the job of chasing his legacy down even harder when he won his 12th successive champion trainer title.
The reward was the result of 67 wins from 339 race starts, while he was named the Darwin Cup Carnival leading trainer for the 11th time, with 12 winners across the eight day event.
Alongside him in those victories was stable jockey Jarrod Todd, who achieved his fifth straight title and 60 wins for the season, breaking David Bates’ 1997-98 record.
Clarke Racing Stables are a genuine family affair, with wife Sharlene and daughter Ella both playing prominent roles in the business’ continued success, which makes owners and punters very happy.
92. Richard O’Sullivan
Richard O’Sullivan hasn’t shied away from the big roles in recent years, currently serving as the chairman of the NT Licensing Commission.
Previously he held down the role as the Darwin Turf Club chairman, overseeing the club unshackling itself from the $12m grandstand debt to the government.
It did however come at a cost, with $6m in funding to be redirected to regional tracks, a move O’Sullivan suggested would have a great impact on the Darwin club.
91. Lis Clarke
Elisabeth Clarke, known universally as Lis, has been Katherine’s mayor since she stepped in as interim in December 2020.
Ms Clarke is an ever-popular face in the town and her community-focused ideas and style has helped bring Katherine together.
She was a local businesswoman who owned a plant nursery with her husband Ian for 30 years and a landscaping business for 25 years, and as such has a vested interest in the town.
She continues to fight for her township whether it’s during uncertain times such as the Covid-19 pandemic, or when crime threatens to tear apart her isolated community.
After four alleged domestic violence murders in the space of four months in the Big Rivers region she penned a letter to local member Jo Hersey expressing concern on the crime epidemic and accused the CLP of not walking the walk.
90. Athina Pascoe-Bell
Following a busy 2024 headlined by various events and projects, the Lord Mayor of Palmerston has crept up the Most Powerful List by two places.
With almost a decade of experience with the City of Palmerston, Ms Pascoe-Bell has turned her eye to making the east side of the Berrimah Line a cost-friendly, vibrant, location for ratepayers.
Perhaps her most popular decision was to scrap parking meters across Palmerston, saving road users hefty fines and fees.
Palmerston’s potential for growth has even caught the eye of federal figures, with opposition leader Peter Dutton announcing in February he would commit more than $350k to the area if elected, in a bid to improve safety and accessibility.
With Palmerston’s population expected to rise, Ms Pascoe-Bell remains a key figure in shaping the future of greater Darwin.
89. Richard Finch
LNG giant Inpex appointed Richard Finch as general manager of its Northern Territory corporate interests in May 2024.
Mr Finch has worked in senior leadership roles across Inpex supporting offshore and onshore operations, exploration, drilling and logistics since 2013.
He originally came to Darwin for a two year secondment, but has managed to become a Top End mainstay in his past six years at the Ichthys LNG plant on Darwin’s Bladin Point plant.
Mr Finch has embedded himself in the community, becoming standing chair of NT Worksafe’s work health and safety advisory council and is involved in school, football, basketball and netball.
He took over from Stuart Knowles, managing about 600 Territorians who work at the plant.
88. Jinson Charls
Fresh on the political scene, Member for Sanderson Jinson Charls enters the Territory’s Most Powerful list after edging former Environment Minister Kate Worden in last year’s landslide election.
Born in Kerala, India, the former nurse was unveiled as the Territory’s Minister for Sport, Disability, Arts.
Mr Charls has also been given the role of Minister for Veterans, Multicultural Affairs, and Youth and Seniors, making him one of the busiest newly-elected politicians.
Mr Charls also proved his willingness to fly the flag for the Finocchiaro Government early into his political tenure, going toe-to-toe with opposition leader Selena Uibo on Katie Woolfe’s program.
87. Penny Priest
One of the Territory’s most influential tourism leaders, Penny Priest joins the Most Powerful List due to holding down various influential roles.
Juggling responsibilities as Crocosaurus Cove chief executive, Tourism Top End director and NT Major Events director, Ms Priest’s stake in bringing the masses to the Territory cannot be understated.
Ms Priest shapes up to be a key figure behind the Finocchiaro Government’s vision to revitalise the Territory’s tourism sector.
Should Ms Priest help draw big numbers to the Red Centre and Top End, it is probable her ranking could rise next year.
86. Peggy Cheong
The executive director of NT WorkSafe has dropped down the pecking order by almost 30 places, however she remains an authoritative figure in keeping work health and safety across the Territory in check.
Some of the high profile cases which required the expertise of Ms Cheong’s team included Outback Wrangler Matt Wright’s ongoing legal saga, as well as forcing Queensland-based cattle company Vermelha to improve its work conditions on its Katherine station.
Most recently, Ms Cheong’s team saw through the conviction of Darwin Construction Company Kalidonis NT Pty Ltd in relation to the death of a worker who died on the job at a barge landing in Maningrida.
The company is now contesting its fine.
85. Craig Trezise
Craig Trezise is a born and bred Territorian committed to helping Darwin grow in both his roles as managing director at Ausblok and as chairman of the Darwin Turf Club.
Mr Trezise has been with Ausblok for the past decade, a firm that both manufactures masonry products and services commercial and private building industries in the NT and beyond.
He’s also an administrator on the sport side of things previously serving as the chairman of the Darwin Basketball Association.
More recently he’s taken on the role as chairperson of the Darwin Turf Club, guiding the club into a new era after a period of turmoil for the board.
Mr Trezise took over the role in 2023 and has already overseen two Darwin Cup Carnivals and the return of the Gala Ball to the Mindil Beach Casino.
84. Sam Burke
As the husband of Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and the son of former Chief Minister Denis Burke, Sam Burke is certainly well-connected in the halls of power.
But the Northern Territory’s First Gentleman holds significant sway in his own right, as deputy chief executive of the Waterfront Corporation – one of the Top End’s most lucrative and well-known hotspots for business, accommodation and events.
Mr Burke also sits on the board of Place Leaders Asia Pacific, helping to improve public spaces across the region.
83. David Ciaravolo
Chief executive of the NT Amateur Fishermen’s Association David Ciaravolo leads the Territory’s peak body on all matters recreational fishing.
With one in three Territorians regularly wetting a line, recreational fishing should not be underestimated in its influence on the local economy and lifestyle.
Mr Ciaravolo represents the Territory’s multimillion-dollar fisheries sector, dealing with all levels of government and the private sector.
He can take no small amount of credit for both sides of politics committing to gillnet fishing bans – a cause long-championed by AFANT.
82. Charlie King
Charlie King’s expertise both on and off the field makes him one of the most respected names in sport, both in the Territory and across Australia.
Mr King is a veteran sports broadcaster, and as a Gurindji man became the first Indigenous Australian to commentate at an Olympic Games in 2008.
He’s also a dedicated human rights campaigner, founding the zero-tolerance domestic violence campaign ‘NO MORE’.
In 2015, Mr King was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to broadcast media and the Indigenous community, and in 2019 was named NT Senior Australian of the Year.
81. Glen Hingley
Mr Hingley missed out on a spot in last year’s Most Powerful list due to a brief stint defecting to Far North Queensland.
He’s now back in the Territory and has secured a position comfortably within the top 100 thanks to a new role leading Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce as interim general manager.
It’s at a time the Chamber is undertaking a major strategic review, meaning Mr Hingley has a chance to make a lasting mark on the influential business lobby.
We also have to credit Mr Hingley (and his former team) for developing the NT Cruise Tourism Strategy 2022-25 when he was Tourism Top End general manager.
The Top End has posted record cruise ship numbers in the past years, with even larger take-up expected in 2025, bringing real dollars into the NT economy.
80. Darlene Chin and Darryl Thomas
After literally cleaning up just about every challenge thrown at them in 2024, Darlene Chin and Darryl Thomas have proven they are well-placed to take on the new year.
With partner Mr Thomas, Ms Chin is a co-director in Thomas Chin Pty Ltd, the Territory’s fine wine merchants.
Combining their professional interests, the pair opened a bottleshop, Liquor Down Under, on Spain Place in 2022, known for its off-shelf and unusual brands.
Ms Chin, the owner of one of Darwin’s best-known and oldest retailers, Attitude for Men, had her fair share of catastrophe in 2024.
In November, the owner woke to a call from police after one of the glass doors at the vast facade at the front of the men’s fashion shop was smashed by vandals.
Security vision showed three teenagers first trying to shake open the door before kicking it and eventually throwing a rock.
The incident was the second to happen to the store in 18 months – the first involved a car that had rammed into the store a year prior.
Despite the setbacks, Ms Chin’s belief in Darwin is still there for all to see, with the stunning two storey shopfront she constructed in 2017 on display to all city-goers.
Blinging with 15cm glass and stainless steel, the building, like the retail experience inside, is always worth a return visit.
79. Russel Goldflam
Since being appointed to the chairman of the Liquor Commission in 2023, Russell Goldflam’s influence in the Territory has continued to brew.
He skyrocketed from number 109 on the 2022 list up to number 22 in 2023 after he was appointed to his new post.
In December, Mr Goldlam cancelled the liquor license at Wycliffe Well roadhouse – a site once seen as a pilgrimage for UFO hunters in Australia.
It was not the first time that year the Commission had attempted to withdraw the liquor license at Wycliffe Well.
It is believed he told the owners of the site as early as March to surrender the license.
Additionally, the Commissioner in September took action against a Red Centre bar, Jump Inn Craft Beer Bar, which resulted in a fine, an order for no more “happy hour” promotions and other measures.
Mr Goldflam previously served as the principal legal officer for the NT Legal Aid Commission’s Alice Springs office from 2001 to 2018 and the head of the NT’s Criminal Lawyer Association from 2011 to 2017.
Mr Goldflam served as a member of the Liquor Commission for five years after he retired from legal practice in 2018 while continuing to work as a policy officer for Legal Aid NT.
He resigned from this post upon taking up the chairmanship of the Liquor Commission.
78. John Halkitis
Son of the late Territory legend Mihalis, Veteran builder John Halkitis heads HB Group, one of the Northern Territory’s longest standing and impactful civil works companies.
In the company’s more than 60 years of life, HB has expanded from 20 to 150 staff under Mr Halkitis’ leadership, and continues to undertake crucial projects across the Territory, including mining, earthmoving, residential and commercial development.
Under Mr Halkitis’ leadership, HB has sought to remain environmentally friendly, with the commissioning of solar power generation at key production sites and the reduction of waste across all its divisions.
Since 1960, HB has been closely involved in Darwin’s local community, being sponsors of Palmerston’s Variety Special, sponsors of football clubs and the Lion’s Club Children’s Film Festival.
77. Randazzo family
With continued momentous contributions to the Territory dating back more than 70 years still being made, the Randazzo family have shown no indication they’re going to stop their investment any time soon.
Ahead of the 2024 NT Election, the Randazzo’s made sizeable donations of $52,000 to Territory Labor and $50,000 to the Country Liberal Party.
Behind Randazzo Investments, which includes numerous commercial premises in Darwin such as 66 Smith St in Darwin, Highway House in Palmerston and the Randazzo Centre, is Tony Randazzo – father of Carlo and Paolo.
Only a handful of Territorians were in business when first cousins Tony, now deceased, and Charlie arrived here in the early 1950s.
Charlie, now aged in his 80s, was behind Randazzo C&G Developments, which owns a suite of CBD and other properties.
C&G Developments has a number of premises upgrades in the wings over the next few years.
76. Jape family
When Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975, it brought an extended period of occupancy to our nearest neighbour.
The aftermath of the takeover: A beneficial wave of immigration to the Northern Territory.
Jape Kong Su was one of dozens of Chinese-East Timorese who fled for their lives after Indonesia’s crackdown.
Shortly after migrating, he started Jape.
Now one of the Territory’s most recognisable brands, Jape Homemaker Village is about the closest Darwin has to a southern-style shopping mall, with a broad range of retail outlets servicing the Territory from footwear to futons.
It began in 1977 when the family purchased Hotel Singapore in Fannie Bay, where the retail business began as a homegrown entity selling locally made timber furniture in Cavenagh St.
Since East Timor won back its independence in 2002, the Japes have opened the country’s largest shopping centre and have contributed to its post-Indonesian reconstruction.
As well as East Timor and Darwin, Jape Homemaker Village also has operations in Adelaide.
75. Paspaley
As if there was any doubt about it, the Territory’s richest homegrown corporation continues to shine among the NT’s most powerful for another year.
The Paspaley family arrived in Australia as refugees from Greece after World War I and began harvesting pearls across Northern Australia, including Darwin.
While more than 40 per cent of the business’ turnover is pearling related, the company – now led by Nicholas Paspaley Jr – has branched out into aviation, retail, pastoral holdings and commercial property over the years.
With an estimated value of more than $1bn, the luxury retailer has been the face of the pearling industry for generations, and it’s like it will be for many years to come.
While not losing its lustre, Paspaley has slightly dipped from its placing of 63 in 2023.
74. Greg Troughton
Greg Troughton has crossed the one-year mark of his tenure as chief executive of the NT Farmers Association.
The Cyclone Tracy survivor was raised in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek and travelled to Darwin that fateful Christmas.
He’s been part of the woodwork ever since, working as TIO’s general counsel, as the chief executive at CouncilBiz and as chief executive at Real Estate Institute South Australia.
Now he’s the boss of the half-a-billion dollar farming sector representing plant based growers including mango and melon producers, as well as the cotton industry.
He was a big supporter of moves by the NT Government to make it harder for green or heritage activists to block commercial developments.
And in looking for ways to grow the industry and push its products further afield he has thrown his support behind a new Qatar Airways route that could open Darwin to the Middle East.
73. Scott Lovett
Having met and worked with everyone from US President Barack Obama to rock star Jon Bon Jovi, Scott Lovett has dedicated his professional life to unearthing the Territory’s economic potential.
Mr Lovett has served as the NT’s Tourism, Services and Hospitality Deputy Chief Executive, and his corporate experience has spanned from Alice Springs - where he began life in the Territory - to Darwin, where he now leads a team tasked with bringing domestic and international visitors en masse.
In September, Mr Lovett oversaw the Territory’s ambitious decision to send a week-long trade mission to China with a view to drawing the interest of superpower.
At the time, Mr Lovett said China had been identified as a clear target for the Territory in the years to come.
72. Darryl Cuzubbo
With the Finocchiaro Government pushing hard to unlock the Territory’s natural resources, the chief executive of Arafura Rare Earth Ltd looms as one of the Territory’s big players going into 2025 and beyond.
With the Arafura project having hung in uncertainty for a decade, Mr Cuzubbo’s team are expected to make big decisions under a Country Liberal Government that has pledged to bolster the mining sector.
Of note, the change of government has particularly rocketed Mr Cuzubbo’s power potential, who did not feature in last year’s Most Powerful List.
Mr Cuzubbo could find himself at the centre of a significant mining breakthrough in 2025 drawing up his extensive experience in the resources and manufacturing sector.
71. Stuart Kenny
Stuart Kenny has experience in agriculture, defence, oil and gas, and manufacturing and has now catapulted into the Most Powerful List.
He didn’t feature on last year’s list, but the managing director of Territory Instruments has worked in the Territory for more than 20 years and has held several senior executive roles.
Mr Kenny has overseas experience to his name and now serves as the director of the ICN NT and is also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce NT.
However, in 2025, Mr Kenny is expected to keep himself busy with Territory Instruments’ significant potential in delivering products and services to sectors in aviation, health and gas.
70. Marion Scrymgour
The federal election is just around the corner and as such Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour has climbed in the power rankings, jumping more than 20 places.
With a plethora of political experience under her belt, Ms Scrymgour has grown accustomed to the rigours of being an elected official.
In 2001, Ms Scrymgour entered the NT Parliament in a barnstorming win for Labor led by Clare Martin.
Ms Scrymgour went on to become deputy chief minister before turning her back on the party following fierce disagreement about town camp funding.
After serving several years as chief executive of the Tiwi Islands Regional Council, and another two as chief executive of Northern Land Council, Ms Scrymgour became Labor’s pick to represent Lingiari.
Ms Scrymgour will go head-to-head with CLP candidate Lisa Siebert at this year’s election.
69. Judith Kelly
Appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of the NT in 2009, Justice Judith Kelly AO continues her accomplished legal career and therefore retains her place among the Territory’s Most Powerful – ranked at 70 last year.
Justice Kelly has developed a reputation for having a stance on issues plaguing the region having previously described the Territory’s domestic violence scene an “epidemic”.
As a member of the NT Law Reform Committee, Justice Kelly also took part in formulating a report recommending the Territory adopt a controversial affirmative consent model for sexual offences last year.
68. Tony Crowe
The NRL NT continues to go from strength to strength firming the sport as among the most dominant in the Top End Dry season.
Participation numbers continue to grow as Tony Crowe enters his fourth year as general manager of the code in the Northern Territory.
He has more than 30 years’ experience at community rugby league level, including a seven year stint at NRL WA where he was the operations manager.
The women’s game in particular is going to new heights as they mix it with the best in the country while some Territory players are at the Las Vegas Nines.
The Darwin competition is now streamed across the country as the drive for competitiveness continues while the Gove tournament has returned.
67. Anya Lorimer
Even if you’ve never heard of her, you’ve certainly seen her work.
Anya Lorimer is one of the top names in branding, marketing and communications in the Territory, as the director of Campaign Edge Sprout.
She was the brains behind some of the most iconic Territory brands including PowerWater, City of Darwin and TIO.
Ms Lorimer is also chairwoman of Activate Darwin, helping to encourage local events and businesses to create a vibrant city.
66. Matt Paterson
Whether it’s pushing government for better a response in relation to crime or stripping to his budgie smugglers for better routes, Matt Paterson does what he can for the betterment of Alice Springs.
Crime is, and has, for a long time been the big cloud looming over the Central Australian town and one he hasn’t shied away from confronting.
Mr Paterson has pushed for more police, and even federal support during particularly bad parts of the pandemic, and hasn’t pulled punches when taking on those he believes he could do more.
It makes for what has been a busy and a hard period to tackle for the man who was elected the youngest mayor of the Red Centre capital when he was voted in as a 30-year-old in 2021.
Outside of tackling crime, Mr Paterson wants Alice Springs to be a place people want to visit, and more importantly a place they want to stay as they revitalise the CBD.
And it’s how he tackles those big ticket items over the next few months that will play a large role in the result of the forthcoming election.
65. Nigel Browne
He may be down slightly from his previous listing of 32 but there’s no doubt its been another big and influential year for Nigel Browne.
The long-time head of the Larrakia Development Corporation is now also the chief executive of Aboriginal Investment NT.
The Canberra-funded investment body provides capital to organisations, businesses and projects to develop an income generation for Aboriginal people.
Mr Browne has worked as a solicitor, police adviser and crown prosecutor, as well as sitting on various boards or committees.
He has also been the chief executive at the LDC since 2013, having started with the corporation in 2005, and is a Director on the Board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
The LDC opposed a residential development at Lee Point and more recently has been questioned on their position on a proposed hotel at the Darwin Waterfront, which is subject to a sacred site claim.
64. Louise McCormick
Louise McCormick was recently promoted to head up the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, meaning she oversees billions of dollars of spending on transport, housing, prisons, hospitals, land development, and more.
As the CLP Government drives widespread reform across many of these sectors, Ms McCormick will be a key player in shaping the future of the Territory – helped in no small part by the reputation she gained as former Infrastructure Commissioner.
Ms McCormick is also chair of the Austroads Board and is the first woman to hold the role.
She represents transport agencies across all levels of government in both Australia and New Zealand.
63. Luis Espinoza
Luis Espinoza heads up the Northern Territory branch of the Housing Industry Association, representing the country’s residential building industry.
Housing is a hot-button issue both at the Territory and federal level, making the HIAs role in the debate more central than ever.
Mr Espinoza has been in the role for almost four years, and with the change of government, has renewed focus on lobbying for housing development as a driver of economic growth.
62. Dr Rob Parker
Robert Parker has championed the wellbeing of Territorians for more than a decade, helping advocate for medical staff and patients in an increasingly burdened healthcare system.
The Australian Medical Association NT president and Royal Darwin Hospital director of psychiatry continues to hold a prominent position in our most powerful list as the health system grapples with understaffing, budget issues, and acute strain on hospitals.
Both in the media spotlight and behind the scenes, Dr Parker is a respected voice for change.
His relevance is unlikely to go anywhere, with the Territory’s private maternity services in doubt, and turmoil at RDH after a senior staff member was charged with serious sexual offences.
61. Gavin Dovey
Gavin Dovey has made a big leap up the list after a successful second year in his role as the chief executive of NT Cricket.
A lot of that is owed to the work the former Australian team manager of 11 years has done in bringing top class talent to the Territory.
The 2024 edition of the Top End Series was the biggest yet with Big Bash teams filled with international talent coming up to take on the NT Strike, as well as Pakistan and Bangladesh.
It was a tournament that allowed Territory talent to learn from Tim Paine, D’Arcy Short and Jake Weatherald while taking on the likes of Scott Boland and Jhye Richardson.
The contest was bolstered by the inclusion of a drop-in wicket at TIO Stadium, allowing the game to return to the Top End’s premier ground for the first time in 15 years.
The local competition had another big year and is now pushing for sustained growth in the women’s divisions.
But crucially, and it was a point Justin Langer supported on a recent visit, there are rumblings of the return of international cricket to the Territory.
60. Lloyd Babb
As the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Northern Territory since 2022, Lloyd Babb SC plays a crucial role in shaping the Territory’s justice system.
However, ongoing challenges within the Darwin Local Court system, including significant delays and mounting caseloads, have placed his office under scrutiny in 2024.
His handling of high-profile prosecutorial decisions, including cases dismissed due to insufficient evidence, has also drawn criticism and raised concerns about the efficiency of the system.
Once ranked #55 in 2023, Mr Babb has slipped to #60 this year as mounting court delays and prosecutorial controversies chip away at his standing in the legal hierarchy.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Babb remains a key figure in the Territory’s legal landscape, and his influence on the justice system will continue to be closely watched.
59. Cathryn Tilmouth
Cathryn Tilmouth is another newcomer to the Most Powerful List.
In her capacity as NT Minerals Council executive director, Ms Tilmouth is one of Northern Australia’s leading voices when it comes to efficiency on approving projects.
Expected to work closely with the Finocchiaro Government, Ms Tilmouth understands the ins and outs of the political world first-hand, having served as a Labor government adviser for almost two decades.
Since then, Ms Tilmouth completed a stint with energy giants Santos before taking up her current role in 2022.
With the Finocchiaro Government promising to unlock the Territory’s natural resources potential, Ms Tilmouth’s advocacy on issues of policy could prove decisive in achieving breakthrough for the mining sector.
58. Justin de Meilon
Justin de Meillon plays a crucial role in the region’s economy as general manager of Newmont’s Tanami operations at the Granites Gold Mine, one of the Territory’s most significant mining operations.
Under his leadership the mine produces an impressive 500,000 ounces of gold annually, with ongoing expansion set to extend its lifespan to at least 2040.
Mr de Meillon has been a driving force in strengthening partnerships with Indigenous communities, ensuring traditional owners benefit from the mine’s success while supporting cultural preservation.
His influence in the resources sector, combined with his commitment to local engagement and economic development, cements his place on this year’s Most Powerful List.
With mining remaining a pillar of the NT’s economy, his decisions will continue to shape the industry’s future in the years to come.
57. Sam Gibson
Sam Gibson continues to govern the Territory’s biggest sport after almost four seasons overseeing the premier competition, the NTFL.
The former Tennis NT leader has overseen continued success in the role quickly jumping into the top job after joining the AFLNT as Stadium, Facilities and Government Manager.
Participation numbers continue to grow across Northern Territory footy, particular in the women’s and junior’s spaces, while big names make the trip up to play in Darwin each year.
Mr Gibson has continued to support AFLNT’s relationship with the NT News and KommunityTV allowing the publication to exclusively live broadcast NTFL matches both locally and across the country.
The partnership entered its fifth season for the 2024-25 edition of the NTFL showing the talent apparent in the Territory competition.
The question looming over footy in the Territory continues to be that 20th licence, but the continued partnership with the Gold Coast Suns and now AFLW matches coming back the groundwork is being done.
56. Paul Ah Chee
A prominent Aboriginal leader and tourism advocate, Paul Ah Chee has long been a driving force in promoting Indigenous culture and tourism in the Northern Territory.
Recently appointed as Chair of the Tourism NT Board, Mr Ah Chee’s leadership is expected to shape the Territory’s tourism strategy for years to come.
His extensive resume includes roles as director of the Alice Springs Desert Park, AFL Central Australia, and the South Australian Museum, as well as chairing the Aboriginal Tourism Committee.
A founding member of the NT Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council, he has been instrumental in elevating Indigenous voices and experiences within the sector.
With tourism a key economic pillar for the NT, his influence in steering its future secures him a well-earned place on this year’s Most Powerful List.
55. James Pratt
With decades of public service at a number of Territory agencies on his CV, James Pratt found his professional sweet spot in 2016 when he was appointed to lead the hydraulic fracturing taskforce that prepared the ground for the re-emergence of an onshore gas industry here.
A senior officer with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade when he won the gong – now the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade – his award citation praised his “subsequent work in the formation of the independent scientific panel, delivery of the taskforce report and the implementation of regulatory reform has been exemplary”.
“His strong work ethic, rigorous attention to detail, and honest, frank approach helped industry keep abreast of the implementation process while also allowing for balanced, rigorous debate,” the citation said.
“James led the team through significant complex legislative amendments, engaging across
government and industry.
“The result of his expertise, diligence and dedication is the commencement of a sustainable onshore gas industry.”
The work of the public service in driving legislative and regulatory reform is not given enough credit – but Mr Pratt’s efforts while blocking out the white noise of greenies and dealing with an ambivalent Labor government – was substantial.
In his spare time he is a director of the Tennis NT board and also on the board of the NT Racing Appeals Tribunal.
54. Grant Wilson
While he doesn’t yet have a project in the Northern Territory, Grant Wilson has assembled a stellar team to lead his company, Tivan, which grew out of the ashes of a corporate takeover of wannabe miner TNG in early 2023.
At the extraordinary general meeting that approved the bloodless corporate coup, 99.3 per cent of shareholders endorsed Mr Wilson’s appointment as executive chairman – he is major shareholder after all – and the name change.
Since then he’s hit the ground running, switching the company’s focus from Mt Peake’s supposed vanadium-titanium riches, that TNG was never able to commercialise, to fluorite assets in Western Australia and Central Australia’s Sandover region.
Beyond Fluorite, Mr Wilson has high hopes for the Sandover, currently exploring for silver, copper and potentially lithium as well.
A former hedge fund manager and columnist for the Financial Review, Mr Wilson has attracted big names to the board of publicly listed Tivan, including former Reserve Bank deputy governor and high-profile Fortescue departee Guy Debelle.
Wilson ultimately aspires to developing a green manufacturing plant at Middle Arm although if that happens, it will be a long way off.
53. Cathy Simmonds
Cathy Simmonds took over as the Hospitality NT chief executive late in 2024, replacing Alex Bruce, who had been in the role for seven years.
Ms Simmonds previously worked for former Territory Infrastructure Minister Joel Bowden and now Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen.
She brings with her plenty of experience in leadership, policy and building strong relationships, which will be integral in her new role.
The hospitality sector contributes almost $430m to the Territory economy and employs more than 17,000 workers.
Hospitality NT said she was a standout candidate from a competitive field of applicants with a proven track record of driving change within government and has an in-depth understanding of politics.
52. Jason Butcher
If any Territory sporting body made big moves in 2024 it was Hockey NT spearheaded by Jason Butcher.
The NT has a long and storied history with hockey, with Nova Peris winning Olympic gold and more recent national teams having the likes of Brooke Peris and Jeremy Hayward in their arsenal.
However, despite that history and the strength of young and upcoming players still produced in the Top End the Territory Stingers were turned down in their bid to join Hockey One.
Butcher showed the Territory’s resilience to that dismissal and managed to get the Territory Stingers a place in the Malaysian Hockey League instead, only months later.
The men’s and women’s teams fought it out against the best teams in Malaysia and with strong government backing came away with some wins to their name and experiences to remember.
The Festival of Hockey, as well as the local competition, continues to produce excitement while the peak body continues to seek opportunities to put the Stingers into the national tournament.
51. Mark Garraway
Mark Garraway has rocketed into the Most Powerful List after not featuring in last year’s edition.
Unanimously voted President of Property Council NT in 2019, Mr Garraway now also chairs a special “fast track taskforce” which was set up by NT Treasurer Bill Yan in January.
Tasked with working alongside the government to identify barriers and problematic red tape, Mr Garraway now leads a team capable of shaping the Finocchiaro Government’s understanding and decision making around boosting business in the Territory.
For the 15,500 small businesses across the Territory, Mr Garrway and his tight-knit taskforce could prove to be pivotal in unearthing new-found fortune.
50. Damien Moriarty
With an interesting family background that included attending school in the United States, Damien Moriarty ran Territory building company Kalo Group from 2020 until last October, when he stepped into the role of Master Builders NT’s chief executive.
Since then he’s set about re-engaging the organisation with the building sector after its
previous leadership pivoted to more of a Defence focused-role.
Interesting, informed and outspoken, Mr Moriarty recently whacked Defence Housing Australia for its failure to deliver the Lee Point project and its preference for Townsville over Darwin.
For nine years from 2010 he was executive director of Killarney Homes and was chairman of the NT Architects Board from 2017 to 2020.
He was a long time contributor to the NT’s racing sector with a long stint at Darwin Turf Club before former Chief Minister Michael Gunner smashed a wrecking ball into the organisation, which has still not recovered.
His mission at Master Builders NT is clear and simple: to support the success of members and help the construction industry grow and thrive.
49. Stephen Sewell
Few had a year quite as gamechanging as newly appointed Chief Fire Officer Stephen Sewell, who has rocketed to 49 in 2024.
After serving in the role of Acting Chief Fire Officer for most of 2024, Mr Sewell has recently been appointed to the top job.
Before securing the top job, Mr Sewell served in various regiments of the Australian Army from 1989 before joining the NTFRS in 2009.
In 2020, Mr Sewell served as an assistant fire chief for six months before being appointed the deputy chief fire officer that same year.
He’s been recognised for his service with several prestigious awards, including the Australian Fire Service Medal, the International Force East Timor Medal, the Afghanistan Medal and the Iraq Medal.
In the new year, Mr Sewell’s focus is on bringing back stability and leadership to the at-times unstable service.
“I hope it provides the stability for the fire service to have a new chief fire officer; one of my top priorities … will be to recruit deputy fire officers and then we’ll look at the growth that is needed,” he told this masthead.
“My focus will be on maintaining the safety of our communities, supporting our dedicated firefighters and further strengthening our operation capabilities.”
48. Klaus Helms
NT Senior Australian of the Year in 2014, 11-years on Klaus Helms is still serving the community he first joined 50 years ago.
His award citation written at the time is no less relevant a decade later.
“A Nhulunbuy veteran, Klaus Helms has worked in many worlds,” it said.
“A former driller, corporate adviser and government business manager, Klaus has devoted the best part of 40 years to improving the lives of the local Indigenous community and promoting reconciliation.
“At just 17, Klaus arrived on the Nhulunbuy airstrip for the first time, was given a bag of bauxite, a tent and told ‘you’re camping there’.
“He worked for all the mining players in the region, and when others flew out to recharge their batteries, Klaus would go bush. Klaus established strong relationships with the Yolngu people, and today is the Chief Executive Officer of the Gumatj Corporation, which is focused on developing sustainable industry through harnessing natural resources of North East Arnhem Land.
“Klaus has a long-term vision to secure the community’s economic independence, and has been instrumental in establishing projects such as cattle farming, meat production, timber mills and fishing operations to reduce the cost of living in the communities.”
He almost secured an international space base too, which through no fault of his, recently blasted off to FNQ.
47. Ruth Palmer
The Property Council NT’s executive director, Ruth Palmer, has had another massive year of advocacy in the Territory.
In July, Ms Palmer was a key advocate for stronger police resourcing and effectiveness, sharing that most business operators across the Territory felt unsafe, according to a survey.
“Like last year (2023), our results highlight the urgent need for effective measures to ensure community safety and economic stability,” Ms Palmer said.
In late November, Ms Palmer took a significant step forward for the Property Council of Australia’s NT division by opening a new joint office with Simple Finance Solutions in Fannie Bay.
The lack of housing in the NT is another key concern for Ms Palmer, who is worried about the damages a potential housing shortage could have on workforce growth.
Her advocacy has previously persuaded the government to establish a Northern Australian Housing Alliance.
46. David Slama
Australian Energy Producers NT director David Slama is the public face of the Territory’s gas industry as it continues to be developed against a backdrop of naysaying, nimbyism and negativity.
Mr Slama was appointed to the role in November 2022, returning to a key Territory industry role after 14 months as executive director of NT Major Projects from November 2019.
A former gas fitter who did an apprenticeship with the South Australian Gas Company in the 1990s Mr Slama understands the importance of the industry for job and skills creation and its significance to growing the Territory economy.
An alderman in Adelaide between 2014 and 2018, he’s a polished performer with a microphone and at a recent industry conference, spelt out the dilemma faced trying to get gas projects worth up to $800m in the Territory out of the ground.
“Activist groups have weaponised legal challenges, stalling critical projects, costing millions,
and jeopardising the NT’s energy security,” he said.
“The Pepper recommendation from March 2018 is blatantly abused to sabotage projects.
Nearly 20 unnecessary challenges lost, at the expense of the tax payer and the investors.”
In 2013 Slama achieved what had previously seemed impossible, persuading a Labor chief
minister, Eva Lawler, to don an ‘NT Gas for Territorians” cap.
45. Yingiya Guyula
Bumping up one position in the rankings, Member for Mulka Yingiya Guyula retains his place among the Territory’s most powerful.
The Independent made no secret of where he stood regarding the Finocchiaro Government’s vision to tackle crime after retaining his seat with a whopping 75 per cent vote at the election.
As the Country Liberal Party started to roll out a suite of new legislation, Mr Guyula urged longrassers to return to country, citing “bad laws” that he claimed would adversely affect the Indigenous community.
Amid the Territory’s soaring incarceration rates, Mr Guyula also revealed he had approached the United Nations to provide oversight of the conditions being experienced by First Nations people in jail.
44. Warren Ebert
A Brisbane-based fund manager might seem an unlikely inclusion in the upper-echelons of the NT’s most powerful list, but Warren Ebert and Sentinel Property Group are among the biggest – if not the biggest – commercial property owners in the Territory.
Sentinel’s Territory portfolio has grown exponentially since it began investing in the Territory in 2017 and now contains a suite of Top End assets including public service offices in Parap, the CasCom building at Casuarina and The Herbarium in Palmerston.
A regular visitor to Darwin – they bought a CBD apartment a few years ago – the jewel in Sentinel’s NT crown is undoubtedly Casuarina Square, for which the company paid in excess of $400m in 2022.
Sentinel is now and investing about $50m upgrading the centre to improve customer security and amenity.
With more purchases expected in 2025, Sentinel and Ebert’s investment in Territory assets could top $700m by year’s end.
As well as business, Ebert takes a keen interest in federal politics – his farm shares a fence line with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton – and is close to the Territory’s political rising star Jacinta Price.
43. Colemans
The Coleman family is back – in a big way – in Darwin CBD’s hospitality scene after putting most of its efforts into Top End suburban venues in recent years.
Investments in Landmark@Gateway in Palmerston and Breezes at Muirhead had kept the company occupied since offloading its cornerstone pub, Shenannigans, in 2017.
The Coleman family started trading as Darwin’s first commercial printer in 1954, but the expansion into hospitality began almost 40 years later when they opened the hugely successful Irish-themed pub Shenannigans in 1996.
Darwin CBD was at a low ebb at the time of the 2017 sale to the Dixon Group, but in partnership with builders DCOH, Coleman’s have invested more than $25m developing the old cinema complex on Mitchell Street into The Cinema Collective.
Consisting of the city’s two newest venues, Flicks and Sweethearts, the Collective also has the
exclusive BOH function room and there is more space including empty cinemas they hope to
commercialise one day.
The Colemans’ return to Darwin’s CBD was a welcome investment in confidence as well as cash, when others had turned their backs on the capital city.
Here’s hoping their optimism is matched by a similar resurgence in the laggardly NT economy.
42. Kon Vatskalis
There’s certainly no denying the power Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis wields.
A former Labor politician, Mr Vatskalis, who ranked 77 on last year’s list, has never shied away from standing up for what he believes in – even if that means attracting criticism.
Many in the community strongly criticised Mr Vatskalis in 2024 for the decision to move forward with the Cyclone Tracy kinetic sculpture, known as Coriolis at Bundilla Beach.
“The monument … will provide a space for collective grieving, remembrance and healing”, Mr Vatskalis said at the time.
The proposal to build a new council civic centre – a development that would cost the City of Darwin about $77m – also attracted criticism from the public towards the back-end of the year.
The current civic centre, which is about 65-years-old and being kept up to modern standards through repetitive and expensive “bandaid” fixes, has been rendered unusable in recent years, Mr Vatskalis said.
As September came around, the City of Darwin rolled out their Bundilla Beach master plan, a major redevelopment that will see a new dog park, public greenery and more added to the Darwin beach.
The second stage of the Bundilla redevelopment plan is set to come to fruition in May, 2025, with all eyes on Mr Vatskalis.
Now bidding for a third mayoral term in the upcoming council election, Mr Vatskalis is hoping he can retain his position for one last ride.
41. Josh Burgoyne
The Member for Braitling has climbed almost 50 ranks from last year after securing his seat for a second term.
The born-and-bred Alice Springs local holds a number of key portfolios, including Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment; Corporate and Digital Development; and Water Resources.
Despite being in his mid-30s, Mr Burgoyne has become an established and familiar face in Territory politics, having first been elected in 2020.
Now at the coalface of being in government, Mr Burgoyne has quickly adapted to being the face of development, having already approved a mammoth apartment proposal in his hometown, as well as standing by his decision to roll out new “world class” environmental measures.
40. Luke Gosling
Luke Gosling will be looking to break the record for holding the federal seat of Solomon this year.
The defence veteran has co-authored important bills such as the Restoring Territory Rights Bill in 2022, and doggedly pursued a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
While a federal election is yet to be called at the time of writing, Mr Gosling will be coming into it with a laser focus on retaining his patch against the CLP’s Lisa Bayliss.
Whether it’s reiterating the Territory’s role in important foreign policy decisions or pushing for Aldi to make a move to the NT, a federal election win will only see his power grow in 2025.
39. Chris Hosking
A newcomer in this year’s list, Chris Hosking has been diligently working his way into power behind the scenes for years now.
Now at the helm of NT Health as the chief executive, Mr Hosking was previously the chief executive of the Department of Corporate and Digital Development.
Mr Hosking got the promotion once the CLP swept to power in the 2024 Territory election, and has since been at the helm of a busy department dealing with a multitude of issues including short staffing.
He will be further tested this year when the Territory government’s flagship Acacia system rolls out to Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
The patient health record system has been riddled with issues and is currently back in development after a bumpy start to its roll-out in RDH and Palmerston EDs.
How Mr Hosking deals with these challenges and more will be a true test of his power – and may result in him rising through the ranks if he gets it right.
38. Darren Clark
A divisive figure, but one whose influence within Alice Springs - and the Territory - cannot be denied.
A long-term Alice Springs and bakery owner, Darren Clark also runs the anti-crime Facebook page Action For Alice 2020.
With an aim to highlight the ongoing crime crisis in Alice Springs and up to the Top End, Mr Clark has drawn the attention of high level media personalities and politicians.
Mr Clark’s page turned Australia’s eyes to the Red Centre with unflinching documentation of stolen cars being driven through Alice Springs, property damage, and more.
His page has not been without controversy, with opponents accusing the page of ruining the town’s reputation and spreading fear and misinformation.
Mr Clark has refuted this point, and maintains his page is a voice for the victims of crime.
With hundreds of thousands of followers and posts and videos garnering millions of views, there is no denying Mr Clark and his page are a loud force to be reckoned with.
37. Malarndirri McCarthy
A journalist turned politician, Malarndirri McCarthy finds herself heading into a federal election as the country’s Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Finding herself with the ministerial position after Linda Burney left the job in 2024, Ms McCarthy has made her voice heard since taking up the role last year.
The Yanyuwa woman and senator has brought Territory issues to the forefront in parliament at a federal level since 2016.
And with a federal election coming up, she’ll be looking to make sure she can continue to do so for another four years.
36. Danial Rochford
Danial Rochford has led the Red Centre’s independent tourism authority for just under five years, and has been instrumental in ensuring tourism operators have their voices heard.
Mr Rochford took on the role during the height of the Covid pandemic and has steered Tourism Central Australia through a myriad of challenges.
When Alice Springs confronts and deals with issues such as crime in the town, Mr Rochford makes sure the voices of the town’s tour operators are in those discussions.
Looking into 2025, Mr Rochford has been instrumental in some big changes coming to Alice Springs.
While a new campaign is launched encouraging punters to share their “stories from the heart” about the town, Mr Rochford will be diligently working behind the scenes ironing out a massive shift for the organisation – they’ll be moving from their Todd Mall office into the Alice Springs library.
And with bookings in the Red Centre already up for 2025, it’s beginning to look like some of that hard work is paying off.
35. Robyn Lambley
Robyn Lambley is a political stalwart in the Red Centre.
Holding the seat of Araluen since 2010, and retaining it at the last election as independent, Ms Lambley has long advocated for the betterment of Alice Springs.
She’s the Speaker of the House in the Territory’s parliament, and a speaker of her mind on key issues affecting her electorate.
Scrutinising all sides of politics in the way only an independent is capable of doing, Ms Lambley isn’t afraid to have her say on any issue.
And with another four years at the helm of her Alice Springs electorate, the people are guaranteed to have a powerful advocate for them throughout 2025.
34. Leanne Liddle
The first Aboriginal woman to join the South Australian police force has set her sights on reforming the NT Police and addressing racism from within.
The Arrernte woman was the Aboriginal Justice Unit director and a driving force behind the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Agreement, which both Lia Finocchiaro and Steven Edgington co-signed in 2022.
But the now lawyer turned justice reform leader has come full circle back to the NT Police force as the community resilience and engagement command executive director.
Ms Liddle has not shied away from the scale of systemic issues she’s facing up against in her role to tackle racism in the force, particularly in the wake of damning testimony in the Kumanjayi Walker inquest coronial inquest.
But within months of taking on the police role, Ms Liddle has secured tangible reforms, restarting a program placing Indigenous language translators in the triple-0 call centres.
Ms Liddle has also set her sights on increasing Aboriginal recruitment, and reforming complaint handling processes.
In what could be an eye-opening year for the NT Police force, having Ms Liddle working behind the scenes could be key to ensuring key recommendations become a reality.
33. Kirsty Howey
It’s a slight knock down the list for the Environment Centre NT executive director Kirsty Howey, but that’s not underestimating the role she plays.
Ms Howey has often taken the battle to government to protect the interests of the Environment Centre and Territorians.
She’s one of the most high profile environmental campaigners in the country and is makes plenty of noise when she feels big businesses have overstepped.
A lawyer and researcher she’s a thorn in the side of industry looking to develop unopposed, making sure there is a loud opposition.
Whether its land clearing in Lee Point, fracking in the Beetaloo or the constantly contentious Middle Arm, she’s there to fight for the side of the environment.
32. Denise Bowden
Denise Bowden is a key player and advocate in the world of Indigenous education and economic reform both at a local and national level.
The Youthu Yindi Foundation chief executive and long-time Garma Festival director has been a driving force in creating betterment for Indigenous communities.
Mrs Bowden has worked on education reform policies, created education pathways and advocated for improved service delivery for disadvantaged and remote communities.
Ms Bowden has also proven herself as a fierce advocate for Indigenous and women’s rights and has worked extensively with Yolngu clans in northeast Arnhem Land.
More recently she was nominated to join the AFL commission where she committed herself to growing the game at the grassroots level.
31. John Paterson
The boss of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory has never turned away from the biggest issues facing Indigenous Territorians, and 2025 is set to be no different.
As both the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory convenor and AMSANT chief executive, Dr Paterson has found himself a vocal opponent to many of the ‘emergency’ bills raced through the parliament in its recent sittings.
Dr Paterson has condemned changes allowing 10 and 11-year-olds to be imprisoned, for people struggling with addiction to be fined for ‘public nuisance drinking’, and the watering down of alcohol measures such as the minimum floor price.
At the same time the advocate has been critical of what appeared to be a sluggish reaction to the spikes in Indigenous incarceration, horrific prison conditions and the slow rollout of promised funding to the domestic violence sector.
But Dr Paterson has not just limited his criticism to the Territory politicians, holding no punches when it comes to calling on the Federal Government to meet their Closing the Gap commitments as the NT’s representative on the Coalition of Peaks.
30. Doug Pashley
Brigadier Doug Pashley is entering his second year as 1st Brigade commander leading one of the most active military formations in the country.
After successfully overseeing 1st Brigade’s transition to being a littoral fighting outfit, tying in with British Commandos and US Marines to accelerate the learning process, Brigadier Pashley had members deploy across Europe and Asia in support of ADF operations.
However, it was in late 2024, when Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani announced Tokyo would be deploying troops to Darwin on an annual basis, that Brigadier Pashley’s power stocks suddenly rose.
Not only will Brigadier Pashley lead his 5000-strong formation, but the star-commander will find himself front-and-centre of a historic situation, with Australian, US and Japanese soldiers set to share the barracks and training field together.
29. Sitzler
The Territory-born Sitzler has become one of the most lucrative defence contractors in the country, winning more than $800m in tenders as the nation’s top security experts look to the north as the main strategic frontline.
In 2024 the construction company was tasked with upgrades across Robertson Barracks, Bradshaw Station, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey, and the Larrakeyah Base entry project, identifying them as the go-to company for Defence projects.
But away from the guns, explosives and uniforms, Sitzler has also been behind some of the NT Government’s most ambitious projects winning more than $220.7m in tenders over the past four years.
But with the new Government pointing the budgetary blame at Labor for infrastructure overspends, including Darwin and Alice Springs Art Gallery, the Hidden Valley Motocross track, the Tiger Brennan Overpass (all of which were Sitzler contracts) – one might worry about the ambition of the construction agenda for the next four years.
But after almost 70 years building in the Territory the Sitzler company knows how to weather a few storms – both political and literal.
After Cyclone Tracy the Alice Springs-based company expanded to Darwin to help with the rebuild and it is now one of Australia’s top two-dozen construction businesses.
Their major projects include the Palmerston police station (turned prison), upgrades to Australian Defence Force ranges, the Kings Canyon Resort, the Palmerston Civic Centre, space surveillance telescopes in Exmouth, and Darwin’s Anglican Cathedral.
28. John and Tony Halikos
The name Halikos has been synonymous in the Northern Territory’s construction industry for decades.
From humble beginnings as a roofing company in the late 80s the Halikos legacy stretches far and wide providing jobs for hundreds of Territorians.
John and now son Tony are well known for their powerful standing within the Kalymnian Greek community.
Most recently the NT News revealed plans for Halikos’ next big job: transforming an ugly-duckling Mitchell St box into a luxury new Darwin CBD hotel.
The sale of the five storey Health House building at 87 Mitchell St was finalised by Peter McVann from agents Knight Frank for $7m, with developer JH Group lodging an application to repurpose the building from commercial office space to hotel-motel suites.
And the builder’s CBD expansion plans don’t just end with Health House.
The company in the process of buying the Darwin Poinciana Inn across the road at 84 Mitchell St.
27. Gerard Maley
Poised as the politician for the Top End bush, this Humpty Doo boy turned second-in-command has set himself up for a few tough battles as the minister of diggin’ up and lockin’ up.
But Gerard Maley is no stranger to a challenge, being appointed as Finnochiaro’s deputy from the moment he walked into parliament following the election revival.
This is Mr Maley’s first run as a minister, taking on the portfolios of mining, renewables, agriculture and fisheries and corrections.
But Mr Maley is still a little rusty under the pressure of public speaking, with the cracks showing in a few of his first press conferences some highly contentious policies.
While defending the Territory Coordinator bill, the Mining and Energy Minister accidentally stated: “This is not about cutting red tape, this is about cutting corners”.
The former lawyer is also now responsible for one of the Territory’s toughest departments: Corrections, which is responsible for more than one per cent of the Territory’s population – as high arrest rates, tough bail laws, court backlogs completely fill the prisons all while the union declares war with management.
One would hope that role as the Recreational Fishing Minister gives him time to unwind with a reel, but even in that department the commercial seafood industry is rearing for a fight over his proposed gillnet changes.
26. Selena Uibo
A year ago the Member for Arnhem was the newly minted Health Minister, and now she sits as the Leader of the Opposition.
It was a bloodbath Territory election for the Labor faithful, but Ms Uibo was one of just four where faith remained to the left.
She’s proven in the past that she can take on the difficult profiles when her party is in power, but now she has to call the incumbent government to account.
Already she’s taken her chances to call out any hint of hypocrisy from the CLP whether on bail laws or their tough on crime approach.
She has risen a few spots from her previous position of #37 on the list.
25. Alex Bruce
Former Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce left his lobbyist role last year to join Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s team as chief of staff – her most senior political adviser.
By far the most experienced political staffer on the fifth floor, the one-time Cav Hotel barman had previously worked for former Deputy Chief Minister Robyn Lambley and NSW former Deputy Premier Tony Grant before his latest appointment.
He has dropped 10 places from last year’s list – from 16 to 26th – reflecting the importance of his lobbying role during and after Covid-19 – which included the aftermath of the tragic murder of bottleshop employee Declan Laverty.
But one shouldn’t be entirely fooled into thinking Mr Bruce has less power inside the government tent.
While he has recused himself from involvement in discussions around alcohol, he has joined Ms Finocchiaro’s team exactly as she prepares to push through major changes in alcohol policy.
She came to office pledging to scrap the alcohol floor price, to review the Banned Drinkers Register, has already re-criminalised ‘nuisance’ public drinking and is consulting over the reintroduction of alcohol mandatory treatment.
Mr Bruce also specifically asked not to be on the Most Powerful List – which automatically put him on our radar.
24. Sean Bowden
Lawyer and AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden enjoyed another big year in 2024 with the push toward the 20th AFL license, spurred on by the release of a business case, making news across the country.
In 2021, Mr Bowden formed a taskforce that he chairs to meet the goal of providing the NT with an AFL team, but there are still significant hurdles to overcome.
Chief among them is the need for a state of the art stadium, which will have to ability to field not just the AFL but also other sport, concerts and big ticket events.
The Centralian was also named the inaugural NT News Leader of the Year for his work in both the law and sporting fields.
He continues to shout for Central Australia, particularly Alice Springs, and wants to see all parts of the Territory grow for the better.
23. Robyn Cahill
Member for Port Darwin Robyn Cahill shoots to number 23 on the Most Powerful List making her list debut.
After comfortably edging former Labour MLA Brian Manning, Ms Cahill inherited significant responsibilities at the unveiling of the Finocchiaro Government.
Ms Cahill’s ministries include Trade, Business and Asian Relations; International Education, Migration and Population; Workforce Development; Advanced Manufacturing; Children and Families; and Child Protection, Prevention of Domestic Violence - the most of any Cabinet member.
Perhaps Ms Cahill’s most seismic announcement so far was confirming the NT Government would commit a $36m ongoing annual budget towards tackling domestic violence.
22. Natasha Griggs
Natasha Griggs has replaced Shane Stone as the Country Liberal Party president and now finds herself just outside the Territory’s top 20 Most Powerful individuals.
The Centralian has forged a serious career, having served as Solomon MP for two terms and former Administrator of Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Currently the president of the NT Chamber of Commerce, Ms Griggs will now lead the CLP behind closed doors in an unpaid capacity.
With the CLP holding a strong majority in the NT Assembly, Ms Griggs outlined her objective was to win the federal seats of Solomon and Lingiari, saying it was “crucial” to build upon the momentum gained by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
“My priority is the upcoming federal election supporting our hardworking candidate Lisa Bayliss for Solomon, Lisa Siebert for Lingiari as well as our current extraordinary Senator for the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price,” she said.
21. Nathan Finn
The NTPA President has proven himself as a savvy political operator weighing in on police issues throughout an NT election dominated by a ‘tough on crime’ agenda.
Nathan Finn’s power was clearly recognised by Finnochiaro, who made sure the NTPA boss was one of her first meetings after being sworn in as the new Chief Minister
But six months later the honeymoon period between the Police Association and the new government appears to be wearing thin, with Mr Finn fighting with the government over its retention bonus scheme.
With the current police enterprise bargaining agreement due to expire in June, we’re likely to see a few more sparks flying between the NTPA and the government.
Mr Finn has already signalled that he will call for the replacement of Intervention-era shipping container stations, increased staffing, and the end of police auxiliary liquor inspectors – a substantial wish list for a government calling for budgetary restraint.
Mr Finn has repeatedly called for police mental health and wellbeing support to be put at the forefront, and is likely to have a close eye on the upcoming inquest into the suicide an NT Police officer.
It will be fascinating to see how Mr Finn and the general police force responds to the highly-anticipated findings.
20. Steve Edgington
Steve Edgington has climbed more than 40 places and is now not only a senior CLP figure, but an influential north Australian politician too.
The Member for Barkly now holds a string of portfolios which commands national interest given the spotlight the Territory has found itself in.
Mr Edgington now oversees health, alcohol policy, Aboriginal Affairs, housing, local government and community development, and essential services.
While Mr Edgington continues to spend the bulk of his time serving his constituency, his decision-making now has legislative implications concerning some of Australia’s most sensitive topics.
19. Joel Riddle
Joel Riddle joined Tamboran Resources as its chief executive in 2013, and has more recently added managing director to his title.
Whether by accident or design, Riddle has become the face of the NT’s onshore gas revival, making him the occasional target of name-checking and other scrutiny by the anti-development, anti-economic growth cohort.
Unfazed, he has continued to try and secure his project in a part of Australia where projects are difficult to see to fruition.
For all the focus on Tamboran and the other Beetaloo players, it’s worth remembering that after a decade of talk and heat, the Beetaloo Sub-basin is still just a prospect, with final investment decision not yet secured and a federal Labor government that would happily see the project wither on the vine.
Mr Riddle has a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago,
Before Tamboarn, he was with Cobalt International Energy, where he worked closely with executive management on prospects in the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, and served various technical and leadership roles at ExxonMobil, Unocal and Murphy Oil.
With foundational contracts to supply gas to the Territory already secured, Tamboran’s memorandum of understanding with Santos around an LNG train was an eminently sensible partnership.
18. Kevin Gallagher
Santos managing director Kevin Gallagher was #1 on the South Australian power list last year, and seeing how as the Territory is a former SA colony, it’s appropriate Mr Gallagher take out a prominent role on the NT list as well.
As the NT’s brand is forever embedded in Qantas’ nomenclature, so too is it in Santos’.
South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search (Santos) was incorporated in 1954 and the company is in the final stages of delivering its hard-fought Barossa project and revitalisation of Darwin LNG to the Territory.
Australian produced gas is still widely sought-after locally and internationally and while the east-coast wrings its collective hands around energy transition, Santos has flown the flag for common sense and export dollars and persisted with the Barossa project, despite spending millions in the courts fighting fatuous green disruptions.
With Barossa expected to open this year, Santos can now turn its attention to its prospects in the Beetaloo and McArthur basins, which had been on hold while it sorted out Barossa.
It’s partnership with Tamboran for a potential second train at Darwin LNG was another key development over the past year.
17. Alex Underwood
While Tamboran – and lately Santos – have hogged most of the Beetaloo-basin limelight, Empire Energy and its chief executive Alex Underwood have been quietly beavering away trying to secure its project.
A recycled processing plant is expected to be relocated and built shortly at Empire’s Carpentaria field and, if all goes to plan, first gas from its pilot project will be produced later this year.
Empire, like its Beetaloo buddy Tamboran, was given a leg-up in the interests of common sense when it signed a supply deal with the Territory government under the economically smart leadership of Eva Lawler, after almost a decade of Territory Labor avoiding the Beetaloo.
The November 2024 announcement that Empire had secured $65m from Macquarie to kick on the Carpentaria was a significant business play that showed east-coast capital is prepared to back NT projects with cash.
Mr Underwood came to the industry through his financial links.
He had nearly 15 years of upstream oil and gas investing and financing experience including with Commonwealth and Macquarie banks and in Singapore. His career began at BHP Billiton Petroleum in Perth and Melbourne.
16. Bill Yan
The former general manager of the Alice Springs Correctional Centre finds himself closing in on the Territory’s top ten Most Powerful, after inheriting the role of Treasurer, as well as Logistics Minister and Housing Construction Minister.
Tasked with overseeing the Territory’s financial state, the Member for Namatjira has become the face of the Finocchiaro’s economic management.
As well as raising the payroll tax threshold to $2.5m, Mr Yan has advocated for other big ticket items, such as unlocking Arafura Rare Earths and the Beetaloo Basin.
He has also endorsed the concept of the Territory Coordinator, insisting it value-add to the Territory’s crippled economy.
Mr Yan has so far proven he’s ready to hit the road and connect with the Territory’s communities to ensure they’re across the issues that affect them – and their hip pocket – the most.
15. Elisabeth Armitage
Cold cases and mysteries, notorious murders, tragedies and institutional failings - this is the world of the Territory Coroner.
Ms Armitage has established herself as a diligent and patient operator, using her role as the Territory coroner to investigate some of our toughest issues, domestic violence, kids in care, prisoner and hospital safety and policing.
In 2022 Ms Armitage was named as our most powerful Territorian as she took on one of her most high-profile and challenging tasks: the Kumanjayi Walker inquest,
Three years on and the Territory is still awaiting her findings which are bound to be explosive.
Her greatest weakness is that of every coroner (and Royal Commissioner): getting the government to listen.
Following six months of hearings and heartbreaking evidence from 95 witnesses, Ms Armitage released her findings from Australia’s largest ever coronial inquiry into domestic violence.
Yet one of her clearest calls, for an additional $180m to the sector over five years, seems to already be the victim of political budgetary games.
The CLP has instead committed to a total of $36m a year to domestic family and sexual violence initiatives, which experts have said was far below what was called for in the inquest.
Ms Armitage has already announced a sequel, with another DV hearing set for August 2025.
We can only hope that by the time it arrives, we’re able to see some positive change to meet the scale of this crisis.
14. Nonsoon
All heat and no rain makes the Top End go Troppo.
At least that’s how we’re feeling about this year’s near lack of a Wet season, with the Bureau of Meteorology officially announcing that the 2025 monsoon was the latest in recorded weather history.
The previous record for the latest ‘nonsoon’ was all the way back in January 25, in 1973 – 52 years ago, and one year before Cyclone Tracy’s wrath.
The monsoon usually hits the Top End around December, but this year sauntered into town on February 7.
The prospect of a smaller Wet season could have serious implications for the Territory, as the widespread heavy rainfall recharges our creeks and rivers that feed crops, livestock and our iconic swimming holes – affecting all who live here.
The Bureau said the Territory annual monsoons were a product of broadscale weather patterns over northern Australia known as the Madden-Julian Oscillation.
More like madden-ing and not cool-ian oscillation - am I right?*
*The author of this joke collapsed from heat stroke shortly after making this terrible pun.
13. Scott Bowman
The Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor retains his place among the Territory’s Most Powerful, with the English-born academic currently navigating one of the most difficult periods in recent memory for not only CDU, but higher education institutions generally.
In February, Mr Bowman confirmed the budgets of all CDU departments had been cut by 10 per cent due to international student numbers dropping.
With the federal government tabling a plan to cap international student numbers, CDU’s future appears increasingly uncertain.
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Bowman and his staff celebrated the construction of CDU’s new city campus, as well as the Vice-Chancellor sharing his grand vision to open a UK centre.
12. Marines / Defence
As the Indo-Pacific region intensifies, so too does the Territory’s military activities.
Already home to both key air and maritime bases, a land warfare brigade and a 2500-strong US Marine outfit, the Territory will welcome a new warfighting guest in 2025 – a regiment of Japanese soldiers.
With the Australian Defence Force gearing up for Exercise Talisman Sabre, the Territory’s military activity might be at its busiest since the ADF departed Darwin for East Timor in 1999.
Add to the mix a plethora of planned and ongoing defence projects across region, the Territory’s military presence will also be felt by many in the private sector.
11. Shane Dignan
The highly-respected Shane Dignan ended his 30-year business partnership with John Halikos on December 1, 2023.
Mr Dignan established DCOH and has an impressive business portfolio with Halikos Developments and Construction and the Novotel Hotel Esplanade, Northcrest, Halikos ICT, Halikos Roofing, Solis Real Estate.
The company operates H on Smith, Dbar Restaurant, Frontier Hotel and Punters Bar.
DCOH has evolved into a multifaceted, vertically integrated business which now designs, develops, builds and operates a range of projects.
DCOH, in partnership with Colemans, has spent in excess of $25m so far developing The Cinema Collective complex at the old Duck’s Nuts-Hoyts Cinema complex on Mitchell St. Mr Dignan’s company also recently signed a milestone franchise agreement with Marriott International to transform the Smith Hotel Darwin into Courtyard by Marriott Darwin.
10. Natalie Charlesworth
This Southern judge has made her mark on the Territory, weighing in on some of the most contentious development projects and legal battles through the Federal Courts.
It was Federal Court judge Natalie Charlesworth’s findings in the Tiwi case that have put a target on the Environmental Defenders Office, over their fumbled eleventh-hour application to stop the Barossa gas project.
The ripple effects of her judgement have seen funding stripped from the advocacy group, and given pro-industry groups and the NT Government a case to point to when calling out “activists and economic vandals”.
Ms Charlesworth was also the judge overseeing the unfair dismissal of North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Priscilla Atkins, ended with an undisclosed payout.
Late last year NAAJA told Justice Charlesworth it offered Ms Atkins a $1.5m out-of-court settlement — even while claiming this compensation could result in NAAJA’s insolvency - while the senior legal figure indicated she was aiming for a figure closer to $1.73m.
The NT is no stranger to its share of lawfare, and we’re sure it won’t be long before the next big Territory fight ends up before her Honour again.
9. Erina Early
There’s a few Industry and Government Department heads who would rather see this name much further down the Most Powerful List, but there’s no denying the influence of the United Worker Unions and Unions NT secretary Erina Early.
The outspoken union boss has a huge year coming up with corrections, fireys, paramedics, and the entirety of the public service due to renegotiate their contracts.
Never one to shy from a fight, Ms Early appears to be gearing up for some significant demands for these workers.
At the moment Corrections workers are dominating the news cycle – with the union basically declaring war with management with a ‘no confidence’ vote for Commissioner Varley as the prison system buckles under extraordinary prisoner numbers.
Last year Ms Early was pushing for fireys to get the F out of PFES, and this year should see the new Fire Service finally step out from under the shadow of police.
But her most ambitious target is for the Territory’s ambulance system, pushing for NT Health to take back the paramedics service, out from St John’s hands.
One would think that a union boss would have less sway under a conservative government, but sources have told the NT News that the change of government means the “gloves are really coming off”.
We’re sure she’ll be no stranger to the 2025 headlines as she continues to fight for worker’s rights.
8. Tony Edmondstone
Airport Development Group chief executive Tony Edmondston is leading calls for the Territory to reset its tourism market, telling the NT News in February the Territory needed to “fight tooth and nail” to draw crowds back.
“Our competing markets are Fiji, Hawaii, Noumea and Bali,” he said.
ADG operates Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek airports, and, under the leadership of Mr Edmondstone, is in the running to claim Uluru airport, which is being sold.
With Airnorth recently announcing a new direct flight route between Alice Springs and Cairns, Mr Edmondstone could play a key role in boosting Central Australia’s tourism.
7. Luccio Cercarelli
2024 saw Luccio Cercarelli gain quite a promotion.
But in 2025 he got an even bigger one.
As of February, the former City of Palmerston chief executive is now heading the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet as their chief executive.
His latest promotion comes after he spent about six months leading the Territory’s Department of Housing, Local Government, and Community Development as their chief executive.
Mr Cercarelli has truly benefitted from the CLP’s government reshuffle, and was among the first to be promoted in the wake of the their August 2024 election victory.
He gained his first chief executive role for the Territory government in September last year, and hasn’t looked back.
He has continued to climb the ranks of the Territory public service.
It’s a momentous jump in a short period of time for Mr Cercarelli, whose resume has seen him diligently working behind the scenes of local government for a number of years now.
With such a meteoric rise, who knows what 2025 will bring for Mr Cercarelli?
While impossible to speculate, one has to imagine it will be significant.
6. Matthew Varley
The Northern Territory’s Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley remained a strong voice throughout 2024, signalling the need for drastic reforms within the Territory’s prison cells.
Since taking over he has promised to improve NDIS exit plans, partner with Charles Darwin University for training programs and permanently run a recruitment drive for more corrections staff – particularly in Alice Springs.
In 2024, Mr Varley doubled down on the need for corrections upgrades, rolling out the biggest corrections infrastructure build since Holtze prison opened in 2014.
More than ever as he heads into his fourth year leading the Territory corrections system, Mr Varley’s 2025 is likely to be his most important year yet.
On any given day, the Territory’s corrections population sits around 2700.
When he accepted the job in 2022, there were around 1950 to 1970 in jails, and the department was “getting stressed” about breaching the 2000 mark.
In February 2025, corrections workers delivered a resounding 98 per cent no confidence vote for the Territory’s prison boss, calling for an “immediate” dismissal of Mr Varley.
While it may be trying times for Mr Varley, how he gets through the next 12 months will say a lot about the future of his career and Territory corrections.
5. Michael Grant
NT Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Grant has climbed 23 places up the Most Powerful list following his ninth year at the pinnacle of the Territory’s justice system.
It comes at a particularly challenging time for the NT courts as the CLP’s tough on crime approach, which has put a strain on Territory prisons as well as the judicial system.
As the crime crisis in Alice Springs escalated so too did arrests, particularly around street and property crimes, and as a result there are four times as many people on remand than four years ago.
As the Territory’s top judge, there are few voices more respected or listened to than that of the Chief Justice’s and he has been outspoken on the current issues his team faces.
Chief Justice Grant has also sat as chairman of the Judicial Commission for more than three years and holds sway over complaints about his fellow judges.
4. Michael Murphy
The Northern Territory’s top cop Michael Murphy is now in his second year as police commissioner and with crime still an ever-present problem his role is as important as ever.
Mr Murphy took over from the beleaguered Jamie Chalker in August 2023 and has been at the forefront of trying to change the public perception of the force.
He overhauled the leadership team and has committed himself to reforming cultural problems within the service as complaints of racism have sprung up.
He has also taken coffee with a cop to the crime-stricken Alice Springs, an initiative he brought back to get police officers listening to the public’s issues.
The issue as always for the NT is how to keep hold of recruits when so often members leave for what they deem better pastures, and it’s an issue that needs time.
As the CLP Government calls for tougher approaches to crime and police are stretched to respond his role as the commissioner will only become more prominent.
3. Jacinta Price
Last year’s most powerful, Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has retained a spot in the top three as one of the most influential politicians in the country.
Her political rise is one to be studied; a relatively unknown entity when she was elected to the upper house in 2022, she was promoted to Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians the year after, and became one of the most prominent faces of the successful campaign against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The failed referendum was a significant blow for the Albanese government and leadership, one looking like it could come back to bite at the polls as his approval ratings continue to drop.
If the coalition wins in the coming months, Ms Price will be elevated to Dutton’s newly minted government efficiency portfolio, tasked with cutting ‘wasteful’ spending.
It would be another major win for Ms Price, who has spent years lobbying for a federal audit of spending on Indigenous programs, particularly in her hometown Central Australia.
If Labor holds power, there’s still no doubt Ms Price will remain a powerful opposition figure, whose career remains one to watch.
2. Lia Finocchiaro
No stranger to the most powerful list, Lia Finocchiaro has secured her highest spot to date at number two.
It’s well deserved (and perhaps unsurprising) given the bloodbath election win she led for the Country Liberals - ending the best part of two decades in the political wilderness.
‘Chief’ title notwithstanding, Mrs Finocchiaro’s position as leader of the party is clear - her authority unmatched by anyone in her Cabinet.
Mrs Finocchiaro has already overseen a significant gear shift in the Territory, and her reform agenda shows no signs of slowing, with impacts acutely felt across business, corrections, the courts, and more.
She’s enjoying a honeymoon phase with the voters at the moment, one that conventional political wisdom promises will not last forever.
For now, however, Mrs Finocchiaro has her hands on the wheel and a license to operate.
1. Stuart Knowles
A newcomer to the most powerful list, Stuart Knowles has shot straight to number one.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
As the inaugural Territory Coordinator, he will be instrumental in shaping the scope, expectations, and influence of the government’s “centrepiece economic reform” for years to come.
The Territory Coordinator Bill is still before a parliamentary committee, so the exact powers Mr Knowles will hold are still being ironed out.
What we do know is that those powers will be unprecedented in the NT, giving the bureaucrat a line to both the Chief Minister and to industry, and sway over every major project on the books.
Whether he’s seen as a driving force behind economic growth and prosperity, or an industry lackey riding roughshod over environmental protections, one thing is for certain: all eyes will be on Mr Knowles in 2025.
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