Anthony Beven announced as new acting NAAJA chief executive, the sixth in less than two years

A non-Indigenous adviser specialising in ‘not-for-profit corporate registration, regulation, turnaround and reconstruction’ has taken the reins of the country’s largest Aboriginal legal service.

Anthony Beven has been appointed acting chief executive of NAAJA.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has announced a new acting chief after losing its fifth boss in 18 months.

Non-Indigenous adviser to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations Anthony Beven will step into the role next month, replacing Phil Brown who will return to his substantive position as deputy chief executive.

Efforts to find a permanent leader for the critical legal service are underway, following the resolution of a bitter employment dispute finding former chief executive Priscilla Atkins was unlawfully sacked.

Mr Beven is a lawyer who most recently worked as a Partner at Grant Thornton, Indigenous Advisory, a company providing accounting and advisory professional services.

According to his bio on the Grant Thornton website, Mr Beven “has substantial experience in not-for-profit corporate registration, regulation, turnaround and reconstruction” and also “has extensive experience in undertaking and managing corporate investigations to detect and respond to fraud”.

Anthony Beven previously worked in Grant Thornton’s Indigenous Advisory team. PICTURE: JUSTIN BRIERTY

He previously served as the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations for a decade, where he had regulatory oversight of over 2900 Indigenous corporations, including 174 native title bodies.

Mr Beven also spent two decades working for the Australian Securities and Investments

Commission (ASIC), including 10 years based in the Northern Territory.

“NAAJA is an incredibly important organisation in the Territory, representing clients who are

among the most vulnerable and over-incarcerated population nationwide,” Mr Beven said.

“I have worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and

communities around Australia, and I am driven to make a positive contribution.

“I look forward to continuing NAAJA’s role in contributing to First Nations’ justice policy

development, and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

A spokeswoman for the NAAJA board said it looked forward to what Mr Beven would bring to the organisation.

“His extensive experience and strong track record will hold NAAJA in good stead as we

continue to implement our strategic plan to build our workforce capacity across the Territory

and strengthen organisational performance,” she said.

“We also thank Phil for playing an important role for us over the past six months; his work

has taken us forward and placed us in a strong position to provide important representation

to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Territory.”

Mr Beven will commence the position on September 2.

Originally published as Anthony Beven announced as new acting NAAJA chief executive, the sixth in less than two years