NT News’ Most Powerful list: Numbers 120-1
Here it is — the full list of Most Powerful Territorians for 2023. Read who made the top five.
There is no doubting 2023 was yet another huge year for the Territory, and our Most Powerful Territorians list returns to reflect that.
From industry and influencers to politicians and advocates there were plenty of movers and shakers in the Territory throughout 2023.
And plenty of them are set to be remain as such in 2024, particularly with the upcoming election looming large.
Our list counts down the 120 most influential people, and will be updated here every day until we get to our number one name.
Jump to: 100-81, 80-61, 60-51, 50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-6, 5-1
120. Natasha Fyles
It should come as no surprise to see Nightcliff MLA Natasha Fyles drop from last year’s perch as the fourth-most powerful person in the NT.
The former Chief Minister has dropped 116 slots since last year after she resigned from the NT’s top job in December.
Ms Fyles’ emotional departure followed two scandals regarding her failure to disclose personal shares in mining and gas companies Gemco and Woodside.
“There’s no point dragging it out, I made a mistake,” she said in announcing her resignation.
“There is no excuse for that, I’m owning up to it I accept the consequences of this, that’s the right thing to do.”
Ms Fyles has kept her seat as the member for the coastal suburb of Nightcliff, and plans to contest the seat again during the 2024 election.
119. Nova Peris
The dual-sport Olympian had a massive 2023 becoming just the first Territorians to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Peris has long been one of the Territory’s most recognisable sporting names, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to win Olympic gold with the Hockeyroos in 1996.
She then switched sports to athletics to live out another childhood dream when she represented Australian in the 400m and 4x400m in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The Olympic champion also went to Katherine last November alongside a host of Olympians to interact with local kids.
There she called for the NT to be put on the national agenda as a high performance location for professional sportspeople to come north and help inspire the next generation.
Her advocacy for Indigenous rights was also a big part of her 2023, campaigning heavily for the Voice vote to get up.
118. Baker Boy
The NT News’ number one most powerful influencer of 2022, Danzal Baker, better known by stage name Baker Boy has continued to cement his place as an influential Territorian.
He was born in Darwin and grew up in the Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi and Maningrida and was an original member of the Djuki Mala dance troupe.
The singer had another huger year in 2023, taking his tradition indigenous sound on the road and was nominated for an ARIA for Best Australian Live Act for his tour of regional Victoria.
His social status is also climbing, with 95,000 Instagram followers and more than 45,000 followers on Tik Tok.
The local boy also made an appearance at BASSINTHEGRASS 2023, serenading tens-of-thousands of his fellow Territorians.
117. Michael Long
Michael Long has long had a place on the list, and as a well respected Indigenous advocate and champion footballer will almost always have one.
He has been a champion for Indigenous rights and equality ever since he finished his AFL career with the Essendon Bombers.
Long has the ear and respect of those in the highest offices of power in our great nation and that makes him an extremely powerful figure for the Territory, and that doesn’t look like changing.
The Long Walk continues to be a lasting tribute to his 650km walk from Melbourne to Canberra, and is a nod towards the lasting respect people across the nation have for the Territorian.
And you need not look any further than the centrepiece training facility at TIO Stadium, which bears his name, to see the lasting impact he has had on Territory football.
116. Gavin Dovey
It has been a massive first year for the new chief executive of NT Cricket, Gavin Dovey, who took over the top job ahead of the 2023 Darwin and District Cricket competition.
The former Australian team manager of 11 years took over the top job of the dry season sport and oversaw another great period for the Cricket 365 program.
Under his watch a drop-in wicket was inserted at TIO Stadium for the first time in 15 years with the NT hosting the under-19 World Cup qualifiers there.
Pakistan A alongside Big Bash sides also made their way to the NT for the Top End Series, while Strike League once again attracted plenty of the country’s best young cricketers.
Though there does remain some spot fires for the top body to put out whether it’s on field misbehaviour, which caught plenty of attention in 2023, or clubs folding.
And the ongoing question remains of when international top level cricket will return to the Top End.
115. Environmental Defenders Office
After decades actively railing against resource developments in the Northern Territory, the Environmental Defenders Office has finally shut its collective mouth.
This was not through choice, rather the damning findings of Federal Court judge Natalie Charlesworth who poured scorn on the organisation’s practices in a January judgement where she dismissed an eleventh-hour application by Tiwi Island Traditional Owners to stop the Barossa gas project.
The EDO’s office was thick-on-the-ground as Tiwi Islanders, energised by $100 incentive payments from Barossa developer Santos, rolled up to consultation meetings about the Barossa project, despite the nearest point of contact to the actual islands being the pipeline, which is 10km offshore.
On the back of Justice Charlesworth’s findings, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is reviewing the EDO’s funding, as is the NT government.
114. Rob McPhee
After taking the helm of the Territory’s biggest Aboriginal health service in 2021, Rob McPhee has proven a steady hand as chief executive officer of Danila Dilba.
But with the NT government and primary health network having just injected $3.3m into the organisation’s new Darwin Healing and Recovery Service, the pressure will be on to deliver in 2024.
The service aims to build stronger communities to respond to and prevent suicidal behaviour by delivering informed and inclusive services to meet the needs of Territorians.
When the funding was announced in February, Mr McPhee said the relative risk for suicide or self-harm following an earlier suicide attempt was incredibly high.
“There has been broad consultation with 19 local organisations, review of the best available evidence and workshops focused on co-design with community members, government and community providers to ensure all stakeholders can have a say,” he said.
“Through integration, we will ensure clients are receiving the right care at the right time, which will increase their sense of safety and wellbeing.”
113. Race horses
There’s a cohort among the Territory’s racing fraternity who firmly believe the Territory’s tourism industry is underpinned by our two largest race meetings – the Alice Springs Cup in April and Darwin Cup in August.
While this may be open to argument, what is certain is the jobs and industry horseracing generates for the NT economy year-in-year out.
The politics of the racing industry are less certain at the moment, with the NT government slugging Darwin Turf Club millions after the Fannie Bay grandstand development and rumours of huge losses at its signature Silks bar and restaurant.
But regardless of politics, the horses, their jockeys and trainers and strappers and everybody else associated with the industry’s grassroots still make an outsized contribution to the Territory.
112. Blair McFarland
As the NT’s 2024 Australian of the Year, Blair McFarland’s influence can only grow this year.
A long term Central Australian, McFarland has been a passionate advocate for addressing volatile substance misuse in his community for decades.
After helping to orchestrate the rollout of low aromatic fuel and the Federal Low Aromatic Fuel Act, the 66-year-old has now set his sights on the more modern scourge of deodorant sniffing.
With the added profile and public platform that comes with his Territorian of the Year status, expect McFarland to use every bit of his considerable heft in affecting positive change in 2024.
With his previous advocacy helping to reduce petrol sniffing by 95 per cent, McFarland will surely have his sights set similarly high in his ongoing work in the public health space going forward.
111. Dianne Stephens
The Commonwealth government broke Professor Di Stephens and Charles Darwin University’s collective hearts when they inexplicably rejected the bid to fully fund a medical school in the Northern Territory.
While the reasons were nothing to do with good process and everything to do with politics and interstate-interterritory rivalries, Professor Stephens put her head down, stayed largely silent about the sleight and began working on securing money during the next funding round. In an offensive reality, the NSW regional city of Orange, population 45,000, has a medical school.
Professor Stephens’ decades in the Territory have seen her at the forefront of countless medical emergencies, the most recent being Covid-19, but the fight to secure Commonwealth funding to operate a CDU medical school is one of her most consequential battles.
110. Mike Cannon-Brookes
To paraphrase Frankie Goes To Hollywood from the 1980s: ‘When two tycoons go to war, the point is we all snore (we all snore, we all snore)’.
What turned out to be a calamitous 2023 in business and politics for the Territory began with then deputy chief minister Nicole Manison having to answer questions in January about why one of the government’s pet projects, Sun Cable’s Australia–ASEAN Power Link, had been placed in voluntary receivership.
The two tiresome tycoons behind the mind-bogglingly ambitious scheme were having a spat and, as they retreated sulking into their respective bunkers, the Territory government had to speak on their behalf.
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest wanted to strip the project right back to basically become a massive solar farm but greenie Mike Cannon-Brookes wanted to persist with the plan to export Territory-produced solar energy to Singapore.
Cannon-Brookes won the corporate battle, but there remains healthy scepticism about the project that Nicole Manison or anybody else have never been able to explain away.
109. Makuach Malauch
Makauch Malauch will this year become the Salties most consistent player as he returns for his third season, and he’s someone everyone wants to see coming back.
The professional basketballer arguably put the Darwin team on the map when he left crowds gobsmacked with a sensational dunk in the franchise’s inaugural season.
Since then he’s been a stalwart in the hugely popular NBL1 North side and is most likely to be named outright captain for the 2024 season.
He also plays in the NBL professionally for his hometown club, the Sydney Kings, and will bring that experience back north to the Salties.
Also in Saltie land is Territorian Tom O’Neill-Thorne who guided the side to national championship glory, and also starred in the Australian Rollers Australia-Oceania Championship victory.
108. Ken Vowles
Mr Vowles first hit prominence through his cricket exploits.
A member of the Australian Cricket Academy in the late 1980s, the fastest century at the MCG record he set in an under-19s game was eventually beaten by Viv Richards.
He still loves cricket and its welfare and raised concerns about the appointment of Gavin Dovey to Cricket NT because of his presence in the dressing room during Aussie cricket’s sandpaper scandal.
As well as his own business he’s also chairman of NT Livestock Exporters Association where he had a crucial role to play after last year’s temporary bans on NT cattle by Indonesia and Malaysia.
Vowles would rightly feel his political career was short-circuited by his clash with Labor leader and chief minister Michael Gunner and as of last year, he certainly hadn’t ruled out another tilt, probably as an independent.
Watch out for his role as an extra in the forthcoming Netflix series Desert King.
107. Donna Ah Chee
Donna Ah Chee’s role as chief executive of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress was given a new challenge in 2023.
As the Red Centre grappled with a crime crisis that received national coverage at the start of the year, organisations on the ground were looked at for solutions.
The Congress continues to work with the government on the programs that are coming out of the $250m lifeline given in response to the crisis, with Ms Ah Chee often facing the media to explain their stance.
Alongside her busy job as chief of Congress, Ms Ah Chee has held roles such as chairwoman of the Tripartite Forum and board director on the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and the NT Primary Health Network.
She also received an honory doctorate from Charles Darwin University for her contributions to “the movement for health and justice for Aboriginal people across the nation”.
106. Pina Sommerville and Darren Lynch
These stalwarts of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct and Territory business in general have made their mark not just by their commitment to Darwin, but also their capacity to reinvent their businesses to deliver what visitors want.
Mr Lynch and Ms Somerville currently run two restaurants, the enormously popular Wharf One Food and Wine and Bella Fresh Pasta in the tourism area, as well as the ever-bustling craft beer pub on the corner, aptly named the Precinct.
Their adventure tourism brand has also gone from strength to strength, starting with 00Seven Jet Ski Adventures shortly after the pandemic and growing to quad biking through the Charles Darwin National Park, both of which were heavily visited when the hordes of tourists returned after Covid.
There are still big plans for the Waterfront including a surf park, tropical snorkelling lagoon and new hotel and undoubtedly the pair will be deeply involved in their progression.
Ms Sommerville is also marketing and communication manager with Darwin Turf Club.
105. Ngaree Ah Kit
Despite an incredible bounce from the Speaker’s seat to the front bench in 2022, Karama MLA Ngaree Ah Kit has dropped from 57 to 105.
She was also the first Aboriginal woman to rise to the role of Speaker.
Ms Ah Kit currently holds the Territory Families, Multicultural Affairs, Youth, Seniors and Equality, Urban Housing, and Disabilities portfolios.
As the Disability Minister, Ah Kit has played a critical role in pushing for better service access across the NT, with a particular focus on remote Territorians.
She has worked closely with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten over the past year to review the system’s complexities and drive a safer, equitable future for Territorians living with disability.
104. Gerard Maley
The CLP’s deputy leader, Gerard is the second Maley in the NT Parliament after his brother Peter’s spectacular four-year stretch with the CLP and as an independent, in the early 2000s. Gerard doesn’t have his brother’s flare or capacity to generate debate but he’s been an apparently loyal, if low-key deputy to leader Lia Finocchiaro over the past few years in a political party where loyalty had been in short supply.
A former mechanic who became a lawyer, Maley surprised many when he preselected for Nelson electorate after Independent MLA Gerry Wood quit politics in 2020 because there’s more money to be made practising law than in politics.
He currently has the important Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics shadow portfolio and effectively prosecuted the government on the $100m cost blowout at the Berrimah overpass and the many delays and failures around the shiplift project.
If the CLP’s elected to government in August and Maley becomes deputy chief, he’ll have first choice at whatever portfolio he wants.
103. Hugh Heggie
The Territory’s former chief health officer topped the Most Powerful list in 2020, but it’s a safe bet he’d prefer to occupy the lower rungs of our influence table if it meant not having to deal with a pandemic.
Dr Heggie’s now the NT’s 23rd Administrator – a three year job with the likelihood of a two-year extension – as he eases into retirement.
With his wife Ruth, the long-term Territorian has been a friendly face at countless functions in his first year in the job and his linguistic abilities have helped him connect with Territorians in remote communities.
When he was appointed he said he would fulfil the role with “compassion and love” and he’s honoured that commitment.
The pandemic is a bitter memory for many, but in the final wash-up the Territory outperformed almost every other jurisdiction – despite the tragedy of dozens of deaths – and history will show Dr Heggie played a significant part in that.
Unless there’s a hung Parliament in August and an ensuing constitutional crisis, Dr Heggie’s days in Government House should be personally rewarding.
102. Lucio Matarazzo
A former union man who led the Australian Services Union for decades, the born-and-bred Territorian wearied of Labor’s factional powerplays and gravitated towards the CLP.
Now an active contributor to that party’s policy development, particularly as it applies to the public sector, Mr Matarazzo’s first-time nomination to the Most Powerful list is entirely related to his work as an industrial advocate.
In private practice for 15 years, over the past few years he has successfully defended a number of high-profile cases against the NT Commission for Public Employment, which last year lost its Commissioner, Vicki Telfer, when she stepped aside in October.
On one occasion, the Fair Work Commission ordered the government to pay a worker up to $40,000 in backpay after Mr Matarazzo represented a public servant who had been underpaid after three years performing higher duties.
On another occasion he crafted industrial relations submissions for an NT Fire Fighter who the Fair Work Commission ordered be reinstated after an unfair dismissal case.
101. Cath Hatcher
Despite climbing up a few rungs from 91st place on our 2022 list, Cath Hatcher still remains an influential member of the NT community.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary, Ms Hatcher had another huge year of fighting for the rights of her members, including securing them a pay rise.
Nurses and midwives received a 3 per cent annual pay increase until 2026, as well as attraction and incentive allowances for all Territory nurses, up to $9000.
It came after 15 months’ of negotiations and marked the first deal agreed on since the controversial pay freeze.
Ms Hatcher has continued to advocate for health workers, with staff shortages and safety being the biggest calls to action for 2023.
100. King Stingray
Half of this four piece band from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land are scions of NT music royalty.
Founding member and lead vocalist Yirrnga Yunupingu is the nephew of Yothu Yindi frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu and guitarist Roy Kellaway is the son of Stuart Kellaway. The pair grew up in Yirrkala and were joined by guitarist and didgeridoo player Dimathaya Burarrwanga and bass player Campbell Messer in 2020, when their debut single, Hey Wanhaka, was released.
Musically, 2023 was relatively quiet with the Lookin’ Out single released in June, but no follow-up to their hugely successful King Stingray debut LP.
Yunupingu and Kellaway did well at this year’s Australian Performing Right Association awards with 2022 single Milkumana nominated for most performed rock song of the year and the pair being nominated for breakthrough song of the year.
They went one better at the Australian Independent Record Awards, collecting for 2023 breakthrough artist of the year. King Stingray will perform at Bass in the Grass in May.
99. Len Notaras
Highly regarded by those with whom he makes contact, Len Notaras made a firm friend when his path crossed with then Prime Minister John Howard after the 2002 terror attacks in Bali. Dozens of injured Australians transited through Royal Darwin Hospital and into Dr Notaras’ care in his role as medical superintendent and general manager.
With the Bali crisis dealt with, Howard saw an opportunity for the Territory to play a pivotal role in regional disaster relief under the guiding hand of Dr Notaras and established the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.
Its accomplishments over two decades have been substantial, with its most recent assignment being establishing the “gold standard” Covid-facility at Howard Springs during the pandemic. There’s speculation the federal government is contemplating de-funding the trauma response centre, which Territorians should oppose at all costs.
98. Molly Upstill
It’s been a busy few years for Darwin reporter and marketer Molly Upstill.
The former NT News scribe has mixed starting a family with a series of career changes while keeping the media very much in her sights.
The Canberra University journalism graduate has recently been appointed general manager of Darwin City Retailers Association, where she’ll advocate on behalf of city traders as the CBD looks to bounce back from Covid-19 and Casuarina Square’s ownership and directional changes.
Before that she worked with Bushfires NT and had a stint as communications officer in the Opposition Leader’s office.
Before parenthood, she gave up her time to sit on the Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT committee as well as PINT footy club’s board.
But the one-time print hack’s shift into digital broadcasting has been hugely successful, with the Mums Gone Troppo podcast she produces with Nine Darwin executive producer Kathleen Gazzola becoming a huge success and earning an Australian podcast awards nomination.
97. Gavin Morris
Elected to Alice Springs Council in 2022, it’s understood Dr Morris is the only PHD currently serving in Red Centre local politics.
Principal at Yipirinya School and a Charles Darwin University lecturer, his PHD investigated Aboriginal trauma associated with colonisation in remote Aboriginal communities.
Against a backdrop of surging youth crime in Alice Springs and the wider Northern Territory, Dr Morris has sought Commonwealth funding to build an $5.8m, 85-bed boarding house at Yipirinya school to provide a safe place for students and staff.
While the idea wasn’t immediately embraced by the federal government, a significant cohort of Aboriginal elders backed Dr Morris’ push because of the appeal of developing a safe space for their kids.
In January, Morris said he would push ahead with the proposal with or without federal government support. In January he was nominated by The Australian newspaper for Australian of the Year.
96. Marion Scrymgour
The Member for Lingiari has a phenomenal curriculum vitae, with decades of health, community and political service to the Northern Territory.
Educated at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Darwin, Ms Scrymgour was first thrust into public focus when she was elected to the NT Parliament in Clare Martin’s barnstorming 2001 win for Labor.
She reached the heights of deputy chief minister before walking out on the party after a dispute about town camps funding.
She later rejoined the government when its majority was threatened but left the Legislative Assembly in 2012 to pursue options in the private sector and, presumably, to recover from 11 rough-and-tumble years of government.
She had four years as chief executive at Tiwi Islands Regional Council from October 2015 and another two as chief executive of Northern Land Council, before being preselected by Labor to contest the Lingiari electorate in 2022.
She knocked off former Alice Springs mayor Damien Ryan to take the seat, and has retained a relatively low profile as a backbencher in the Albanese government ever since.
95. Gary Clarke
Horse trainer Gary Clarke once again dominated horse racing in the Territory in 2023, clocking up 55 winners from 290 starters to again cement his place as the Territory’s best. Awarded his 11th consecutive NT’s champion trainer award last year, the former Queenslander fared only marginally worse than the previous year, when he won 55 of 288 starters.
As well as individual achievement, Clarke brings others along with him, with Clarke stable jockey Jarrod Todd clocking up 63 wins from 281 starts to win his fourth consecutive jockey of the year gong.
Clarke Racing Stables are a genuine family affair, with wife Sharlene and daughter Ella both playing prominent roles in the business’ continued success.
94. Karen Weston
Now in her fourth year at the helm of the NT Education Department, chief executive Karen Weston is nothing if not proactive.
Faced with a critical teacher shortage leading up to the 2024 school year, Ms Weston moved to plug the gaps by enlisting 80 corporate staff still with teaching registration.
About 30 of those had been offered contracts to create a “relief pool”.
Territory schools like everywhere else are struggling to recruit teachers so she deserves credit for thinking outside the box.
Elsewhere, broader issues of education outcomes continue to challenge educators and legislators but it’s important to acknowledge NT schools and the education system more broadly graduate numerous outstanding students every year.
Before coming to the Territory, Ms Weston served with education departments in South Australia and Victoria.
93. Lis Clarke
Elisabeth Clarke, known universally as Lis, stepped in as acting mayor at Katherine Town Council in December 2020 before being elected town mayor the following year.
A local businesswoman who owned a plant nursery with her husband Ian for 30 years and a landscaping business for 25 years, she is popular in the town and her community-focused style has drawn comparisons with another popular town leader, Fay Miller.
Ms Clarke helped steer the community during the dark days of Covid-19 when it was unclear what impact the pandemic would have on the Northern Territory and her isolated community and, more recently, she responded to a spike in crime by calling Police Minister Brent Potter and asking for assistance.
92. Athina Pascoe-Bell
The mayor of satellite city Palmerston, Athina Pascoe-Bell was not shy in fronting media on a range of topics in 2023.
From happy news like the building of an almost $20m new pool for the suburb to potentially appealing a decision in the Territory’s highest court on whether to divide her council into wards, she was a busy councilwoman indeed.
She’s been a staunch advocate for her ratepayers who live across the Berrimah line and will no doubt continue to wield influence as Palmerston prepares to introduce new by-laws in the new year.
In the latest council elections held in August 2021, Ms Pascoe-Bell reclaimed her position with a landslide win claiming 74 per cent of the votes.
She has even made her way up the Most Powerful list two places on last year.
91. Barry and Damien O’Brien
The O’Briens operate Territory government media buying agency, Atomic 212, that has had a permanent presence in Darwin since 2019.
This is Barry’s second entry into the Most Powerful list and Damien’s inaugural inclusion. The businesses’ small office in Darwin punches way above its weight, securing multi-million dollar contracts with Tourism NT and the NT government.
Damien moved to Darwin in 2020 to become general manager of Atomic 212’s Top End division.
Once asked to describe the Northern Territory, Damien said there were “your Kakadus, and your Litchfield Parks, and your Ayers Rocks and these amazing gorges and scenes that you can go out and see”.
“There’s a sense of Territory to the entire place. It’s a feeling, it’s the humidity, it’s a connection,” he said.
He’s damn right, too.
90. Josh Burgoyne
Opposition member Josh Burgoyne has slipped down the rankings this year, from number 55 in the 2022-23 list to 90 this year.
Burgoyne, an ambassador for Alice Springs in the parliament, will undoubtedly be a strong voice in 2024 though, given it is an election year.
First elected in 2020, he became the youngest parliamentarian in the NT at age 30, after winning the seat of Braitling.
A keen sportsman and born-and-bred Alice Springs local, Burgoyne has continued to be a lead voice when it comes to crime in the troubled Red Centre town and its surrounds, as well as youth justice.
He certainly carries his weight for the CLP, as the party’s whip and Shadow Minister for Territory Families; Renewables and Energy; Essential Services; Major Events; Youth; Climate Change; Agribusiness and Fisheries; Advanced Manufacturing and Indigenous Essential Services
89. John and Tony Halikos
A first time inclusion in the Most Powerful list, Tony Halikos is expected to have a more hands-on role with the organisation his father John founded three decades ago, after what has been a seismic year for the construction and hospitality group.
The split between John and business partner Shane Dignan was complicated and contested, with Halikos keeping the company name and five entities and four businesses that had previously been part of the old Halikos Group.
Out of the carve-up, John and Tony have kept H105 Mitchell Street Hotel, Crab Claw Island Resort, NT Fastners Berrimah/Coolalinga and Lizards Bar and Restaurant.
With John currently overseas, Tony is running the business and is expected to be appointed general manager, answering to his father who still owns the business.
The separation from his old business partner Dignan means both men have paved the way for succession to a new generation, with Tony expected to take the business into a new era in coming years.
88. Dennis Bree
Whether on the football field or in the halls of parliament, age has never slowed Dennis Bree down.
The 72-year-old longtime Darwin local is back in the government ranks as an advisor to Chief Minister Eva Lawler ahead of the August election.
Bree is also the Independent Non-Executive Chair of government owned corporation Territory Generation.
Go back 50 years and Bree, a civil engineer, was involved in the recovery from Cyclone Tracy.
He spent many years in management roles with the NT Department of Transport and Works, as well as the Power and Water Authority, including as executive director operations of the latter.
This year will not be his first working with or advising a chief minister, having been chief of staff to two over the past 24 years and was a senior advisor to former chief minister Michael Gunner.
Outside of government, Bree has made headlines for likely being the oldest rugby union player in the NT, if not Australia.
With at least 1000 games under his belt, Bree can be found at Rugby Park in Marrara almost every Saturday wearing the colours of his beloved Palmerston Crocs.
He was still playing in 2023, packing down in the front row, and intended to keep playing seniors with his grandson into the future.
His trick, he said, was to ‘never give up’ – advice that he will undoubtedly share with the Chief Minister this year too.
87. Michael Riches
After a quieter year in the role in 2023, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has slipped from number 21 in the Most Powerful list to 87 this year.
Michael Riches, who took over from the Territory’s inaugural ICAC, Ken Fleming KC, in July 2021, could have a big year ahead, though.
He made quite a bit of noise in the back half of 2023, calling out a lazy and careless approach to internal governance among Territory public bodies in his latest annual report in October.
It was a stern warning Riches issued two days after the resignation of former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles that most raised eyebrows in 2023 though.
“I also urge all public officers, regardless of their position or seniority, to take the time to reviewand update any disclosures that have been made, or are required to be made,” he said.
“Careful consideration should be given to whether any of those interests are in conflict, or could be perceived to be in conflict, with their duties.
“Where such a conflict exists, immediate action is to be taken to disclose those conflicts so that they can be properly managed. Public officers ought not disregard this advice.”
Riches may have slipped down a few rungs, but with a big year ahead, we all know how fast that could change.
86. Sam Burke
The husband of one of the Territory’s most influential figures, Lia Finocchiaro, chief executive of Darwin’s Waterfront Corporation Sam Burke also lands himself in the top 100, making the CLP opposition leader’s home one of the most powerful in North Australia.
The long-time Territorian graduated from Charles Darwin University in 2008 and remains responsible for one of the Territory’s most lucrative well-known hotspots for business, accommodation and events.
85. 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 more than a decade of experience within the association, Mr Ciaravolo represents the Territory’s multi-million dollar fisheries sector, dealing with all levels of government and the private sector.
He has most recently been in the headlines for calling for weight-based catch quotas to be introduced for popular Top End catchments like the Daly and Roper Rivers.
84. Anya Lorimer
The Darwin businesswoman who was famously asked to meet with an ICAC investigator for an informal discussion, which was recorded, ranks in the NT News’ power list.
The Territorian has become an outspoken figure in illuminating issues relating to the Top End and beyond, having called out the “business forms” of crime that affect the Territory: Fraud, white collar, and street crime.
83. Colemans
Given their long involvement in the Top End’s hospitality scene, it’s worth remembering the Colemans began their business life in the Territory as printers and the Cavanagh Street press is a reminder of their earlier contribution to the NT economy.
More recently though, they’ve been keeping locals and tourists fed and watered at the Landmark@Gateway, more recently Breezes at Muirhead and since November 2021 have been managing the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay.
But the Colemans are one of a number of other families in this list who regularly reinvest in Darwin and their latest plans – if approved – promises to revitalise the Daly St end of Mitchell St.
The Colemans want to open a new venue where Ducks Nuts and the BCC cinema were.
The drawings look spectacular and while works at the site appear stalled, there’s every confidence work will begin in earnest in 2024.
82. Jape family
While Indonesia’s 1975 invasion of East Timor bought an extended period of occupancy to our nearest neighbour, the Northern Territory benefited from the wave of immigration that followed the forced takeover.
Jape Kong Su was one of dozens of Chinese-East Timorese who fled for their lives after Indonesia’s crackdown and before long he started Jape, which has become 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 all began in 1977 when the family purchased Hotel Singapore in Fannie Bay and the retail business began as a homegrown entity selling locally made timber furniture in Cavenagh St. Since East Timor’s won back its independence in 2002, the Japes have opened the country’s largest shopping centre and have contributed to its post-Indonesian reconstruction.
81. Darlene Chin and Darryl Thomas
Darlene Chin’s Knuckey Street fashion house, Attitude for Men, celebrated its 30th birthday in 2023, making it one of Darwin’s most enduring and popular businesses.
With partner Darryl Thomas, Ms Chin is a co-director in Thomas Chin Pty Ltd, the Territory’s fine wine merchants.
Neatly combining their professional interests, the pair opened a bottleshop, Liquor Down Under, on Spain Place in 2022 which is known for its unusual and off-shelf brands.
Ms Chin’s belief in Darwin is there for all to see, with the stunning shopfront she had constructed at the 35 Knuckey Street address in 2017.
Blinging with 15cm glass and stainless steel, the building, like the retail experience inside, is just a little un-Darwin and always worth a return visit.
80. John Halkitis
Son of the late Territory legend Mihalis, John Halkitis heads the HB Group – one of the longest standing and impactful civil works companies in Northern Australia.
With a ground-up understanding of the business, HB has expanded from 20 to 150 staff under Mr Halkitis’ leadership and continues to undertake diverse projects across the Territory, including mining, earthmoving, residential and commercial development.
HB Group has sought to remain environmentally friendly under Mr Halkitis’ leadership, with the commissioning of solar power generation at key production sites and the reduction of waste across all their divisions.
Additionally, since 1960, HB Group have been closely involved in Darwin’s local community, being sponsors of multiple football clubs, Palmerston’s Variety Special Children’s Christmas Party, the Lion’s Club Children’s Film Festival, and Darwin GleNTIi.
79. Randazzo Family
The two strands of the Randazzo family have been making an oversized contribution to development in the Territory for more than 70 years.
Only a handful of Territorians were in business when first cousins Tony, now deceased, and Charlie, arrived here in the early 1950s.
Tony Randazzo, father of Carlo and Paolo, is behind Randazzo Investments which owns numerous commercial premises in Darwin including 66 Smith Street in Darwin, Highway House in Palmerston and the Randazzo Centre in Katherine as well as Darwin CBD’s Mitchell Centre.
Charlie, who is well into his 80s, was behind Randazzo C&G Developments which also owns a suite of CBD and other properties.
But which this year completed its redevelopment of Darwin Plaza in Smith Street mall and renamed the complex The Power House after pioneering Territorian Felix Holmes, who is attributed with bringing electricity to the Territory.
C&G Developments has a number of premises upgrades in the wings over the next few years.
78. Matt Paterson
Another year as Alice Springs Mayor for Mr Paterson and another year where the main issue keeping him awake at night has been crime.
It’s the ongoing issue that has plagued the region for some time, and prompted a fleeting fly-in visit from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The crime issue even crept into the sporting world, with Mr Paterson going to war with AFLNT to keep a community competition out of Alice Springs.
Aside from crime, the revitalisation of the Alice Springs CBD remains a big focus for council as they work to make Alice a place to be for locals and tourists alike.
And a new Bonza deal, which Paterson showed all to support, will open the region up even more to the rest of the world.
77. Kon Vatskalis
The Darwin Lord Mayor is a voice Territorians know well, always willing to speak up on issues relating to council and otherwise.
A former Labor pollie, Mr Vatskalis is in his second term as Lord Mayor and has no issues being a loud voice fighting for Darwin regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Darwin ratepayers had a rate increase of five per cent in 2023 as council drives projects not only in the Darwin CBD but in the surrounding suburbs as well.
In a plan billed by the mayor as “responsive, responsible and relevant” the council’s biggest spend was on waste management.
More than $19m was dedicated to capital works such as the Casuarina Pool redevelopment, while fund were also dedicated to street and public parking and night patrols.
The Bundilla Beach redevelopment plan is another project Mr Vatskalis is eager to see come to fruition, making the area a must-see location for everyone.
76. Greg Ireland
The boss of the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce Greg Ireland leads the “voice of Territory business” which represents the interest of employers and business owners across the region.
A founding director of Darwin-based high-tech security company STS, Mr Ireland sat on the Chamber board for eight years.
He spent six years as Chairman, before successfully applying for the position of chief executive from a field of 58 international, national and local applicants.
With more than 1200 members across 19 industries, Greg Ireland has readily voiced the concerns of the Territory’s business community on issues of crime, employment and development through continued engagement and conference surveys designed to assess the business community’s priorities.
75. Natasha Griggs
Alice Springs raised, Ms Griggs was the Top End Solomon electorate’s first and only female MP, falling victim to the inexplicable 2016 swing against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Moving on from the defeat, she spent five years as administrator of the Indian Ocean Territory’s including Christmas Island before returning full time to her Palmerston home in late 2022.
Since then the IT specialist has landed a plumb job with a leading Territory player in the sector and has returned to public life, albeit in a low key manner, as President of the NT Chamber of Commerce.
74. Shaun Drabsch
Chief executive of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade Shaun Drabsch leads the Territory’s ambition to become a $40 billion economy.
With more than 30 years public service experience, Mr Drabsch served as the senior economic advisor to the former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, the assistant co-ordinator general in Queensland and as chief of staff to a Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
Mr Drabsch joined his current department in 2019 and now answers to Chief Minister Eva Lawler in delivering a regulatory framework that enables growth, market access and stakeholder certainty.
Up until a few years ago, Mr Drabsch was in the most powerful couple contest, having previously been in a relationship with former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
73. John Tate
Every sporting club has a mainstay.
Somebody who is at the ground pretty much every day preparing for the week ahead to ensure the team can concentrate on training and winning and not peripheral issues like ground management or securing sponsorship.
At Nightcliff Cricket Club, that mainstay is John Tate – a former opening batsman with the Tiges who’s been an influential and popular presence at the picturesque suburban oval for decades.
As well as numerous roles on the club board and his pivotal role in establishing a women’s team, John’s most significant contribution has been pitch preparation – with many arguing it’s the best wicket in the competition.
His service to the community earnt him a singular and deserved gong – named Citizen of the Year by City of Darwin at this year’s awards.
72. Elliot McAdam
An influential and well-known face of the Red Centre, Elliot McAdam remains one of the Territory’s most powerful more than 15 years since he left the Territory Government.
Known for his spectacular resignation from government in 2008 on a point of principle, Mr McAdam has continued to be an influential figure in Central Australia.
Now in his seventies, Mr McAdam lives in Tennant Creek and is a member of the Barkly Regional Council, and continues to have a significant stake in local affairs.
71. Tony Crowe
The NRL NT remains the dominant sport in the Top End Dry Season, and participation rates continue to soar across its growing divisions.
Tony Crowe is approaching his third year as general manager at NRLNT, and has brought plenty of professionalism to the organisation.
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.
Crowe has overseen two seasons of the competition now and has helped It grow to new heights, with games now streamed across the country.
The women’s game in particular has seen massive growth, with the rep side going undefeated in the National Championships.
70. Judith Kelly
Justice Judith Kelly AO has sat as a judge of the NT Supreme Court since 2009, only the second woman to do so since it was established in 1911.
She has been no stranger to controversy, with her passionate views on issues like domestic violence sometimes polarising many in the legal and wider community.
After inviting the media’s cameras into her courtroom, she sentenced a brutal domestic murderer to life in prison at the end of 2021.
In 2022 she again called out the Territory’s “total epidemic of domestic violence” and questioned whether police shootings of Aboriginal men should be treated as more of a priority than the scores of deaths of Aboriginal women at the hands of their partners.
Last year she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for her distinguished service to judiciary, to the law, to professional associations and to women.
69. Dr Rob Parker
For a decade Dr Rob Parker has been the voice advocating for the health and safety of Territorians, and the people who heal them.
The Territory’s Australian Medical Association branch 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, increased hospital presentations and the realities of ‘living with Covid’.
Dr Parker has been a vocal critic of the strains on the health system, which have culminated in several Code Yellows this year.
At the time, Dr Parker blamed staff shortages and inadequate bed capacity, as a “result of underfunding by both sides of government over many years”.
When the government’s $259m integrated electronic health records system Acacia was unceremoniously dumped, Dr Parker said it was “massive investment for the government, so it has to work”.
Alongside his work in the media spotlight, Dr Parker is known to work behind the scenes to secure changes in the hospitals, including securing a second entrance to Royal Darwin Hospital
With an election looming, and the hospital system under increasing political scrutiny, Dr Parker is expected to play an interesting role in the coming 12 months.
68. Sam Gibson
Gibson is well into his third season at the helm of AFLNT, and therefore at the top of the NT’s biggest sport.
The former Tennis NT leader has overseen continued success in the role with participation numbers, particularly in the junior and female ranks, skyrocketing.
Gibson originally joined the AFLNT as Stadium, Facilities and Government Manager, but quickly found himself in the top job when former chief executive Stuart Totham departed.
Gibson has continued to support AFLNT’s relationship with the NT News and KommunityTV allowing the publication to exclusively live broadcast NTFL matches to screens across the country.
The partnership is currently in its fourth season and continues to benefit both parties, with games seen by more people than ever before.
Prior to heading up sport organisations, Gibson worked in NT government roles and studied a Bachelor of Business and Sport Administration.
67. Nicole Manison
Nicole Manison walked from her role as Deputy Chief Minister and was denied a place in the NT’s top job, but is still considered an industry powerhouse.
Since last year, she has dropped from 6 to 67 among the NT’s most powerful people.
Ms Manison announced her retirement from NT politics and is set to step down as the Member for Wanguri in the upcoming election.
Shortly after her resignation announcement, Ms Manison revealed she was stepping down to spend more time with family.
66. Mark Monaghan
Making his debut among the NT’s most powerful, Mark Monaghan made the jump from Speaker to Minister in a similar fashion to his predecessor, Ngaree Ah Kit.
Mr Monaghan now holds the Education, Mining, and Agribusiness and Fisheries portfolios.
In his first months as a minister, the long-term Territorian celebrated education milestones and fielded mining catastrophes such as the temporary closure of some Core Lithium sites.
Mr Monaghan is set to have a major role in coming months as the education sector enters its bilateral agreements negotiations.
He’s also hard at work bolstering the NT’s education funding in partnership with his federal counterpart, Jason Clare.
65. Louise McCormick
Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics chief executive Andrew Kirkman took leave this year and was replaced in the role by Infrastructure Commissioner Louise McCormick.
Her performance in the role led to her promotion to deputy chief executive when Kirkman returned in November.
Ms McCormick worked herself through the departmental ranks, flipping from her private sector job with Highland Infrastructure Group in June 2014 to take up a public sector position as executive director, Transport Infrastructure Planning with the then Department of Transport.
With over 20 years’ engineering experience, as Infrastructure Commissioner her job is to persuade government and the private sector to deliver infrastructure funding at a national level to the country’s least developed jurisdiction.
64. Jason Schoolmeester
Born and raised in the Northern Territory, Jason Schoolmeester is a multi-professional – a certified practising accountant who also worked as a commercial lawyer with the Department of Attorney General and Justice.
His focus on major infrastructure and industry projects including the Alice Springs to Darwin railway, gas pipelines and the Darwin Marine Supply Base laid the foundation for his eventual ascent to one of the three commissioner roles the Labor Government hopes will deliver the Territory a $40bn economy by 2030.
The Government remains optimistic that it will achieve that target despite the intervention of Covid-19 and the NT’s flat investment market – and if it is to be achieved Schoolmeester will be central to securing and locking in that growth.
He has worked as a senior policy officer with the Office of Chief Minister during Michael Gunner’s time in government and as a director of Investment Territory.
63. Nicholas Paspaley
The Territory’s richest homegrown corporation ranks among the Territory’s most powerful for another season.
The Paspaley family arrived in Australia as refugees from Greece after the Great War and started harvesting pearls across Northern Australia, including Darwin.
Today, the company is led by Nicholas Paspaley Jr and more than 40 per cent of the business’s turnover is pearling related, but has branched out into aviation, retail, pastoral holdings and commercial property.
With an estimated value of more than $1 billion, the luxury retailer has been the face of the pearling industry for more generations and remains a constant contender for the Financial Review’s richest 200 list.
62. Wayne Zerbe
Well-connected and avuncular, Wayne Zerbe’s public profile might not be what it was before he handed over the reins of the Palmerston Regional Business Association, but his influence is undiminished.
Mr Zerbe handed over his brightly coloured jacket as PRBA President in 2021 after 22 years spruiking all things positive about Top End business.
PRBA’s profile and influence matched that of Darwin’s Chamber of Commerce and Mr Zerbe’s popular TV spot, Around Palmerston, networked Top End business and was a must watch for business people wanting to stay in the know.
Mr Zerbe moved to the Territory from Victoria in the early 1970s and was here as the Territory achieved self government in 1978 and its business ecosystems evolved.
Despite his children and grandchildren living in the ACT, Mr Zerbe remains true to the Territory, where he has an enormous circle of contacts and friends.
61. Charlie King
There are few Territory voice more familiar than ABC’s Grandstand presenter Charlie King, who bring his wealth of sports knowledge and gentle nature to every presentation.
However, it is the Gurindji man’s push to shine a constant light on domestic and family violence that will be one of his biggest legacies.
His No More campaign, an Indigenous initiative to prevent violence, has a constant presence around sporting grounds calling for change.
King offers his voice on issues of violence and racism in sport, and fronts media to speak out about the raising rates of violence in community, sport and families.
A member of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement Board, King was present for the bipartisan signing of the agreement in 2022.
60. Peggy Cheong
Peggy Cheong is the executive director of NT WorkSafe and is responsible for the regulation of work health and safety, dangerous goods, electrical safety and worker’s compensation in the Northern Territory.
The experienced litigation lawyer had nearly 30 years of experience in the work health and safety environment before taking on the role in 2022.
Given the limitations of their small team Ms Cheong has achieved plenty of high level prosecutions, while trialling new industrial manslaughter laws.
The regulator wasn’t short of work in her first full year in the role with Titan Plant Hire being handed a record fine for failing in their duty of care leading to the death of a worker.
In early February 2024 the team found sufficent evidence to charge Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, and his company, for allegedly failing in their duty of care to maintain the time keeping of their aircraft.
She has been spotted once or twice playing Pokemon Go in the courtroom, truly one for catching them all.
59. Karen Vohland
One of the Territory’s most respected public servants, Karen Vohland is the executive director of Strategic Communications and Engagement in the Department of Chief Minister and in 2023 was awarded for excellence in the public sector.
A highly effective negotiator and persuasive communicator, Ms Vohland made the NT News’ most powerful list in 2019 for her exploits in spearheading the Boundless Possible initiative, putting her capability on the radar across the Territory.
Ms Vohland has been recognised for her innovative approaches in how the Territory’s public service functions, including the introduction of neuromarketing, Omni-channel digital experience design, program logic, nine day fortnights for staff and applying artificial intelligence in a government workplace.
Highly regarded, Ms Vohland ranks among the Territory’s most powerful.
58. Steve Edgington
The Barkly MLA has always been a passionate and vocal advocate for his electorate and the issues impacting Tennant Creek, particularly matters of crime.
A key player in the CLP party, Edington’s shadow portfolios include the attorney general and justice, mining and industry, Aboriginal Affairs, children, local government, treaty and local decision making and the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.
And with those portfolios it’s easy to see why he backs himself in his continuous criticism of the government’s handling of crime, particularly in the southern region of the NT.
This election year marks a big year for the CLP man, particularly after he only won by the skin of his teeth in 2020.
Win it again and it’s likely ‘Edgo’ will find himself much further up the rankings come the next list.
57. Cathryn Tilmouth
In her role as executive director of the NT Minerals Council, Cathryn Tilmouth looks set to have a busy year if the first six weeks of 2024 are anything to go by.
In the space of four weeks, two Territory mines bit the dust; Core Lithium’s Grants mine and Peko’s iron ore and gold mine near Tennant Creek.
In addition, Rio’s Gove bauxite mine and South32’s Groote Eylandt manganese mine are expected to close by 2030.
Given the Territory had only eight operating mines at the start of 2024 and there’s now only six, that’s a 25 per cent cut in NT mine numbers in the blink of an eye.
Despite the challenges faced with establishing and maintaining mining operations in the Territory, exploration figures suggest the sector is still on the lookout for opportunities, even if they’re not ready to cash them in just yet.
Ms Tilmouth is part of a famous Territory family who have always been prepared to be part of the political fray.
She worked for the NT’s first Labor government after its 2001 election and also with former federal Labor resources and energy minister Martin Ferguson.
In more recent times she worked with popular former resources minister Ken Vowles and also with Santos. She is a Darwin Festival board member.
56. Joel Bowden
After jumping from back-bencher to Minister, Joel Bowden stands to make big waves across the NT in 2024.
Mr Bowden has climbed from 79 among the NT News’ Most Powerful list to 56.
The Johnston MLA was previously considered a potential competitor for the Territory’s top leadership position but was pipped at the post twice – first by Natasha Fyles and then Eva Lawler.
In 2023’s short-lived battle for the top spot, it was revealed Chief Minister Eva Lawler’s interest in the role stemmed from her frustration with Mr Bowden.
He now holds the Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Business and Jobs, Skills, Training and International Education, Tourism and Hospitality, and Recreational Fishing portfolios.
55. Lloyd Babb
Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions Lloyd Babb has been in the top job for nearly two years now after coming across from the same role in NSW.
Mr Babb has done a fine job in charge of the numerous NT Prosecutors who appear before all Territory courts as well as the High Court of Australia representing the Territory in criminal trials.
When Mr Babb’s time wound up in NSW in 2022 many thought he would be appointed a judge in the NSW Supreme Court or even the High Court.
Instead he chose to head to the Top End to lead the prosecution team looking to keep the NT safe.
Mr Babb spent time in the NT before taking on the role while successfully prosecuting the case against triple murderer Ben Hoffmann.
54. Doug Pashley
Robertson Barracks commander, Brigadier Doug Pashley, is a large presence around the NT due to his role within the Australian Defence Force.
Brigadier Pashley has had a long serving and distinguished career that has seen him hold numerous high level roles right across Australia before taking on the position at Robertson Barracks.
He was recently on hand at the Darwin Convention Centre to welcome in the Territory’s newest soldiers and their families.
He was also alongside the Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlewaite and Solomon member Luke Gosling when they announced a $22m investment to upgrade Robertson Barracks.
Brigadier Pashley’s role also sees him play a large part in Territory commemoration ceremonies including Remembrance Day where he made a key speech honouring service personnel of the past.
53. Robyn Lambley
Robyn Lambley has consistently advocated for the people of Alice Springs and will no doubt continue to do so throughout 2024.
The wildcard independent is quick to point out the government’s tricks and trip-ups and is a loud voice in debate surrounding police, crime, and prisons.
Ms Lambley’s at-times unpredictable nature is both lauded and condemned, often seeing her in trouble with the Speaker.
The Araluen MLA never hesitates to speak her mind, whether she’s laughing off the NT government’s ‘terror ban’ following a crepe attack on former-Chief Minister Natasha Fyles or calling out the NT’s political “circus”.
52. Grant Wilson
The bloodless corporate coup Grant Wilson led against the directors of resources group TNG in late 2022 laid the foundations for Tivan, a start-up company with ambitions to fast-track development of redox flow battery technology at Middle Arm.
His first move was to dump TNG’s wildly unsuccessful plan to develop the Mt Peake vanadium-titanium resource in Central Australia, instead shifting his focus to the Speewah resource in Western Australia and signing up to the NT government’s plan for a sustainable development precinct at Middle Arm.
Wilson did what most corporate leaders won’t do – relocated Tivan’s head office in Darwin – and even more unusually hosted a well-attended annual general meeting in Darwin late last year.
He has recruited a crack team to get the project off the ground including former Fortescue adviser and deputy reserve bank governor Dr Guy Debelle.
A former hedge-fund manager and columnist with the Financial Review, Wilson grew-up in Alice Springs and has a sustainable energy vision for the Territory.
Former Mining Minister Nicole Manison once praised him publicly, saying everything he said he’d do, he’d done.
Hopefully the same applies with his battery plant.
51. Mary Chalmers
Mary Chalmers SC is one of the Territory’s top barristers and president of the NT Bar Association.
Raised in Nhulunbuy and Darwin, she is a founding member of Murray Chambers NT and has worked on some of the jurisdictions biggest cases, including the trial of Zach Rolfe, and the trial of disgraced former police commissioner John McRoberts.
She’s contributed to several Royal Commissions and is a founding member of the Domestic Violence Justice Reform Network.
Ms Chalmers makes it on the list as a legal powerhouse, one reporter hearing a curious onlooker ask another: “how did they get off?”
The answer: “Mary Chalmers was their lawyer.”
50. Richard Fejo
Richard Fejo is a font of cultural knowledge, but his influence throughout Darwin extends far beyond just that aspect.
The chairman of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and former chairman of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation is known for adding his voice to issues of cultural significance.
His welcomes to country are legendary, his most famous being in the Essendon and Richmond Dreamtime game in 2020, while he has welcomed people of all professions through his saltwater ceremonies.
The Larrakia and Warramangu man has pioneered turning the Waterfront into a festival and concert location, pushing it as a must-come and inclusive location.
He has held various roles educating in the Top End, including co-chairman of the Australian National Cultural Educator/Cultural Mentor Network between 2013 and 2018.
49. Ruth Palmer
The Property Council executive director’s 2023 included a Dry Season wedding – complete with a baby crocodile – and name change to Ruth Uzkuraitis, although her professional name will remain Ruth Palmer.
A hard-working advocate for Darwin CBD’s commercial property sector, Ms Palmer has broadened the Property Council’s reach by also using the organisation as a vehicle to push for
Territory-wide economic enhancements.
Housing – or the lack thereof – is a key concern, with Ms Palmer worried about the potential a housing shortage could have on workforce growth.
Her advocacy persuaded government to establish a Northern Australian Housing Alliance, which could eventually prove embarrassing for it if targets aren’t achieved.
48. Alex Underwood
Front and centre to developments in the Beetaloo Basin is Alex Underwood who, again, sits among the Territory’s most powerful.
The chief executive of Empire Energy Group Ltd boasts more than 15 years’ experience in specialist upstream oil and gas management, investing and financing and has business experience in Singapore, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.
Hopeful that production in the Beetaloo Basin will occur by 2025, Mr Underwood has built a reputation for delivering projects in the Territory on time, on budget, and with the continued consultation of Traditional Owners and other landholders.
With billions at stake, Mr Underwood’s performance will be keenly watched.
47. Warren Ebert
Warren Ebert’s moved up the list from his debut appearance last year, in part because of his ongoing commitment to the Territory and securing the half-a-billion dollars plus he has invested in Darwin and Palmerston.
Over the past five years since finalising the purchase of Casuarina Square in early 2022, the Sentinel Property Group owner has worked with government and its agencies to improve
the experience for shoppers at the centre and worked with government to clarify trespass laws as they applied to banning recidivist offenders.
The company has committed to undertake works in excess of $20m to improve security and amenity at Casuarina through construction of a new three-story carpark, relocating the travelator and stairway from the carpark and pioneering a new model for selling takeaway alcohol.
He has made it clear to secondary school students who think they own the centre, that poor behavior will not be tolerated.
Casuarina Square celebrated 50 years in 2023, with Mr Ebert and the Sentinel team putting on a birthday bash to remember.
Mr Ebert believes the importance of Casuarina Square to the Territory is reflected in its patronage, with up to 30 per cent of Darwin’s population visiting there on Boxing Day.
46. Yingiua Guyula
Climbing up 10 spots on this year’s list is independent Mulka MLA Yingiua Guyula.
The proud Yolngu leader once again peppered the parliament with questions ranging from health care to interpreters and courts.
He made headlines multiple times in 2023, advocating for the Yes campaign after early doubts around the Voice to Parliament.
In May he put pressure on the Prime Minister to visit remote communities in the NT to ensure they were educated about what the Voice would mean.
Despite the Voice failing, Mr Guyula will no doubt continue to bring the concerns of his electorate, which covers Gove, Nhulunbuy and the Elcho Islands, to parliament should he retain his seat for a third term.
45. John Paterson
The chief executive of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT, John Paterson has been vocal on all the issues affecting members of his community.
And in 2023 Dr Paterson even took over for a short-lived stint as the acting chief executive of embattled legal organisation North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency.
He continued to advocate for immunisation and communication around the dangers of Covid-19, although as it drifted from the public’s memory it saw him drop a few places on the Most Powerful List.
The AMSANT boss is also on the Aboriginal Peak Organisations group and the Menzies School of Medicine strategic board.
His tireless service to Aboriginal health has not gone unnoticed, with Paterson awarded the Darwin’s NAIDOC Week Person of the Year Award in 2022.
44. Sitzler
Considered the go-to company for Defence projects in the region, Sitzler Pty Ltd is, again, among the Territory’s most powerful in 2024.
The Territory-based business has been tasked with upgrades across Robertson Barracks, Bradshaw Station, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey, and the Larrakeyah Base entry project with a combined worth of around $800 million.
The company’s significant role in bolstering the nation’s security was affirmed following Defence Minister Richard Marles’ confirmation in 2023 that the Territory would play a part in the commonwealth’s ambitious Defence Strategic Review.
Consequently, managing director Steve Margetic and his team have, in turn, drawn the interest of Australia’s most powerful figures in Canberra.
The Territory-based business has come a long way since its establishment in 1976 when it built in some of the most remote locations in Australia.
43. Ben Carter
Ben Carter’s move to the Territory to head Master Builders NT in 2022 coincided with a serious slump in housing construction and a surge in Defence spending, which has offset some of the housing slowdown and helped keep the economy ticking along.
As well as its advocacy work, Master Builders also likes to crunch numbers to back up its assertions and it delivered in spades last year
It commissioned the ACIL Allen report identifying Defence would spend a whopping $6.2bn in the Territory over the next four years and contribute to 7640 direct and indirect jobs at its investment peak.
It concluded by the next financial year Defence employees would make up 7.4 per cent of the fulltime Territory workforce on projects across the ADF’s investments portfolio, United States
defence projects and base upgrades.
Mr Carter is not afraid to speak out when issues arise but his background in marketing over a decade with Master Builders and before that Chamber of Commerce means he also knows when to hold back.
42. Milima May
An activist, artist, writer and lawyer, Milima May is one of the youngest members on this year’s Most Powerful List after several years of consistent and tough campaigning.
A Danggalaba Kulumbirigin Tiwi woman, Ms May is the chief executive of grassroots, Darwin-based organisation Uprising of the People – a non-for-profit group focused on the Indigenous communities’ land rights struggle.
Before that, Ms May was employed as a paralegal cadet at Gilbert and Tobin and for a time worked as a Community Legal Educator at NAAJA where she delivered classes to children in Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and even directed short films to teach people legal education.
A proud and young local, the Top End-based advocate has become well known in the Territory, but it’s her long-term, future prospects that could raise her placement in the most powerful rankings.
41. Luke Gosling
The third term Member for Solomon is a familiar sight for people going out and about in the Top End, and has become one in parliament too.
Mr Gosling has held the Solomon seat longer than anyone, and though he remains a backbencher without a portfolio will still have his eye on some higher honours.
The long-time Darwin resident has played a role in supporting his region, and if it came down to it it’s the North Australia or Foreign Policy portfolios that he would have his eye on.
A veteran of the Australian Defence Force, he was relentless in pursuing a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and earlier co-sponsored the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022.
Will continue playing a role for the Territory going forward and remains in a strong position on the Most Powerful List as a result.
40. Yalmey Yunupingu
Yolngu teacher, linguist and community leader Yalmay Yunupingu was named the Senior Australian of the Year for 2024 after a long distinguished career in education.
Ms Yunupingu worked as a teacher at the Yirrkala Bilingual School for more than four decades where she championed education in both English and Yolngu Matha.
Even in retirement Ms Yunupingu hasn’t stopped teaching, now advising younger generations about traditional healing practices.
Ms Yunupingu used her Senior Australian of the Year speech as a platform to make a plea for more support for Aboriginal medicine.
“Our people are sick and dying, young and old, unfortunately western medicine is not working on its own, we need to marry both worlds of healing,” she said.
39. Malarndirri McCarthy
Senator for the Northern Territory and former journalist Malarndirri McCarthy has long been a person of power in the NT.
In 2023 she was the driving force behind calls for the input of “critical infrastructure” to help address violent crime in the NT, constantly using her place in the Senate to make sure the NT’s problems are heard.
Ms McCarthy also wasn’t backwards in coming forwards on her position when it came to The Voice to parliament and had a fiery clash with Nationals senator Matt Canavan over the issue.
The Yanyuwa woman was first elected as senator in 2016 after first starting her working life as a journalist for the ABC.
38. Danial Rochford
Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford would have known he wasn’t in for an easy ride soon after he took the role in May 2020.
Covid had shut down the country, but in the wash-up the Territory was open for business and the 2021-2022 tourist season will be remembered as one of the greats.
He had fantastic product to sell, too, with the Centre’s natural beauty and events like Parrtjima light festival to blow the minds – and hopefully wallets – of pandemic-weary southerners.
But changes in alcohol policy saw a surge in violence in the town that shocked the community and eventually resulted in national headlines.
Tourism Central Australia’s membership, articulately explained by Mr Rochford, mobilized and publicly called on the government to take immediate action, saying it could jeopardise tourism in the town for years.
The government copped it in silence but in a bizarre intervention, before he left the role in ignominy, Qantas boss Alan Joyce took a swipe at the town’s tourism sector, calling on them to do more to promote the town.
Unfazed, Mr Rochford returned serve, pointing out Qantas’ reduction in flights to the town.
Rochford has also swatted away critics of start-up budget carrier Bonza for its welcome contribution since flights began landing in Alice Springs late last year.
37. Selena Uibo
It’s been a topsy turvy year for Ms Uibo if you take her portfolios into account.
No longer does the Member for Arnhem hold the Energy or Essential Services portfolios, and long gone are the days of her being the Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
But she has come into 2024 as the Health Minister, one of the most important and prominent portfolios – and the one that shot former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles into the spotlight during Covid.
It means she rises several places on the list from her number 54 in 2022 to a solid 37 for 2023, and should she retain her seat in the election, and Labor go on to win, her star could rise even higher.
Her other portfolios including Remote Housing and Homelands, Parks and Rangers, Local Decision Making, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Public Employment, and Corporate and Digital Development.
36. Bill Yan
Namatjira MLA Bill Yan has made a strong debut among the NT’s Most Powerful.
As the Opposition Treasurer and Health, Public Employment, Disabilities, and Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Spokesman, Mr Yan stands to rise among the Territory’s Legislative Assembly.
The Alice Springs resident is also a strong voice for his community, and has been known to pitch in when his neighbours need a hand.
With an election looming in August, there is little doubt Mr Yan could be a key influencer among the NT’s pollies and decision-makers.
35. Kate Worden
Kate Worden has been knocked down a few pegs in the powerlist rating, dropping from 24 to 35 in 12 months following a series of cabinet reshuffles.
Sanderson politician was given the poison chalice sitting on both the ministries of Police and Territory Families - which many saw as conflicting portfolios given the politicisation of youth crime.
The Sanderson MLA lost both these departments, splitting them between political newcomer Brent Potter and former Speaker Ngaree Ah Kit in an attempt to diffuse some of that conflict.
Ms Worden remains a five-ministry politician: with climate change and water security, renewables and energy, essential services, sport and domestic violence departments.
It is hoped that Ms Worden will continue to put pressure on the Federal Government to commit to needs-based funding for domestic violence.
But in the meantime the local domestic violence advocates are just calling for Ms Worden to meet the $160m funding shortfall, according to her own government’s internal reports.
Ms Worden will also be responsible for getting the government on track for its ambitious target to reach 50 per cent renewable energy target within just six years – a goal many experts believe the NT will miss by a mile under the current trajectory.
The long-serving politician held a strong margin of 69 per cent of the Sanderson electorate in 2020, but after four years handling some of the most divisive departments in cabinet all eyes will be on her in the election.
34. Darren Clarke
When the digital news age began, it was expected to spawn a new era of ‘citizen journalists’, regular people who would provide immediate, up-to-date news coverage via social media platforms to gazump mainstream media.
This largely didn’t happen, except in Alice Springs, where the local paper’s print edition closed and the radio station had slashed the local news format and was streaming John Laws from Sydney.
Enter local businessman Darren Clarke, who filled the town’s gaping media void spectacularly. Through his social media page Action for Alice 2020, Mr Clarke has documented surging crime levels in the town that made the rest of the country take notice.
The vision of violence and youth crime he posted last year attracted the attention of Sydney radio figure Ben Fordham, which in town caught the eye of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and finally PM Anthony Albanese.
The latter made a mercy-dash to Alice Springs to tell the NT Government to fix up alcohol policy, and handed over $250m.
This was the start of a roller-coaster year for Mr Clarke, who Fordham publicly acknowledged for providing the year’s best news tip.
Mr Clarke’s campaign isn’t about individual honours, it’s about returning normality to the Central Australian town.
33. Denise Bowden
Denise Bowden is a key player and advocate in the world of Indigenous education and economic reform.
She is the chief executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and was a driving force behind the Garma Festival’s $30m success after a two-year hiatus in 2022.
Ms Bowden has also proven herself as a fierce advocate for Indigenous and women’s rights.
Constantly pushing the agenda for both, Bowden has worked extensively with Yolngu clans in northeast Arnhem Land.
As the election looms and Territorians ponder what is best for the region from top to bottom, Ms Bowden stands to make huge waves in how the debate shapes up.
32. Nigel Browne
Soaring up the list to make the top 40 of the NT’s Most Powerful, unsurprisingly, is the chief executive of Larrakia Development Corporation.
Nigel Browne has been in the role for 10 years but 2023 may have been his biggest challenge yet.
Speaking on divisive issues for First Nations people in the NT, including whether or not Lee Point is a sacred site and the impact of the Middle Arm Development Precinct on valuable history, there was no shortage of work for Mr Browne.
It wasn’t all negative though, with the LDC owned Larrakia Energy signing a memorandum of understanding to co-build a $200m solar farm.
A Larrakia/Wulna man, Browne began his journey with the LDC in 2005 and has climbed the ladder from director to chairman to chief executive.
2024 looks set to be just as exciting for the corporation and the man at the helm.
31. Will Evans
Will Evans took over as NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive in early 2021 – and there’s been pretty much no let-up ever since.
Taking over a key export sector during a global pandemic was testing enough, but as Covid pressures eased, assorted other challenges emerged to an industry that exports about 400,000 head per year - or about 32 per cent of the nation’s live cattle exports.
In July Indonesia, the Territory’s largest cattle export market, banned trade with 13 Australian cattle stations including three in the Territory after a small number of lumpy skin disease cases were identified in a Jakarta export yard.
Malaysia followed suit with a total ban on all Aussie cattle exports a few weeks later.
Mr Evans avoided knee-jerk responses to the false suggestion by Indonesia that Australian cattle had LSD, and trod a diplomatic path that eventually resulted in both countries lifting their bans and trade returning.
Natural disasters also hurt cattlemen, with floods and fires damaging pastures, killing stock and diverting resources.
In what is considered the worst bushfire season in a decade, Mr Evans called for alternatives to the current system where volunteer fire crews battle blazes the size of European countries.
“Australia needs to modernise its approach to fire management and adopt international best practice standards to ensure that we are preparing for bigger and hotter fires into the future. What we’re doing today isn’t working.”
30. Joe Martin-Jard
A passionate advocate for Aboriginal Territorians, Joe Martin-Jard has helped navigate the Northern Land Council through a year of highs - celebrating their 50th anniversary - and lows with the tragic loss of two leaders.
The Northern Land Council chief executive has taken a vocal stance against the Lee Point bushland clearing - saying the Darwin defence development represented a swathe of rushed land clearing permits that did not allow time for proper community consultation.
Mr Martin-Jard also recently celebrated major Native Title wins over a dredge waste site near the McArthur River Mine.
The chief executive stepped into the spotlight following the passing of both Samuel Bush-Blanasi and Yunupingu, committing in the NLC’s latest annual report to continue to fight to activate Land and Sea rights.
The former Central Land Council chief executive jumped to the Top End organisations in December 2021, after two years in the same role in the Central Land Council.
While in the CLC, Mr Martin-Jard promoted how a coordinated response to protect remote Territorians from Covid had created positive side effects, including addressing food security, eased overcrowding in town camps, and increased Centrelink payments to offset the high cost of living.
Born and raised in the Northern Territory with family ties to the Kamilaroi people, Mr Martin-Jard has spent all of his working life for Aboriginal empowerment, with experience navigating many Federal bureaucracies including the Prime Minister and Cabinet, National Indigenous Australians Agency and the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
Mr Martin-Jard also has experience in the private sector, with his own Aboriginal-owned Top End labour hire company, with experience in social services in Danila Dibla and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory.
29. David Connelly
If you were backs-to-the-walls in the trenches, NT Cattlemen’s Association president David Connolly is the bloke you’d want in your corner.
General manager of the Tipperary Group of Stations 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.
Most recently, 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 and he gave short-shrift to a stage invader who bored patrons senseless at an NT Resources Week session with a turgid anti-development lecture.
But cotton, not cattle, was where Connolly’s 2023 hit its peak, with the launch of the Western Australia-Northern Territory cotton gin near Katherine.
In keeping with the NT Government’s policy to diversify the economy, Connolly has been driving development of a local cotton industry linked with cattle stations.
The launch of the $70m asset in December was a triumph of economics over greens scare-mongering.
28. Michael Grant
As he rounds out his eighth year at the pinnacle of the Territory’s justice system, NT Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Grant’s influence is as pronounced as ever.
As the Territory’s top judge, there are few voices more respected or listened to than that of the Chief Justice’s.
Having also now sat as chairman of the Judicial Commission for more than two years, Chief Justice Grant holds sway over complaints about his fellow judges.
With crime a perennial issue at the forefront of many Territorians’ mind, Chief Justice Grant and his fellow judges’ pronouncements from the bench will continue to make news for as long as he remains in the role.
27. Grahame Webb
Crocs are always a hot topic in the Territory, so it should come as no surprise to see the expert ranked high among the most powerful.
Grahame Webb - a zoology researcher and croc extraordinaire - is a powerful environmental voice among Territorians.
The Crocodylus Park founder has weighed in on almost every croc debate pressing on the NT, including a dramatic call for culling after a man was attacked while swimming in Wangi Falls last year.
26. Ken Davies
Well-known public servant Ken Davies made a spectacluar comeback this year when, months after retiring from NTPS, he replaced Frank Daly as Department of Chief Miniseter and cabinet chief executive.
Mr Davies has had an illustrious career in senior public sector roles. He was appointed Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities chief executive in 2020 and was a driving force behind improving social outcomes for communities across the state.
Mr Davies started his career as a teacher before moving to Darwin in 1999, where he went on to work in several government departments.
He was the CEO of Territory Families when the agency implemented the recommendations from the 2016 Royal Commission into the detention and protection of children in the NT.
Mr Davies was awarded a Public Service Medal for his work in 2020.
25. Elizabeth Morris
The Chief Judge of the local court has remained a stalwart figure on the bench, despite crippling crime rates, constant politicisation of the courts and the collapse of legal aid services in the Territory.
Elizabeth Morris is the ultimate filter trying to wade through the quagmire of bureaucracy, delays and legal complexities in the lower courts.
In 2023, Ms Morris has adjudicated over cases where teenagers have been falsely accused of murder, accused criminals have languished in jail without legal representation, and vocally criticised laws she perceived as “absurd”.
This year the Local Court Chief Judge was awarded the Member of the Order after 14 years of serving in the local courts.
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.
Ms Morris was at the centre of the Territory’s most famous outback mysteries, and as a coroner brought the painful saga of the death of baby Azaria to a close in 2012 by declaring that a dingo was responsible for the nine-week-old’s death 32 years earlier.
With the pressure on the courts unlikely to ease and tough on crime politics looming over the election cycle, Ms Morris is likely to wield a great deal of power over a sadly increasing number of Territorians.
24. Brent Potter
Brent Potter is an emerging force in the Northern Territory political world.
Elected in August 2022, after former Chief Minister Michael Gunner stepped down from his seat of Fannie Bay, Mr Potter has already been trusted with some of the more difficult portfolios.
Following a cabinet reshuffle at the tail end of Natasha Fyles’ tenure and another when Eva Lawler came into power, he came away with Alcohol Policy, Police and Fire and Emergency Services.
He also holds the Major Events portfolio, which covers everything from the Darwin Supercars and the AFL fixtures to the famous BASSINTHEGRASS.
Fittingly the former Australian Army member, who toured Afghanistan, also received the Veterans Affairs portfolio leaving him with a busy 2023, and potentially beyond.
But heading into an election year, these are also portfolios where scrutiny will be higher.
23. Sean Bowden
There are few people more in the know on what’s going on in the Northern Territory than lawyer and AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden.
Mr Bowden is almost unmatched in his passion for driving opportunity and visibility to the NT, and equally so when it comes to pushing for the bush.
In 2021, Mr Bowden formed a taskforce that he co-chairs with Sport Minister Kate Worden 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 international events.
One of his big battles in 2023 was against Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson over the banning of the CAFL community competition from the city.
And while the goal remains to enhance facilities in remote communities down the track to field the competition, Mr Bowden ensured it went ahead within Alice Springs.
22. Russell Goldflam
Russell Goldflam’s star has risen considerably after taking over from Richard Coates as chairman of the Liquor Commission last year.
The experienced criminal lawyer has rocketed from number 109 on the 2022 list up to number 22 in 2024.
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 Criminal Lawyers Association of the Northern Territory from 2011 to 2017.
Goldflam had served as a member of the Liquor Commission for five years after retiring from legal practice in 2018 while continuing to work as a policy officer for NT Legal Aid, a post he resigned upon taking up the chairmanship of the Liquor Commission.
He is also a sessional member of the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, an official visitor to NT youth detention centres and deputy president of the NT Law Reform Committee.
21. Nathan Finn
Elected as President of the Northern Territory Police Association in 2023, Nathan Finn has catapulted into the NT News’ most powerful list.
With around two decades of frontline experience, Mr Finn has been front and centre to all issues concerning cops and is a fierce advocate for the empowerment and protection of the Territory police force.
Since becoming Association president, Mr Finn has been a constant voice for a stressed and stretched police force and has had multiple discussions with Police Minister Brent Potter on how to improve the force’s capability.
Entering an election year, Mr Finn’s impact is likely to increase as retention and recruitment remains an ongoing issue.
20. Chansey Paech
Chansey Paech was the star on the rise in 2023, heading into 2024 in one of the Territory’s strongest positions.
The Territory’s Attorney-General was one of the big winners of Natasha Fyles resignation as Chief Minister, coming into the New Year as Eva Lawler’s deputy chief minister.
Add that to his other key portfolios as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Local Government and Arts, Culture and Heritage, and the member for Gwoja was set for another year in the top ten.
His influence in those key positons and the respect he had gained in and out of cabinet made him one of the leading figures heading into the election year.
However, the man ranked second in 2022 has been shunted to spot 20 this time around, largely due to the recent shares scandal.
The former Alcohol Policy minister purchased shares in liquor and food wholesaler Metcash in May 2022, just before 15 years of Commonwealth Intervention-era bans ended.
Mr Paech divested from the company late in 2023 following a similar shares scandal that ultimately toppled Ms Fyles from the top job.
It came just days after he had been shortlisted for the McKinnon State and Territory Political Leader of the Year award for delivering reforms to criminal sentencing, age of responsibility, and domestic and family violence laws.
19. Joel Riddle
The random nastiness and implicit racism of the environmental movement is on full display
whenever United States born Tamboran chief executive Joel Riddle makes a public appearance in the Territory.
For reasons unclear, Mr Riddle is the lightning rod for protests and protesters opposing development in the Territory and the jobs and growth that would follow.
Friendly and upfront, Mr Riddle is happy to talk at length about the potential benefits of Tamboran’s investment in the Beetaloo Basin, not least of which are the potentially thousands of direct and indirect jobs the project will deliver.
As well as providing local gas to power the NT, Tamboran also has first dibs on a spot at Middle Arm sustainable development precinct where they want to develop an LNG plant.
Days after the government announced it had approved the Beetaloo project in March last year,
Mr Riddle held a press conference to show-off the giant Helmerich and Payne drill rig Tamboran had secured for the Beetaloo.
His opening words heartened at that media event – “it’s go time in the Beetaloo”, heartened those who think the way forward for the Territory is economic development.
18. Kevin Gallagher
Santos boss Kevin Gallagher endured a frustrating two-years as the Barossa gas project was stalled in the courts after successive actions taken by some Tiwi Islands TOs resisting the $7bn development.
The first occurred in late 2022 and resulted in an order for Santos to re-consult with community leaders and substantially delayed the project.
The next injunction, late last year, stopped the pipeline being laid off Tiwi Islands coastal waters but proved to be chronic over-reach, with Federal Court judge Natalie Charlesworth slamming environmentalists and cultural warriors who had mislead TOs on cultural matters relating to the development.
Of course, Santos expects a tidy profit from Barossa if it finally gets up and running, but the NT will also benefit from the investment and jobs associated with the project.
Scottish-born and based in Adelaide, Mr Gallagher and the Santos board’s persistence in the face of sustained legal activism represents an oversized contribution to the Territory.
17. Erina Early
It was a huge year for the United Workers Union NT secretary, and that shows with the huge climb Erina Early has made up the Most Powerful List.
Continuing to advocate for fair pay conditions for a number of industries, Ms Early had a busy 2023, with no signs of that stopping anytime soon.
Ms Early popped up in the news cycle being vocal about Corrections’ staff safety, concerns about Port workers pay and in calling for the fire service to be split from NT Police.
If the start of this year is anything to go by, Ms Early will continue to support all the workers she represents, from nurses and doctors to teachers and prison workers.
16. Alex Bruce
To misappropriate a Kenny Rogers lyric, the challenge of being an industry leader in the Territory is to “know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em”.
Hospitality NT’s chief executive Alex Bruce is an experienced political and industry advocate who has enjoyed solid relations with an unpredictable government by knowing the right moment to stick his head out of the trenches.
For instance, the hospitality sector carried the lion’s share of the Territory’s Covid-19 burden, which the industry largely tolerated, but Bruce spoke up when a mask mandate was called for 6pm on New Year’s Eve, 2021.
The decision appeared more about politics and perception than an actual health measure and eventually the mandate was lifted.
Mr Bruce was six months ahead of the government in the discussion around the replacement of Stronger Futures measures in regional communities and in recent months he’s begun a push for digital licensing, particularly how it would intersect with the banned drinker register.
At the end of last year, he made one of his biggest plays, calling out then chief minister Natasha Fyles for unilaterally cutting bottle shop hours in the Top End without industry consultation just days after promising the industry there’d be no snap decisions without
consultation.
While there were a number of reasons for Ms Fyles removal from the leadership, days after Mr Bruce said she’d lost the industry’s trust, she was gone.
15. Mick Burns
One of the Territory’s crocodile kings, Mick Burns stands among the Territory’s most powerful in 2023.
A Territorian since 1981, Mr Burns is Australia’s largest saltwater crocodile farmer and a prominent publican of the Top End.
The former Chair of the Tiwi Bombers Football Club is the owner-operator of Porosus Pty Ltd and holds a seat on NT Tourism’s Board of Commissioners.
Farming about 70,000 saltwater crocodiles, Mr Burns leads a sector rich with potential, with companies such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes both eager to do business with Top End crocodile famers.
For indication of value, in 2018-2019, over 24,600 croc skins were exported from the NT with a value of $26.7 million according to the NT Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
14. Scott Bowman
Though Charles Darwin University has been rocked by its fair share of ups and downs, vice-chancellor Scott Bowman always stands up for tertiary and vocational education in the NT.
Most recently, he has marked the success of CDU TAFE’s successful first year.
Mr Bowman is set to open the university’s city campus in 2024, bringing hundreds more students - both domestic and international - to Darwin.
But as concerns remain high about whether there is enough accommodation in the NT for the influx of students to live in, it remains to be seen how Mr Bowman will balance the new challenge.
13. Marines / Defence
Between a new Brigade commander, a force restructure, a fresh Marine rotation and a significant budget boost, the Northern Territory’s military community is bracing for change.
Following a memorable 2023 – for both good and tragic reasons – the Darwin’s ADF community will grow this year after the Department of Defence announced additional units would be relocated to the Top End.
For the 5th Battalion, 2024 offers an opportunity to recover after devoting the bulk of the last 12 months to training Ukrainian soldiers.
The Royal Australian Regiment’s 8/12 Regiment have also braced for a significant change in capability, with the introduction of long range missiles and self-propelled artillery likely to see the Regiment’s personnel undertake courses and relocations in the near future.
Additionally, RAAF Tindal’s role in introducing the ADF’s $100 million MQ-4C drone will also be watched curiously.
For the Territory’s Defence community, a big year awaits.
12. Matthew Varley
Twelve months after being appointed as the Territory’s new Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley has signalled drastic reforms are needed within the Territory’s cells to address reoffending cycles.
The former AFP assistant commissioner and Territory Families Youth Justice and Emergency Management general manager has wasted no time reviewing and calling out failing and ailing elements in the Corrections system.
Since taking over he has also promised to improve NDIS exit plans, partner with Charles Darwin University for training programs, and run a permanent recruitment drive for more Corrections staff, particularly in Alice Springs.
In 2023 Mr Varley finally got the NT government to commit to cooling down the Alice Springs prison, following 20 years of complaints about the lack of air conditioning in the desert prison which can reach temperatures in excess of 40+ degrees.
Mr Varley has been relatively candid about issues hidden behind the barbed wire, raising his concerns about the rising number of remand prisoners, the number of available beds, as well as the ageing Alice Springs facilities.
11. Leanne Liddle
Born and raised in Alice Springs, South Australia’s first Aboriginal policewoman, and 2022’s NT Australian of the Year, Leanne Liddle’s journey to becoming one of the Territory’s most powerful has been a storied rise.
An Arrernte woman, Ms Liddle is the director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit and was a driving force behind the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Agreement which aimed to reduce Indigenous imprisonment rates and improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians.
Previously, Ms Liddle embarked upon the international circuit, with stints in Geneva, New York and Paris with UNESCO as a director for Bush Heritage Australia.
Known for her ability to resolve conflict and oversee policy and legal change, Ms Liddle has earned the respect of elected officials, senior public servants and business leaders across the Territory.
With her influence growing, Ms Liddle’s rise in the power rankings may reach greater heights yet.
10. Samara Laverty
After starting 2023 in unspeakable tragedy with the loss of her teenage son Declan, Samara Laverty wasted little time making waves in her campaign to extract meaning from senseless violence.
Ms Laverty has not been shy about what reforms she wants to see in the wake of Declan’s death and for much of 2023 when she said “jump”, the Territory government responded with an enthusiastic “how high”.
With the motivation of her son’s legacy behind her, Ms Laverty is sure to continue to campaign for the changes she believes are necessary.
And with violent crime sure to remain front of mind for Territorians in 2024 and beyond, her influence is unlikely to fade any time soon.
9. Shane Dignan
Just as 2023 was a big year for John and Tony Halikos, so it was for the old Halikos Group’s co-director Shane Dignan.
The builder will be juggling priorities with a number of jobs under way, the most significant being the CDU project which the university has been micro-managing to within an inch of its life and has set back the date students will arrive from July 2024 to possibly as late as November.
The actual construction is expected to be completed within months, then it’s up to the university to finally move in and to prepare for students.
Beyond that, Dignan will be focusing on the re-branding of the construction business, and there’s plenty of speculation - and zero intelligence - about what it will actually be rebadged to reflect the new business arrangements.
Under the new arrangement, the soon to be renamed Halikos Group will operate Halikos Developments and Construction and the Novotel Darwin CBD; Halikos Developments Pty Ltd will operate Northcrest; Halikos Services Pty Ltd will operate Halikos ICT, Halikos Roofing Pty Ltd will operate Halikos Roofing, Solis Real Estate Pty Ltd will operate Solis Real Estate and Halikos Hospitality will operate H on Smith, Dbar Restaurant, Frontier Hotel and Punters Bar.
There’s also a decision to be made about the old Throb building, which had an emergency order placed on it last year and is crying out for demolition and a new build at the site.
8. Kirsty Howey
Environment Centre Northern Territory executive director Kirsty Howey is one of the most high profile environmental campaigners in the country, quoted in an average of four news articles each week, according to the ECNT’s media monitoring.
A lawyer and researcher with decades of successful strategising behind her, Dr Howey is a thorn in the side of many big businesses looking to develop projects unopposed in the Territory.
In 2023 she helped to lead protests against land clearing at Lee Point - which for now has successfully paused the project in favour of the Gouldian Finch habitat for now - and helped launch appeals against Santos’ Barossa project, the McArthur River mine, and fracking in the Beetaloo.
With national scrutiny of the NT’s environmental credentials (or lack thereof) likely to ramp up this year thanks to the Middle Arm senate inquiry, there’s no doubt Dr Howey will continue to be an influential figure in the Territory’s reputation and policy direction.
7. Elisabeth Armitage
After 18 months in the role, Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has well and truly put her own stamp on the office inhabited for decades by her predecessor Greg Cavanagh.
Coroners always have enormous influence, holding the power to decide which matters of life and death proceed to a full public inquiry, often airing the dirty laundry of underperforming government departments in the process.
And a months-long inquiry into the NT’s shocking epidemic of domestic violence which wrapped up in November last was emblematic of Ms Armitage’s determination to tackle the big issues.
With another significant set of hearings due to commence in Alice Springs this month when the Kumanjayi Walker inquest resumes, Ms Armitage will be sure to be making major news for the foreseeable future.
6. Michael Murphy
Before 2023, NT’s top cop Michael Murphy was coasting under the radar.
But in the 12 months til now the Police Commissioner has become a household name across the Territory, taking over from the beleaguered Jamie Chalker in August.
Since then Mr Murphy has tackled some big issues for the force and the NT, including overseeing an overhaul of the leadership team, bringing back Coffee with a Cop and weekly media conferences on crime stats and was just two days into the job when an Osprey chopper crashed on the Tiwi Islands killing three US Marines.
Based on public sentiment, Mr Murphy is a well-liked addition to the top brass and will be hoping to change attitudes within the police itself to hold onto recruits.
5. Lia Finocchiaro
The opposition leader has climbed into the top five once again, but make no mistake this is a make or break year for Lia Finocchiaro.
The longest serving member of the Country Liberal party (three terms) is coming to the end of her first full term as outright leader, and after two terms in the opposition 2024 is a must win election year.
After winning back some seats last election following the 2016 disaster the mission is clear, win the election.
The former lawyer remains popular in her electorate of Spillett, her base in Palmerston since moving from the Drysdale electorate.
However, she has had to shake off more than a couple leadership spill rumours, as well as a no confidence motion.
Crime has been the CLP leader’s go to battleground over the past term, and with crime rates up, particularly in Alice Springs, over the past few years it is an obvious hole in Labor’s armour.
Having proven herself to be a capable attack dog and pouncing on any government indiscretion, no matter how minor, Ms Finocchiaro will take the fight right up to the election in August.
4. Shane Stone
It’s almost a quarter of a century since Shane Stone stood aside as Port Darwin MLA after a brief but spectacular political career that saw him become chief minister and whack the Labor opposition by 17 seats in the one election - 1997 - he served as leader.
Mr Stone left NT politics to pursue business interests and to help successive Prime Ministers beginning with John Howard secure federal mandates.
Despite his influence federally, it’s a sign of the struggle the Territory’s conservative party is having rejuvenating post its 20th century glory days that Mr Stone has once again assumed a non-parliamentary leadership role within the CLP organisation.
That said, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Midway through this parliamentary term the party’s branches began to implode, with various wannabes and coulda-beens storming out of the organisation in a huff.
The carry-on stopped when Mr Stone took over as president after last year’s Central Council. Unlike the publicly divided mob that won government from Labor in 2012 under Terry Mills’ leadership, the CLP party wing has been largely united under Lia Finocchiaro and the missing ingredient was strong backing from the party organisation.
Mr Stone has delivered that.
Getting pre-selection right is the party’s next challenge but Mr Stone’s election as president was a wake-up call to the Labor Party that the CLP is deadly serious about winning the 2024 - and it has the right personnel in place to do it.
3. Eva Lawler
She may have only been Chief Minister for 11 days of 2023 but there’s no denying Eva Lawler has power.
The former teacher spent most of 2023 as Treasurer and Education Minister, as well as holding the Infrastructure portfolio.
But it was in the dying days of December when she showed what she was made of and pipped Nicole Manison at the post to receive the Territory’s top job, despite admitting it was not on her radar.
She has retained the Treasury portfolio and will be looking to work towards delivering on her promise made in the 2023 budget and reach the $40bn economy goal by 2030.
She’s often been described as a feisty member of parliament, and a spat with Lia Finocchiaro in the November sittings proved that to be true, but seems to be the preferred option over her predecessor if NT News readers are anything to go by.
Beginning her journey in politics at 55-years-old, Ms Lawler brings a lifetime of experience to the role and will be trying to get her party and all its scandals across the line come August 2024.
2. The Voter
As another Territory election year looms large ahead, and the Voice vote remains in the not so recent past it should come as no surprise to have the power of the Voter ranked so high.
The everyday Territorian will have a big say on what happens this year, and going forward with the election result likely to be as tight as it has ever been.
Ahead of the last election, in 2019, the Voter came in at 20, but with both parties now in a similar position, rather than one sitting with just two members, your say could make the difference.
It’s been a tumultuous few years in Territory politics, but when hasn’t it been in recent memory?
Following the last election Michael Gunner was the Labor Chief Minister, that role then went to Natasha Fyles, and is now in the hands of Eva Lawler, all within one cycle.
Labor haven’t been short of scandals with both Ms Fyles and newly-minted Deputy Chief Minister Chansey Paech caught in separate shares debacles, then there’s the Mark Turner saga very early in the cycle.
Meanwhile, Paul Kirby and Nicole Manison have already announced they will not recontest the election.
The CLP have not escaped stoushes either with rumoured leader spills, and most recently the cover up of Josh Burgoyne’s crash that injured health workers.
And in the middle, government has passed some policies too, so this year it’s over to you to decide who you want in power for the next cycle.
The influence is in your hands, don’t waste it on social media, take it to the ballots.
1. Jacinta Price
Love her or hate her, it is impossible to deny the influence Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has had over the past year - not just in the Territory but on the entire nation.
She made number three on last year’s list, but makes the top spot this time for being arguably the most significant figure in successfully prosecuting the case against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Ms Price’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, from a first term election in 2022, to being handpicked by Peter Dutton for Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians last year.
While the referendum is behind us, Ms Price remains a dominant figure in national politics, talk panels, international conferences and media.
Could she even become the Territory’s first Prime Minister?
With the culture wars raging on, we’ve no doubt Ms Price will remain a powerful voice from the Territory for the foreseeable future.
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Originally published as NT News’ Most Powerful list: Numbers 120-1
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