Our Council

The NLC’s Full Council has 78 elected members, plus five co-opted women, making a total of 83 members. Elections are held every three years. Full Council meetings are held twice each year, when Councillors determine policies and directions, approve land use agreements and mining and exploration tenements for which Traditional Owners have given their consent. 

The NLC Chair, Deputy Chair and Executive members representing each of the NLC’s seven regions are also elected at the Full Council meeting. 

The roles and powers of the Full Council, Executive Council and Regional Councils are separate from the Chief Executive Officer and NLC staff. The Full Council is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the NLC with advice from the CEO. It can delegate its powers to the Executive and Regional Councils. The CEO is responsible for managing the NLC’s regular operations, implementing Full Council decisions and reporting back to the Full Council. 

The NLC’s constituency is a representation of the Traditional Owners within its jurisdiction. There are seven regions within the NLC’s jurisdiction: Darwin/Daly/Wagait; West Arnhem; East Arnhem; Katherine; Victoria River District (VRD); South East Arnhem; and Borroloola/Barkly.

16th Full Council of the NLC 2022-2025

BORROLOOLA BARKLY

• Brian Limerick - Alexandria
• David Harvey - Borroloola
• Shaun Evans - Borroloola
• Vacant - Borroloola, Homelands
• Jack Green - Brunette Downs
• Chris Neade - Elliott
• Jason Bill - Muckaty
• Jeremy Jackson - Murranji
• Maxine Wallace - Nicholson River
• Joy Priest - North Barkly
• Tony Jack - Robinson River
• Gordon Noonan - Rockhampton Downs
• John Finlay - Wombaya 

DARWIN/DALY/WAGAIT

• Joy Cardona - Daly River
• Matthew Shields - Daly River North (Woolianna)
• Vacant - Daly River South (Upper Daly)
• John Sullivan - Daly River West (Woodycupildiya)
• Bill Danks - Darwin
• Christine Fejo-King  - Darwin
• Phillip Goodman - Darwin South (Adelaide River)
• Graham Kenyon - Darwin East (Humpty Doo)
• Calvin Deveraux - Darwin South West (Litchfield)
• Rex Edmunds - Darwin West (Belyuen)
• Vacant - Palumpa
• John Wilson - Peppimenarti
• Mona Liddy - Pine Creek
• Steven Pultchen - Wadeye
• Mark Tunmack-Smith - Wadeye (North)

EAST ARNHEM

• Bandarr (Michael) Wirrpanda - Blue Mud Bay, Homelands
• Makugun (Brendan) Marika - Blue Mud Bay, Homelands
• Peter Yawunydjurr - Galiwin'ku
• Jason Guyula - Galiwin'ku
• Kenny Guyula - Galiwin'ku, Homelands
• Vacant - Galiwin'ku, Homelands 
• Bobby Wunungmurra - Gapuwiyak
• Vacant - Gapuwiyak
• George Milapuma - Milingimbi
• Michael Ali - Milingimbi
• David Warraya - Ramingining
• Peter Gambung - Ramingining
• Djawa Yunupingu - Ski Beach
• Djawa Murrmurrna Burarrwanga - Yirrkala
• Yananymul Mununggurr - Yirrkala
• Ishmael Marika - Yirrkala

KATHERINE

• Helen Lee - Barunga
• Vacant - Bulman
• Lisa Mumbin - Katherine
• Adrian McDonald - Katherine
• Timothy Baker Jr - Mataranka/Djimbra (Jilkminggan)
• John Dalywater - Weemol
• Samuel Bush-Blanasi - Wugularr

SOUTH EAST ARNHEM

• Darryn Farrell - Minyerri
• Walter Rogers - Ngukurr, Homelands
• Grace Daniels - Ngukurr, Homelands
• Bobby Nunggumajbarr - Ngukurr, Homelands
• Hubert Nunggumajbarr - Numbulwar, Homelands
• Virginia Nundhirribala - Numbulwar, Homelands
• David Murrungun - Numbulwar, Homelands
• Peter Lansen - Nutwood/Cox River
• Clifford Duncan - Urapunga

VICTORIA RIVER DISTRICT

• Anthea Anthony - Amanbidji
• Shadrack Retchford - Bulla
• Raymond Hector - Pigeon Hole
• Lorraine Jones - Timber Creek
• Wesley Campbell - Yarralin
• Shauna King - Yingawunari

WEST ARNHEM

• June Fejo - Cobourg
• Otto Dann - Gunbalanya
• Timothy Nabegeyo - Gunbalanya, Homelands
• Wayne Wauchope - Gunbalanya, Homelands
• Joanne Christophersen - Kakadu
• Jaqueline Phillips - Maningrida
• Vacant - Maningrida
• Matthew Ryan - Maningrida, Homelands
• Julius Kernan - Maningrida, Homelands 
• Matthew Nagarlbin - Minjilang
• Bunug Galaminda - Warruwi, Homelands
• Jenny Inmulugulu - Warrawi, Homelands 

FIVE CO-OPTED WOMEN

• Rose Wurgguwurggu
• Caroline Dhamarrandji 
• Deborah Jones 
• Joy Campbell
• Noelene Bending

ABORIGINALS BENEFIT ACCOUNT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Peter Lansen - South East Arnhem
• David Harvey - Borroloola/Barkly
• Graham Kenyon - Darwin/Daly/Wagait
• Yananymul Mununggurr - East Arnhem
• Lisa Mumbin - Katherine
• Lorraine Jones - Victoria River District

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Chair: Samuel Bush-Blanasi 
Deputy Chair: Calvin Deveraux

South East Arnhem region:
Peter Lansen - Ngukurr and Homelands 
Virginia Nundhirribala - Numbulwar and Homelands  

East Arnhem region:
Djawa Yunupingu - Ski Beach 
Yananymul Munungurr - Yirrkala

Victoria River District region:
Lorraine Jones - Timber Creek
Raymond Hector - Pigeon Hole

Katherine region:
Helen Lee - Barunga

Darwin/Daly/Wagait region:
Bill Danks - Darwin

West Arnhem region:
Matthew Ryan - Maningrida and Homelands 
Julius (Clint) Kernan - Maningrida and Homelands 

Borroloola/Barkly:
Chris Neade - Elliott
Joy Priest - North Barkly