Our Council

The NLC’s Full Council has 78 elected members, plus five co-opted women, making a total of 83 members. Nominations for the Full Council 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 elected at the first meeting of the new Full Council.

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. 

In accordance with the land rights act Aboriginal people living in the NLC region can request to inspect the NLC’s meeting rules and minutes of NLC Full, Executive and Regional Council meetings. To arrange an inspection contact councilservices@nlc.org.au.

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
• Maria Pyro - Borroloola, Homelands
• John Finlay - 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
• Jack Green - Wombaya 

DARWIN/DALY/WAGAIT

• Joy Cardona - Daly River
• Matthew Shields - Daly River North (Woolianna)
• Norman Miller - 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)
• Roger Wodidj - 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
• Reggie Wurdijal - Maningrida
• Matthew Ryan - Maningrida, Homelands
• Julius Kernan - Maningrida, Homelands 
• Matthew Nagarlbin - Minjilang
• Bunug Galaminda - Warruwi, Homelands
• Jenny Inmulugulu - Warrawi, Homelands 

FIVE CO-OPTED WOMEN

The NLC Chair appoints up to five coopted women to the full council in order to boost womens representation. The coopted women for 2022-25 will be updated here once appointed.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Chair: Samuel Bush-Blanasi (Katherine region)
Deputy Chair: Calvin Deveraux (Darwin/Daly/Wagait region)

South East Arnhem region:
Peter Lansen 
Virginia Nundhirribala 

East Arnhem region:
Djawa Yunupingu
Yananymul Munungurr 

Victoria River District region:
Lorraine Jones
Raymond Hector 

Katherine region:
Helen Lee

Darwin/Daly/Wagait region:
Bill Danks

West Arnhem region:
Matthew Ryan
Julius (Clint) Kernan

Borroloola/Barkly:
Chris Neade 
Joy Priest 

NORTHERN TERRITORY ABORIGINAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

The Full Council of the NLC nominates two members to sit on the board of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Committee (NTAIC) and the NTAIC Grants Committee. The following members were nominated during the 124th Full Council Meeting.

NTAIC Board - Joy Cardon and Grahame Kenyon
NTAIC Grants Committee - Bobby Nunggumajbarr and Wayne Wauchope.

ABORIGINAL SEA COMPANY

The Full Council of the NLC nominates three members to the board of the Aboriginal Sea Company. The following members were nominated to the Aboriginal Sea Company during the 124th Full Council Meeting:

Calvin Deveraux
Djawa Yunupingu
Julius (Clint) Kernan