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); Ngukurr; and Borroloola / Barkly.

15th Full Council of the NLC 2019-2022

BORROLOOLA BARKLY

• Brian Limerick - Alexandria
• David Harvey - Borroloola
• Shaun Evans - Borroloola
• Keith Rory - Borroloola - Outstations
• Jack Green - Brunette Downs
• Chris Neade - Elliott
• Jason Bill - Muckaty
• Jeffrey Dixon - Murranji
• Maxine Wallace - Nicholson River
• Joy Priest - North Barkly
• Richard Dixon - Robinson River
• Gordon Noonan - Rockhampton Downs
• John Finlay – 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 Jenner - Darwin
• Margaret Daiyi - 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
• Vacant - Wadeye
• Mark Tunmack-Smith - Wadeye (North)

EAST ARNHEM

• Bandarr (Michael) Wirrpanda - Blue Mud Bay - Outstations
• Makugun (Brendan) Marika - Blue Mud bay - Outstations
• Peter Yawunydjurr - Galiwinku
• Jason Guyula - Galiwinku
• Kenny Guyula - Galiwinku - Outstations
• Johnny Burrawanga - Galiwinku - Outstations
• Bobby Wunungmurra - Gapuwiyak
• Jason R Butjala - Gapuwiyak
• George Milapuma - Milingimbi
• Michael Ali - Milingimbi
• David Warraya - Ramingining
• Djawa Yunupingu - Ski Beach
• Djawa Murrmurrna Burarrwanga - Yirrkala
• Yananymul Mununggurr - Yirrkala
• Witiyana Marika - Yirrkala

KATHERINE

• Helen Lee - Barunga
• Samantha Lindsay - Bulman
• Lisa Mumbin - Katherine
• Dwayne Rosas - Katherine
• Ossie Daylight - Mataranka/Djimbra (Jilkminggan)
• John Dalywater - Weemol
• Samuel Bush-Blanasi - Wugularr (Chairman)

NGUKURR

• Sheila Hall Joshua - Minyerri
• Walter Rogers - Ngukurr - Outstations
• Grace Daniels - Ngukurr - Outstations
• Hubert (Rami) Nunggumajbarr - Numbulwar - Outstations
• Virginia Nundhirribala - Numbulwar - Outstations
• Ernest Numamurdirdi - Numbulwar - Outstations
• Peter Lansen - Nutwood/Cox River
• Clifford Duncan - Urapunga

VICTORIA RIVER DISTRICT

• Kenivan Anthony - Amanbidji
• Shadrack Retchford - Bulla
• Raymond Hector - Pigeon Hole
• Lorraine jones - Timber Creek
• Brian Pedwell - Yarralin
• Charlie Newry - Yingawunari

WEST ARNHEM

• June Fejo - Cobourg
• Otto Dann - Gunbalanya
• Timothy Nabegeyo - Gunbalanya - Outstations
• Wayne Wauchope - Gunbalanya - Outstations
• Valda Bokmarray - Maningrida
• Wayne Kala-Kala - Maningrida
• Julius Kernan - Maningrida - Outstations
• Matthew Nagarlbin - Minjilang
• Bunug Galaminda - Warruwi - Outstations
• Jenny Inmulugulu - Warrawi - Outstations

FIVE CO-OPTED WOMEN

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

ABORIGINALS BENEFIT ACCOUNT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Peter Lansen – Ngukurr
• 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: Richard Dixon

• Grace Daniels - Ngukurr 
• Clifford Duncan - Ngukurr
• Djawa Yunupingu - East Arnhem
• Yananymul Mununggurr - East Arnhem
• Brian Pedwell - Victoria River District 
• Deborah Jones - Victoria River District 
• Helen Lee - Katherine 
• Bill Danks - Darwin Daly Wagait
• Calvin Deveraux - Darwin Daly Wagait
• Matthew Ngarlbin (Cooper) - West Arnhem   
• Julius (Clint) Kernan - West Arnhem
• Chris Neade - Borroloola Barkly