Australia Day Council Northern Territory

Australia Day Council NT

Our History

The Australia Day Council of the Northern Territory is a community based not-for-profit incorporated body. Established in 1986 we have been working with Northern Territory communities for over thirty five years.

While closely aligned to the Northern Territory Government and National Australia Day Council as well as other Australia Day Councils in other states and Territories we operate as an independent body responsible for our own management, events and activities, finance and governance.

The objectives of the Australia Day Council NT are to work with and for the people of the Northern Territory to:

  • unite through reflection, celebration and inclusiveness;
  • foster and recognise excellence and service within the communities of the Northern Territory;
  • embrace cultural diversity and promote Australia Day with respect and integrity,
  • facilitate productive relationships across the Northern Territory; and
  • ensure the sustainability of the Association
Members

Our Board

We are governed by a Board of Directors. Board vacancies are advertised publicly with members and the Chairman being appointed by the Chief Minister. All Board positions are honorary and members are volunteers.

Dr Richard Fejo

Chair
Dr. Richard Fejo is a Larrakia man from Darwin from his father, his grandfather and his great grandfather in what culture calls “Grandfather lore”. He is also Warumungu from Tennant Creek on his mother’s side and holds a great amount of cultural knowledge and experiences from both northern and central Australia across the Northern Territory. Richie started working as a Cultural Educator with Northern Territory General Practice Education for eleven years resigning from cultural education in 2020 to become the Flinders University Elder on Campus in Darwin. From 2018Richie became the Chairman of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation (LNAC) until November 2021. In November2020 Richie became the Chairman of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and also has had previous roles with City of Darwin International Relations Committee from 2020 to 2022 standing down to become the current chairman of the Australia Day Council.

Helen Summers

Vice Chair

Helen Summers

Vice Chair
For more than 25 years, optometrist Helen Summers has been devoted to caring for the vision of Top End communities, and helping to prevent blindness through education and employment. Helen also lectures and volunteers in not-for-profit and charities for people with vision loss and learning and neuro-developmental delays. Helen is an advocate for the goals of Vision 2020 and Close the Gap for Vision – to reduce preventable blindness and provide vision services to regional and remote Australia. As well as active involvement in vision-related national and internal organisations, Helen has served as a non-executive director and committee member on Australian boards across health, social, indigenous and sporting sectors. Helen’s passion for life has also seen her join a team to complete a 64 km group trek on the Sunshine Coast, raising money for charity. She inspires many with her motivation, commitment and dynamic personality.

Shipra Soni

Treasurer

Shipra Soni

Treasurer
Shipra is currently serving as the Treasurer of the board and works full time running a NDIS registered Disability Care Business, Territory Health and Support Pty Ltd. She is passionate towards children's' future and has been a Board Member (Treasurer) for Variety the Children's Charity NT. Shipra is an immensely grounded human being, her heart reaches out for anyone in need, be it family, a friend or stranger. Through her innate skills and formal qualifications, she has accomplished a lot in the last 12 years in Darwin. Ms. Soni is a member of NFP & Indigenous Organisations Committee of CPA Australia. She has Masters and Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance), majoring in Law from University of Delhi, India, and is a Certified Practicing Accountant, in Nov 2022 she celebrated her 10 years of membership with CPA Australia

Renae McGarvie APM

Board Member
Renae McGarvie APM has a passion for working and volunteering at the community level. Renae grew up in Darwin and served across the Territory as a police officer for 24 years before recently becoming Chief of People and Strategy Officer for the West Daly Regional Council. She is currently undertaking an MBA at UniSA while also being involved in a variety of organisations. Renae has two amazing children who inspire her to be a role model for them and the community. Renae is honoured to be involved with the Australia Day Council NT, recognising people that volunteer their time and dedicate their professional careers for the future generations.

Rose Rai Rajbhandari

Board Member
I am an accomplished explorer, a caring and compassionate person who has always been interested in social work and have strong desire to help people. I grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal where people from different cultures come to achieve their ambitions and this gave me the perfect cultural blend and inspired me to continue volunteering our community, to celebrate and recognise the diversity. I graduated with Master in English literature. I am a proud mother of 2 wonderful children and a caring wife to a loving husband. I came to Australia in 2009. With more than 13 years of work experience as a Sr. Educator, I feel proud and fortunate to involve as an active community member and serve Nepalese community as an instructor for Nepalese language and culture at Palmerston since 2017 and promote the young Nepalese kids to get involve in Nepali language and culture. I was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award 2023 for my selfless and phenomenal leadership volunteer work with the Nepalese Association, NT. I also have passion towards fashion designing and traded many designs out of my portfolio. I hold Diploma in Fashion Designing and CAD.

Robert Annis-Brown

Board Member
Robert has had a 37 year career in banking, the last 21 years have been in Darwin. In servicing the business community ha has gained inspiration from the people who call the NT home. He is passionate about what makes Australia great and has volunteered for several community groups. Robert has served on the boards of the Charles Darwin University Foundation Australia Institution of Management & the Property Council NT Division. Robert is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

William Daw

Board Member

William Daw

Board Member
As the current State Director of the Red Cross Society in NT, Bill brings a wealth of experience to the board. He has owned two companies focused on Indigenous community development, worked as a Senior Business Manager at Jobfind in Katherine NT, and held a Regional Training Coordinator role with the Department of Business for 9 years. Additionally, Bill managed the Katherine Regional Tourism Association for 5 years. Bill has 16 years of leadership experience on various boards and bodies, and is skilled in engaging with Indigenous Australians and multicultural communities. Bill’s expertise spans the Northern Territory and Northern Australia, especially in the pastoral sector, including training, government relations, business, agriculture, and cattle management.

Robyne Burridge OAM

Board Member
In 1980, Robyne Burridge moved to the Northern Territory for 18 months to help plan its International Year of People with a Disability. Fast forward to 2021 and she is still living in the Territory – advocating for greater equality, accessibility and quality of life for all. Robyne is a founding member of Integrated DisAbility Action, and a member of the community council on the Northern Territory Primary Health Network. She served 20 years as an alderman with the Darwin City Council, including one year as deputy Lord Mayor. In 2012, Robyne established Focus-A-Bility to provide advocacy, case management and information to individuals with disability. Robyne is highly regarded as a leader, advocate and activist in the disability sector. Her lived experience of cerebral palsy and expertise in disability advocacy has seen her mentor many executives in the sector. The recipient of many awards, in 2019, Robyne received an Order of Australia Medal for service to people with a disability.

Malia Ford

Board Member

Malia Ford

Board Member
Born and bred in the Territory, Malia strives towards empowering the Territories Youth. Set to complete her Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the end of 2022, she hopes to improve the lives of many Territorians through empowerment and inclusive practice and uses her own experiences of disadvantage to reduce stigma around homelessness and childhood abuse. She is an alumnus of the Youth Round Table 2016, has previous experience as an executive member of the Young Professionals Network Committee, founding Vice Chair of Two Two One Mental Health Charity and founding President of CDU student club Allied Health Collective. She can often be found around the community volunteering at various events and is a current Nightcliff Lions Club member as well as a current member of the Volunteering NT committee.

Jodie Ryan

Board Members

Jodie Ryan

Board Members
Jodie commenced on the Australia Day Council in August 2022, following a 30-year career in the Northern Territory Public Sector, the last 9 of these as the Chief Executive of the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Treasury and Finance. Ms Ryan has deep experience, knowledge and understanding of the Northern Territory Government, with a particular focus on improving the economic and social development of the Northern Territory. Her experience encompasses working extensively with all tiers of Government, the private sector and non-government organisations. Ms Ryan is a former member of the Charles Darwin University Council, the Australia New Zealand School of Government, and the Darwin Waterfront Corporation. She has a Bachelor of Business, Majoring in Accounting, and isa Certified Practising Accountant.
Members

Our team

Anna McDonald

Chief Executive Officer

Anna McDonald

Chief Executive Officer
Anna McDonald has accumulated a wealth of experience across various industries from hospitality management to owning her own fitness business. Anna now serves as the CEO of the Australia Day Council Northern Territory, where her dedication to community engagement continues to shine. In this esteemed role, Anna drives the Council's mission to celebrate and unite Australians, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the Northern Territory. Outside of her professional endeavours, Anna is a keen runner and has completed two half marathons. Anna enjoys spending time with her husband and three children as well managing her son’s soccer team and can always be heard cheering enthusiastically on the sidelines at her sons rugby and soccer games!

Vacancy

Administration Officer

Vacancy

Administration Officer
This position is currently vacant, please contact our office for more information.
Documents

Downloads

For historical copies of these documents, please contact the office.

Constitution

2021-2024 Strategic Plan

2023 Annual Review

2023 Financial Statement