Sean Parnell had a distinguished Police career spanning over 40 years in the Northern Territory. He served across the length of breadth of the Northern Territory in service divided equally between the top end and the centre.

He has combined this with a lifetime of service in Charity and Public leadership within the Northern Territory.

He has taken a prominent leadership role in numerous Not for profit and charitable bodies in the Northern Territory. and served on innumerable boards, both Government and non government over those years.

He was awarded a medal in the order of Australia for his service to the community of the Northern Territory in 2014.