Executive Leadership Team Profile

Dr David Ritchie - Chief Executive (Chair)

David Ritchie joined the Department in 2008, coming from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, where he was also the Chief Executive. He has worked in the Northern Territory Public Sector since 1981.

Since moving to the Territory in 1980, David has gained extensive experience in working with Indigenous communities through his roles in natural and cultural resource management, native title policy, housing and remote infrastructure.

Ms Trish Angus – Executive Director, Policy and Program Development

Trish Angus joined the Department in 1999.  During the past 10 years, she has held a range of executive level positions and has provided stewardship for the Department through a number of significant changes and reforms.

Trish has been the Executive Director for Program and Policy Development since November 2006.  She previously held a number of executive positions in government and the community sector.  Trish has tertiary qualifications in health and management, including a Masters Degree in Tropical Health.

Ms Fiona Chamberlain – Exectutive Director, Projects and Key Initiatives

Fiona commenced as General Manager of Territory Housing in July 2003. Before this she held several senior management positions in Territory Housing. Fiona has a Graduate Diploma, Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has also completed the Northern Territory Public Sector Executive Development Program and has recently completed a Masters of International Management.

Ms Karen Elligett – Executive Director, Central Services

Karen Elligett joined the Department in 2004 and previously held the roles of Director of Across Agency Coordination, Senior Director Executive Services and Senior Director Housing Services. Karen is currently the Executive Director of the Central Services Group for the Territory Office.

Prior to joining the Northern Territory Government, Karen worked in a range of industries in the private sector. She has extensive experience in media management, public relations, workforce planning and redesign, crisis management and specialist advertising coordination.

Andrew Kirkman  - Executive Director – Strategic Indigenous Housing & Infrastructure Program (SIHIP)

Andrew Kirkman joined the Department this year, coming from key roles in the Department of the Chief Minister and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. He has worked in the Northern Territory public sector since 1999. Prior to this, Andrew worked in finance and commercial roles in the private sector, locally in the mining industry and in the United Kingdom on public private partnerships in the prison industry. 

Andrew has lived in the Territory since 1975 and undertook all his schooling in Darwin. He has tertiary qualifications in Business.

Eve Robinson – Executive Director, Sectorial Partnerships

Evelyn Robinson joined the Department in 2008 and was responsible for overseeing the latter stages of the implementation of Local Government Reform in the Northern Territory and was Chairperson of the Jabiru Town Development Authority until March 2009. She represents the Department on the Australian Local Government Women’s Association National Steering Committee and the NT Grants Commission and is a member of the NT Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal.

Evelyn has more than 25 years of management experience in the public and private sectors and her most recent roles include CEO of the Northern Territory Seafood Council and Executive Director NT Division of the Property Council of Australia.

Andrea Martin – Executive Director, Central Australia

Andrea Martin joined the Department in 2007 and is currently Executive Director Central Australia where she oversees the delivery of all local government and housing initiatives throughout the Central Australian region. 

Andrea has lived in Central Australia since 1994 apart from some time spent working in Timor prior to 2007.  Andrea has gained extensive experience working with Indigenous communities through her roles in Indigenous tourism and in ministerial adviser roles in both South Australia and the Northern Territory.  Andrea has a Masters in Business Administration.

Wayne Hoban – Executive Director, Barkly

Wayne Hoban has worked for the Northern Territory Government for 30 years, the majority of that time involved in public housing in various roles.  He has also acted in positions with the Department of Lands, the Ombudsman’s Office and the former Office of Sport and Recreation.

In his various roles with Housing, Wayne coordinated a previous review of the HomeNorth schemes, led the initial negotiations for the renewal of the outsourcing contract of home ownership functions and had significant input into the Keith Lawrie flat complex redevelopment and the Kenna Court Seniors Village in Alice Springs.

John De Koning – Executive Director, Big Rivers (Katherine)

John de Koning joined the Department in July 2007 as the Executive Director for the Big Rivers Region (Katherine), moving from his previous position as Director of Parks and Wildlife in the Katherine region.

John has lived in the Northern Territory for approximately 30 years, working with both the Northern Territory and the Australian governments predominantly in the national parks and natural resource management fields. During this time, John worked extensively with Indigenous people in the Top End establishing joint management of national parks through on-ground facilitation and at the policy level.  John has tertiary qualifications in Natural Sciences.

David Willing – Executive Director, Darwin

David Willing joined the Department in August 2007 after moving to the Territory in 2000 and working in operations management at Pine Gap.  David was recruited to the role of Executive Director, Arnhem in 2008 during the Local Government Reform process.  David has recently taken on the role of Executive Director, Darwin Region.

David has a Graduate Certificate in Management and a Masters degree in Public Sector Leadership.