Our Committee

Our Committee

The RDA NT Committee is made up of residents of the NT who have relevant experience and demonstrated networks.

Membership is drawn from across the region and members come from a variety of backgrounds to ensure the best possible understanding of the regions’ opportunities and challenges.

Drew Wagner
Chair

Drew was the Executive Director of the Minerals Council of Australia NT Division from 2012 to 2021, moving to the Territory with his family from Queensland to run the peak industry body for the Territory’s exploration, mining and minerals processing industry.

He has since branched out on his own to advance this industries contribution to regional development in multiple capacities.

In Queensland Drew led AgForce, an agricultural sector peak organisation. He has an extensive background, spanning over fifteen years, in industry representation across rural and regional Australia. Drew has worked in both the public and private sector; his focus has always been sustainability coupled with economic growth.

Currently Vacant
Deputy Chair

 

Chris Young
Treasurer, Public Officer & Secretary

Chris began his role as Commercial Manager with Northline Freight in 2014. He was previously the Chief Executive of the NT Chamber of Commerce.

Chris’ primary focus has been business systems, financial management and corporate governance in diverse and varying roles including Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and is a CPA. He is also a current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management.

Chris has served on a number of Territory and Federal Government bodies, including the Defence Reserve Support Council, the Festival of Darwin Committee, the NT Cricket Association and the Darwin Military Museum Board.

Mike Reed AM

Vin Lange

Originally from South Australia, Vin has been involved in agribusiness for 30 years. He has successfully created and run small, medium and large businesses in Australia and Europe.

Vin’s enduring support for, and experience with, remote Aboriginal people has given him an understanding and skills that have seen Centrefarm map out a path for the ethical and practical development of the Territory’s vast Aboriginal estate. He was a Centrefarm Director prior to entering the management team and his subsequent appointment as CEO. Centrefarm / TopEnd Farm is an Aboriginal-owned commercial entity and the peak body for Aboriginal economic development. Centrefarm works across a wide range of industries whilst retaining a significant focus on primary industry.

Justin O’Brien

The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) represents the Mirarr People, traditional owners of an area of West Arnhem Land including Kakadu National Park and Jabiru. Justin was appointed CEO of GAC in 2008, returning to GAC after a three‐year period away. From 2000 to 2005 he was the GAC Communications Manager.

Justin also runs his own consultancy company, specialising in policy development, lobbying, governance training and communications services. He has previously worked as the Senior Policy Adviser to the Northern Land Council and a Senior Policy Adviser with the Department of the Chief Minister.

Justin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monash University. Justin has experience in advocacy, media, political strategy and Aboriginal economic development.

 

 

Hannah Fincham-Thomson

Hannah was born and raised in Nhulunbuy, she studied teaching at Charles Darwin University and taught in Wadeye and Nhulunbuy.

Hannah established East Arnhem Real Estate (EARE) in 2011, a property services provider that has won multiple industry awards. She is an active community member holding positions on a variety of boards and committees, including Chair of Tourism East Arnhem and a member of the East Arnhem Regional Reconstruction Committee. Past memberships include various community bodies and the Nhulunbuy Corporation.

Hannah is passionate about the East Arnhem region, she has seen the region survive major economic setbacks and has proactively contributed to the transitioning of the Nhulunbuy community to a more stable and diversified economic base.

 

 

John Jansen

John has owned and managed multiple enterprises in the last 20 years, working across tourism, retail, transport, and business service industries. He was raised on a cattle property on the NT/WA border and spent most of his young adult life working on and managing cattle stations.

John was previously elected to the Pine Creek Community Government Council and has participated on many community boards and committees. John has worked with Aboriginal people, particularly in remote areas, all his life and is now assisting Aboriginal people to get started in business. In 2003 he established North Australian Rural Management Consultants (NARMCO), based in Katherine, to assist with business development and provide mentoring across a variety of industries.

 

 

Sean Holden

Sean has worked across the public and private sectors and has been responsible for diverse economic development priorities including innovation and entrepreneurship, investment attraction, and local infrastructure and planning. His career includes working for major peak body sporting organisations, local councils, peak bodies, state government departments and he has also been a political adviser.

Sean is the CEO of the peak body for local government in the NT and his most recent experience has been in policy advice, economic development, vocational training and workforce solutions, and stakeholder engagement.

Sean grew up in the Territory, living in Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy. He is community focused, has participated on many boards and committees, and has a keen eye for turning challenges into opportunities.

 

 

Sharon Hillen

Sharon has worked in remote regional community development and Local Government for last two decades. She has a history in project and executive management and land use management.

Prior to working in local government Sharon worked for the NT Government and as the Regional Manager for Greening Australia in the Big Rivers region. She is experienced in governance, infrastructure development, community consultation, and strategic planning.

Sharon has direct experience in the identification of community priorities, and the following negotiation of strong, productive partnerships (including funding agreements) between Government and communities necessary to address those community priorities.

Government sponsored
RDANT