Members
The Planning Commission currently has seven members who provide planning leadership and deliver professional, independent advice. The Commission strengthens links between the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority, Development Consent Authority, Heritage Council and Local Government Associations.
The Planning Commission comprises:
- Chairperson
- Chairpersons of the Development Consent Authority, Heritage Council and NT Environment Protection Authority
- a representative of the Local Government Association
- up to five additional members with appropriate qualifications and expertise appointed by the Minister, who hold office for up to two years.
The Commission membership includes the chairpersons of three bodies with statutory decision-making powers for development, providing for a greater shared understanding of the aspirations of the planning system in delivering outcomes.
Where required, the Commission can also second people on its subcommittees or engage external consultants.
Our members
Dr David Ritchie
Chairman (appointed 12 July 2017)
Dr David Ritchie has 38 years’ experience working in the NT for organisations responsible for land management, in professional expert roles and also senior management and executive. This work includes extensive experience with statutory boards with roles under land development, land rights, and environment and heritage legislation.
For more than 20 years, David has held chief executive roles, leading organisations responsible for land resource planning, remote service delivery, parks and wildlife, natural resource management, environment protection, Aboriginal cultural heritage and museums, art galleries and archives. Throughout his career, David has had extensive involvement working closely with Aboriginal communities in remote regions of the NT.
David also brings specific planning experience gained in the roles of Executive Director Lands, Chief Executive Department of Lands and Planning and Chief Executive of the NT Land Development Corporation.
David is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society. He is also a director of not-for-profit company Ninti One Limited, on the board of the Northern Territory Land Corporation and chair of the NT Grants Commission.
Dr Paul Vogel AM
Ex officio member (appointed 14 November 2016)
Dr Paul Vogel was appointed as the chairperson of the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) on 14 November 2016.
Now a non-executive board chair/ director and strategic consultant, Paul was chairman of Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority from 2007 to 2015. Paul was also the inaugural Chief Executive and Chairman of the South Australian EPA from 2002 to 2007 and prior to that held senior executive positions in the WA departments of the Premier and Cabinet and Environmental Protection.
Paul has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of WA and has extensive knowledge and experience across a broad range of environmental issues and sustainability, in organisational and regulatory reform and in the delivery of strategic environmental and business outcomes.
Paul is also chairman of a national Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) on Contamination and Remediation of the Environment; chair of the WA Marine Science Institution, deputy chair of the CRC on Transformation in Mining Economies; Special Counsel at Cannings Purple and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was appointed to the NT EPA from 1 January 2016.
Suzanne Philip
Ex officio member (appointed 31 July 2017)
Suzanne is the Chair of the Development Consent Authority, which is an independent statutory body responsible for determining development applications in the Territory.
Ms Philip has lived in Darwin since 1982, raising a family and contributing extensively to the Territory’s legal and business sectors and the community, from a number of platforms.
She is a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and has extensive experience as a Senior University Lecturer, teaching Contract, Commercial, Vendor and Purchaser and Property law.
From 2008 to 2014, Ms Philip held the position of legal member and Chair of the NT Agent’s Licencing Board, responsible for licencing real estate, business and conveyancing agents and investigating allegations and holding disciplinary inquiries about licenced agents.
Ms Philip has participated in both the development and community advocacy side of the planning process and has a high-level experience, and long-held interest in planning matters.
Randle Walker
Ex officio member (appointed 26 February 2024)
Randle was appointed as chairperson of the Heritage Council on 26 February 2024.
More detail to come.
Joel Andrew
LGANT member (appointed 14 April 2023)
Appointed to the Planning Commission on the nomination of the Local Government Association of the NT (LGANT), Joel commenced with Alice Springs Town Council in mid-2022 after moving to Alice Springs from New Zealand with his young family in 2019.
Joel brings with him experience in both government and private practice where he has held senior project roles for over 10 years. Before commencing with Alice Springs Town Council, Joel worked as in senior construction roles in both Australia and New Zealand.
Joel holds a Masters of Construction in Project Management and has experience in managing complex projects of all shapes and sizes where he has gained substantial knowledge in technical infrastructure matters.
Dorte Ekelund
Member (appointed 12 July 2017)
Dorte is an urban and regional planner with extensive experience in land use and infrastructure planning across all levels of government and in various jurisdictions. She also has considerable experience in environmental policies and management, including water policies and programs; climate change mitigation and adaptation action; and ecological preservation and management. Her experience in energy includes membership of the COAG Energy Senior Officials and delivery of significant investment in renewables.
Dorte has held the roles of Director-General in the ACT Environment and Planning portfolio, Deputy Director-General of WA Department of Planning and Infrastructure, a commissioner on the WA Planning Commission and was head of the Major Cities Unit in the Australian Government. She is currently an independent director on the boards of ICON Water and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, is on the University of Wollongong’s Smart Infrastructure Facility Advisory Council and is an adjunct professor in planning at the University of Canberra.
Dorte holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Class 1 Hon.) and a Master of Business Administration, is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Fran Kilgariff AM
Member (appointed 12 July 2017)
Fran has a long history of involvement in many areas of regional and economic development, local government and community in the Northern Territory. She was born in Alice Springs and educated there and in Adelaide. She has qualifications in radiography, prehistoric archaeology and teaching plus a long experience in various aspects of Territory affairs.
Her community involvement has included being Mayor of Alice Springs for eight years, on the Board of St John Ambulance NT since 2004, president of the YMCA of Alice Springs for eight years and on the national YMCA board where she was vice president for three years. She is currently on the board of Venture Housing, a not-for-profit affordable housing company and a chair of Olive Pink Botanic Garden.
Fran was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for services to local government and contributions to the social and economic development of Alice Springs. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.