Executive Leadership

Acting Deputy Commissioner

Travis Wurst

Travis Wurst joined the Northern Territory Police Force in July 1995, starting as a general duties officer in Alice Springs and serving in remote communities including Papunya, Yuendumu, and Nhulunbuy.

He holds undergraduate degrees in Law and Investigations and a Master’s in Investigations.

In 2000, Mr Wurst transitioned to investigations, becoming a detective in 2002 in the Sexual Crimes Unit. Promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2005, he moved to Major Crime. He served as Officer in Charge of central Australian remote stations and as well as the local Crime OIC. Promoted to Superintendent in 2013, he managed community safety in Alice Springs.

Read more

In 2016, Mr Wurst returned to Darwin as Superintendent Major Crime and then Commander Crime. In 2019 as Commander Darwin, he operated as the Regional Emergency Management Controller as well as leading the Police Operations Centre.

He was officially appointed to Assistant Commissioner in 2021 whilst working as the Territory COVID 19 Response Co-Ordinator. He then moved to the Greater Darwin, Road Safety and Support and has held the Crime and Intelligence portfolio since October 2023.

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Office of the Commissioner

Lisa Wilson

Lisa was appointed to the position of Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Office of the Commissioner in September 2024.

She has 24 years’ experience working with the Northern Territory Government of which 19 years were with the former Department of Housing and Local Government.

Read more

During this period Lisa worked as a Public Housing Tenancy Officer, Ministerial Liaison Officer in Secretariat, Manager Housing Policy, Manager Law Reform Local Government, and for the last 8 years as Director of the Office of the Chief Executive.

Lisa commenced with the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services in September 2020 and was acting in the Chief of Staff/Executive Director, Office of the Commissioner since March 2021.

In her capacity as Executive Director, Lisa provides high level executive leadership and direction to the Office of the Commissioner, the executive and is the interface between the agency and the Minister.

Assistant Commissioner

Janelle Tonkin

Assistant Commissioner Janelle Tonkin began her policing career in 2001 with the South Australian Police Force, working in areas including general duties, armed robbery, drug and organized crime, and criminal investigations. In January 2008, she transferred to the Northern Territory Police Force, relocating to Alice Springs where she promoted to Detective Sergeant, focusing on domestic, family, and sexual violence, homicide, and child abuse investigations. She was key in developing the Family Safety Framework, a government initiative against domestic violence.

In 2013, Janelle moved to Darwin where she was promoted to Senior Sergeant and managed the Sex Crime Investigation Unit and the Major Crash Investigation Unit. Promoted to Superintendent in 2017, she led Internal Investigations within the Professional Standards Command.

Read more

In March 2020, she was promoted to Commander, Northern Region and moved to Katherine. Returning to Darwin in June 2022, she again led the Professional Standards Command and in June 2023, Janelle established the Territory Community Safety Coordination Centre and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in that portfolio in April 2024.

Janelle holds a Master’s Degree in International Executive Police Leadership from Charles Sturt University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the ANZCTC Police Commanders course. She mentors female leaders across government and has received several awards, including the ACWAP Excellence in Policing for Women’s Initiatives and the Executive Leadership Development Award.

Assistant Commissioner

Peter Kennon

Mr. Kennon is currently serving as the Assistant Commissioner for Regional and Remote Operations, based in Alice Springs, a role he has held since January 2024. Prior to this, he was the Commander of Crime Command and has accumulated over 26 years of experience with NT Police, working in a broad range of policing contexts. His extensive experience includes high-level financial control and human resource management, delivering results with limited resources, innovative problem-solving in policing services, building relationships to enhance community service, and providing leadership to drive cultural and organizational change.

Mr. Kennon’s qualifications and training include the Counter Terrorism Senior Investigating Officer Course from ANZCTC, the Company Directors Course from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), the AIIMS Incident Controller Level 2 Course, and the Management of Serious Crime (MOSC 58) Program at AFP College. He has also served as a Visiting Fellow for MOSC 59 at the AFP College.

Assistant Commissioner

Michael White APM

Michael White joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 1984, serving in various capacities within the Northern Territory Police Force.

Read more

Over four decades serving the Northern Territory community in a range of frontline, criminal, drug and organised crime investigation and leaderships roles within the NT Police. Mr White has built a strong record of executive leadership in complex, challenging and dynamic environments.

Throughout his extensive career, Mr White has contributed his expertise to across the Northern Territory including, Darwin, Alice Springs, Batchelor, Nhulunbuy, Katherine and Jabiru. He was promoted to Commander Southern Command in 2017 after extensive service in the southern region. He was promoted to Assistant Commissioner Darwin and Support in December 2018.

Mr White holds a Bachelors Degree in Policing (Investigations) Charles Sturt University, is a LinCT Alumni and was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2018.

A key focus in his current role is creating partnerships, driving change across government and non-government sector in the development of organisational change for the prevention and response to domestic and family violence.

Mr White currently is the Assistant Commissioner of Domestic, Family, Sexual Violence and Youth.

Acting Assistant Commissioner

James A. O’Brien

James joined the Northern Territory Police Force in September of 1994 and has served at locations such as Greater Darwin, Katherine, Batchelor, and Yulara.

Read more

James has a career spanning General Duties Policing, Youth and Volume Property Crime, Crash Investigations, Major and DFV / Sex Crimes, education services (College), and Internal Investigations.

James was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in 2005 and after serving almost 19 years as a Superintendent, was promoted to the rank of Commander in June 2024. James is currently the Acting Assistant Commissioner Greater Darwin, Road Policing and Support.

James is Detective qualified and has academic qualifications in Law, Leadership / Management and Science and is a Queensland University of Technology, Charles Darwin University and Australian Institute of Police Management Alumnus.  He enjoys family, gaming, cooking, golf, and fishing.

Acting Assistant Commissioner

Kylie Anderson

Acting Assistant Commissioner Kylie Anderson (A/AC Anderson) joined the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) in June 2000 and has worked in all four major NT population centres of Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

A/AC Anderson was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and Senior Sergeant in 2008 where she was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner’s Staff Officer. From there she transferred back to Katherine and managed a remote policing division before being promoted to Superintendent in 2014. As a Superintendent she worked as a Duty Superintendent based in the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES) Joint Communications Centre, Induction and Operational Safety within the NTPFES Training College and the Tennant Creek and Barkly Division.

Read more

In 2022 A/AC Anderson was promoted to the Commander Northern where she provided executive leadership and oversight to 26 police stations over a land mass encompassing a third of the Northern Territory and stretching from the Queensland to Western Australian borders.

A/AC Anderson managed the pilot projects that saw the permanent implementation of Body Worn Video and Facial Recognition technologies within NTPF Standard Operating Procedures and is currently the Project Sponsor for the Police Public Safety Officer Project announced by the Chief Minister in May 2025.

A/AC Anderson was awarded Life Membership of the Northern Territory Police Association in 2018 in recognition of her passion for the wellbeing of her colleagues.

On an academic front A/AC Anderson has attained Diplomas in Public Safety (Policing) and Business (Frontline Management) and Graduate Certificates in Leadership and Strategic Management.

A/AC Anderson works hard to attain that elusive, healthy work/life balance. When not at work she enjoys listening to country music, playing golf, camping, socialising and travel.