Executive Leadership

Police Commissioner Martin Dole

Commissioner of Police

Martin Dole APM

Martin Dole joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 1997 and served in various locations across the Territory including Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Ti Tree and Darwin as a general duties officer.

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Since earning his detective designation in 2004, Mr Dole has held numerous investigative roles. He has worked in the Crime Intelligence Bureau, Regional Investigations, Sexual Crime Unit, Major Crime Unit, Special Operations Sections, Drug Enforcement Unit, Criminal Investigations Development Unit, Darwin Major Crash Investigations, and the Serious Crime and Special References Unit. His extensive experience, professionalism, and integrity have led to his involvement in numerous high-profile cases.

Mr Dole is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, which included a 10 week residential program in Quantico in 2017, which has continued strong relationships with law enforcement around the world.

Mr Dole was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Regional and Remote Operations in December 2021. Due to his exemplary service, Mr Dole was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police in May 2024.

 

Acting Deputy Commissioner Travis Wurst

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.

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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.

Lisa Wilson

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.

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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

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.

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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

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

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.

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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 O'Brien

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.

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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 John Atkin

Acting Assistant Commissioner

John Atkin

John Atkin joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 2004 and has served in a wide range of roles over more than two decades.

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His career spans operational, corporate and specialist support roles, giving him a broad understanding of frontline policing and the people, processes and structures that sustain it.

Mr Atkin is currently the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Digital Transformation and Reform. He leads a portfolio responsible for the NT Police Force’s digital and reform programs, delivered in close partnership with the Commonwealth and other government agencies.

With experience in workforce planning and development, he has a user-first approach to technology, driving reforms that strengthen capability, culture and retention, and ensuring every initiative is designed around what works best for our people. This includes the Digital Transformation Program, which brings together projects such as the National Firearms Register, Working with Children Clearance reform, and integration with the National Criminal Intelligence System.

His portfolio also oversees the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre, Frontline Systems Support, the Firearms Policy and Recording Unit, SAFE NT, Business Intelligence, and a project management office.

Nationally, Mr Atkin represents the NT Police Force as Chair of the ANZPAA Chief Information Officer Network (ACION) and as a member of the ANZPAA Transformation and Strategic Service Delivery Network (ATSSDN).

He holds a Master of Business Administration, tertiary qualifications in leadership, investigations, program management and public safety, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Kylie Anderson

Acting Assistant Commissioner

Kylie Anderson

Kylie Anderson joined the Northern Territory (NT) Police Force in June 2000 and has worked in all four major NT population centres of Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs along with service in remote communities including Papunya and Adelaide River.

Ms 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 Ms Anderson worked as a Territory Duty Superintendent based in the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, Induction and Operational Safety within the NT Police College and the executive lead for the Tennant Creek and Barkly Division.

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In 2022 Ms Anderson was promoted to Commander Northern where she provided executive leadership and oversight to 21 permanent police stations and 8 police posts over a 500,000 square kilometres land mass spanning from the Queensland to Western Australian borders.

During her career Ms Anderson managed the pilot projects that saw the permanent implementation of Body Worn Video and Facial Recognition technologies within NT Police Force Standard Operating Procedures.

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

Ms Anderson is currently the Project Sponsor for the Police Public Safety Officer Project announced by the Chief Minister in May 2025. This initiative will consolidate the current community safety service delivery model, including funding resources, to provide a centralised and highly visible response to community safety issues impacting public safety in the NT.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley

Acting Assistant Commissioner

Peter Malley

Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley APM served as a police officer with the Victoria Police for 11 years prior to his move to the Northern Territory Police Force in 2001. Peter came to the Northern Territory with experience in criminal investigations and, after some time working in general duties in Alice Springs, he moved into the Alice Springs Criminal Investigation Branch before transferring to Northern Investigations in Darwin and then Special Operations Section in 2004.

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In 2007 Peter promoted to Detective Senior Sergeant and for 14 years worked as the officer in charge across a variety of investigative areas including the Special Operations Section, Drug and Organised Crime and Major Crime before returning to the Alice Springs Criminal Investigations Branch.

Peter was promoted to Superintendent in 2021, managing Regional Investigations before transferring to Palmerston and Road Policing. In 2023 Peter was awarded the Australian Police Medal and in 2024 was promoted to Commander Crime. Peter is currently Acting Assistant Commissioner, Crime and Intelligence.

Commissioner Andrew (Andy) Warton

Commissioner of Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services

Andrew (Andy) Warton

Mr Warton was appointed as the Commissioner of NT Fire and Emergency Services following the restructure of the former tri-service in 2024. Mr Warton (pictured) brings to the role a wealth of leadership and management experience in law enforcement and crisis management, including in major flood and cyclone emergencies across the Territory.

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He joined Australian Federal Police (AFP) from university and what followed was a 20-year career working across Australia and in several overseas locations including the United Nations in East Timor, regional peacekeeping missions, and postings to Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

During his AFP career, Mr Warton completed three postings in the NT. First in 1999 as the most junior investigator in the AFP Darwin office, returning in 2010 on secondment to NT Police as Mission Commander for the AFP’s contribution to the NT Emergency Response, and again in 2014 as the Manager AFP Darwin with responsibility for the AFP in the NT.

After leaving the AFP, he moved into the Northern Territory Emergency Service as the Chief Officer before leaving to develop his own consulting business focusing on investigations, emergency management, and conflict resolution.  In early 2024, Andy returned to the NT Public Service after being appointed as the inaugural Commissioner of the NT Fire and Emergency Services.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma in Criminology from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Military Law from The Australian National University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Churchill Fellow.

Collene Bremner

Acting Commissioner of Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services

Collene Bremner

Ms Collene Bremner is currently Acting Commissioner of NT Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) while Commissioner Andrew Warton embarks on a sabbatical overseas.

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Ms Bremner (pictured) who has served as the Executive Director of Bushfires NT since 2016, brings nearly 30 years of strategic and operational leadership in early childhood, security and emergency management across the Northern Territory Public Service. Her extensive background in emergency management for over 20 years has seen her lead or assist with responses to numerous significant events locally and interstate.

Throughout her career, Ms Bremner has held numerous senior roles, including Disaster Coordinator for Health and Community Services, Director of Security and Emergency Recovery, Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Management Recovery Sub-Committee, the NT representative on the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Management Committee, and as a board member of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC). She is also a member of NAFC’s Strategic Committee under the Australian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) and council member of AFAC.

Collene holds a post graduate qualification in Public Sector Executive Management, Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and qualifications in emergency management.

Deputy Chief Executive Keith Fernandez

Deputy Chief Executive

Keith Fernandez

Mr Fernandez was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy and Performance for NT Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) on 6 August 2024.

In this role, he is responsible for leading and managing the entire suite of NTFES corporate services. Additionally, Mr Fernandez (pictured) played a key role in establishing NTFES as a standalone agency.

Before joining NTFES, Mr Fernandez served as the Chief Operating Officer with the former tri service. In this capacity, he provided executive strategic support to the NTPFES, including assisting the Territory Controller in overseeing the delivery of COVID-19 quarantine arrangements at the Centre for National Resilience during the pandemic.

With a public service career spanning over 30 years, Mr Fernandez has held a wide range of Executive Level positions. His experience includes roles in corporate services, finance, legal and policy coordination, intergovernmental relations, federal policy, economics, environmental policy, legislative and regulatory reform, as well as involvement in Royal Commissions and Inquiries.

Chief Fire Officer Stephen Sewell

Chief Fire Officer, Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service

Stephen Sewell AFSM

Mr Sewell’s career with the NT Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) began in 2009 as a Recruit Firefighter following a 21-year career with the Australian Army.

Serving at various stations across Darwin and as an instructor in Training and Development Command, he was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2020 prior to being appointed to the role of Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Territory Operations. He was appointed to the position of Chief Fire Officer in 2025.

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Mr Sewell (pictured) has contributed to military operations and preparedness, operational firefighting, training and development, fire safety, recruitment and community engagement functions throughout his career. Outside of the Territory, he has served on interstate and international deployments with both the Australian Defence Force and the NTFRS.

In May 2023, Mr Sewell deployed to Alberta, Canada, as part of an Incident Management Team. He led up to 150 firefighters, 60 pieces of plant and machinery and 17 aircraft. Mr Sewell spent 28 days on the frontline in the Slave Lake Forrest Area, where he was instrumental in stopping a fire destroying the township of Sweathouse.

Mr Sewell has received numerous honours and awards, citations and commendations for his service and most recently in January 2024, was recognised on the Australia Day Honours List as a recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service

Stephen Hunter

Mr Hunter (pictured) officially commenced in the role of Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Strategy and Capability in May 2025, following a national, merit-based recruitment process.

Mr Hunter’s career spans more than two decades in fire and emergency services, progressing from frontline firefighting to senior operational command and strategic leadership. He has led responses to major fires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as national and international emergency deployments. Internationally, he has served in Incident Management Teams, led multi-country deployments from Australia and New Zealand to Canada, and represented Australian interests in firefighting collaborations with the United States, Mexico, Chile, and Costa Rica — roles requiring exceptional skill in coordination, diplomacy, and leading teams in high-pressure environments.

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Within the Northern Territory, Mr Hunter has held senior leadership roles across both career and volunteer firefighters, overseeing operational readiness, firefighter training, and the development of incident management and emergency management capability. He is a strong advocate for innovation and continuous improvement, driving initiatives that enhance skills, strengthen decision-making, modernise systems, and improve operational outcomes.

Mr Hunter holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Emergency Management, along with postgraduate qualifications and specialist emergency management leadership certifications. He draws on this formal training to strengthen operational capability, deliver evidence-based strategies, and drive the professional development of the workforce.

Chief Officer Wayne Snell

Chief Officer, Northern Territory Emergency Services

Wayne Snell

Mr Wayne Snell was appointed Chief Officer of NT Emergency Service (NTES) and commenced in the role in May 2025, following a nation-wide recruitment campaign.

The appointment of Mr Snell marks a renewed strategic direction for the NT Emergency Service, focused on strengthening operational capability and community resilience across the Territory. Under Mr Snell’s leadership, a suite of initiatives is being implemented to enhance volunteer engagement, retention, and development; revitalise training pathways for both NT Government staff and volunteers; and broaden community engagement efforts.

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With over 35 years of emergency management and leadership experience, Mr Snell has held senior management roles both nationally and internationally for more than 20 years. His career includes prominent positions at the Australian Civil Military Centre, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and as Commander of the New South Wales State Emergency Service, State Operations.

Additionally, Mr Snell has worked with leading state, national, and international policing organisations, including INTERPOL and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

His qualifications span emergency management, human resources, law enforcement, training, fire investigation, and forensic science.