Medal Recipients 2021
- Arthur Busato
- George Tetteh
- Jackie Hartnett
- Jake Quinlivan
- Jody Nobbs
- Jonathan Burgess
- Kathleen Robinson
- Kelly Dhaemer
- Mark Hamilton
- Pauline Benaim
Arthur Busato
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Arthur joined the NT Government in 1980. He is respected across the Territory in government and the civil construction industry.
In his more than 40 years of service, Arthur has worked in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. His knowledge of the Territory’s road network is the equal of anyone.
Arthur was involved in many of the Top End’s major road upgrade projects, and his was always the first name that came to mind when bringing teams together to deal with emergency situations or difficult tasks.
In 2007, Arthur established training for the Roads and Civil Infrastructure group to ensure all technical staff had a formal qualification. He developed a Certificate IV in Civil Construction and a tailored Diploma in Civil Construction Supervision program.
Arthur will leave a legacy of developing many of the NT’s quality technical and professional staff, who consider him a mentor.
George Tetteh
Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities
George Tetteh joined the NT Government as a child protection practitioner in January 2011. He moved into the team leader and then manager positions, establishing himself as a leader and building lasting relationships with families, carers and stakeholders.
George’s efforts to bring agencies together in remote communities and coordinate service provision continues to ensure targeted support is provided to children, young people and families.
He works closely with Aboriginal organisations to identify family and kinship carers, reducing the number of children needing out-of-home care and removal from their community, and increasing the numbers remaining safely with their families.
A significant achievement was establishing child and family support meetings in Ti Tree, bringing together education, police, health, housing, disability services and family support.
Jackie Hartnett
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Jackie is the Principal Project Manager of the Rum Jungle Rehabilitation Project, her first role in government after working for mining companies in West Africa for 15 years.
Jackie took up this role 2 years ago under difficult circumstances, including needing to rebuild the project team after long-term staff had left and relationship breakdowns with TOs and the Northern Land Council.
Jackie’s significant challenge was rebuilding relationships with TOs, which she was able to do because of her culturally sensitive, open and respectful manner and her ability to explain technical information in a way TOs understand.
A key achievement was developing a sustainable and culturally appropriate rehabilitation design supported by most TOs. That work underpinned the Australian Government’s recent 2021 Budget decision to fully fund site rehabilitation over an 11-year period.
Jake Quinlivan
Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet
Over the past 7 years, Jake Quinlivan has played a significant role in regional development in the Territory. As Regional Executive Director, Big Rivers, Jake provides senior whole-of-government leadership and advocates for communities in the areas of economic, social and cultural development.
Jake’s commitment to self-determination and building partnerships across government, land councils and non-government organisations ensures all Territorians benefit from the work of government.
When he arrived in Katherine, Jake reinvigorated his Regional Coordination Committee to include the Commonwealth, local government councils and the Northern Land Council. He also implemented protocols and practices that enabled the RCC to collectively be the decision-making group for Big Rivers, which has had powerful results.
Jake’s strategic leadership empowers his competent and effective team of 17 staff, with a structure that focusses on leadership opportunities, pathways for career development and increasing productivity.
Superintendent Jody Nobbs
NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Senior Police Officer Jody Nobbs has been instrumental in promoting community and road safety in Central Australia for more than 10 years.
He has worked tirelessly in that time, usually under challenging circumstances. His ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and the community has earned him the reputation as an outstanding exemplar and champion of community safety.
The success and longevity of many events in Central Australia are the result of Jody’s direct involvement in ensuring community safety is at the forefront in emergency management event planning.
Jody was instrumental in setting up incident control centres for many major events, including the Finke Desert Race.
Jody demonstrates significant leadership and brings a common-sense, risk-based approach to discussions about event planning and emergency response situations.
Jonathan Burgess
Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security
Jon Burgess is one of Australia’s eminent soil landscape scientists, specialising in geology and landscape relationships and heavy clay soils. Since 2014, Jon has been instrumental in the success of the NT Government’s flagship land and water assessment initiatives all over the NT.
Jon’s expert knowledge along with his innovation, dedication and commitment to train and mentor young professionals has delivered real economic development opportunities for regional and remote communities.
Jon's leadership of a small team saw early achievements in the soil and land suitability program, resulting in the number of study areas being significantly expanded, and Jon delivering outcomes well beyond the program’s original aims.
His genuine engagement with all stakeholders has established trust and garnered invaluable industry support. Without Jon, the government's land and water initiatives over the past 6 years would not have delivered anywhere near the opportunities the program has provided.
Kathleen Robinson
Department of Corporate and Digital Development
Kathleen Robinson started her career as a ‘finance officer in training’ in the Treasury department in the fledgling Northern Territory Public Sector in 1978. Her work ethic and drive quickly developed, and she rose through the NTPS ranks to that of DCDD’s Chief Executive, a role she took up in 2012.
Kathleen has led many key reforms in the NT Government. Most recently, the significant move to the OneNTG model and resulting machinery-of-government changes to centralise corporate government functions.
This process wouldn’t have been possible without Kathleen’s leadership and the ‘we can do anything’ attitude she has instilled in her agency.
In Kathleen’s nomination, colleagues described her as ‘a chief executive everyone would want to work for. The most hard-working and dedicated chief executive I’ve ever known. She always leads by example.’
Kelly Dhaemer
NT Health
Kelly Dhaemer joined the Child and Adolescent Service as part of the Katherine Mental Health Service team in 2020. She is the only child psychologist in the Katherine region.
Originally from Belgium, Kelly has embraced the culture and specific nuances of Australia in her very short time here. She pays notable respect to the Aboriginal culture and young Aboriginal children.
Kelly has shown an exemplary approach to her work, extending her practice beyond the doors of her clinic by offering training to NGOs and other agencies. She is known for her vast knowledge and positive attitude.
Kelly created and delivers a quarterly a presentation called ‘understanding behavioural issues’, with strategies and skills that can be used with kids.
Her contributions have been recognised across the country, and she was invited as a guest speaker at the Youth Mental Health Summit in Perth in August.
Dr. Mark Hamilton
NT Health
For many years, Mark Hamilton has been the only vascular surgeon in the NT. Mark runs the high-risk foot team and advocates for foot care for patients with diabetic foot infections and problems.
Mark has saved many, many feet and kept people walking. He has provided life-saving emergency vascular interventions as well as the full spectrum of elective vascular surgery. Mark also provides nearly all the fistulas needed for dialysis for patients in the Territory.
Mark’s support of his general surgical colleagues is tireless. He is virtually on call all the time, and if he can’t be there in person, he gives accurate and important phone advice whenever he is asked.
Mark is incredibly committed and a staunch advocate for all his patients, but particularly his Aboriginal patients and those from remote regions.
Pauline Benaim
NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Pauline Benaim has provided outstanding executive administrative support to 5 Police Commissioners over the past 20 years.
She has managed numerous transitional periods in the Office of the Commissioner, providing support, guidance and mentoring to staff. She has acted professionally and diligently in her distinguished career in the public sector.
With her extensive experience and agency knowledge, Pauline has played a vital role in maintaining consistency in the day-to-day running of the Office of the Police Commissioner and CEO.
Pauline is known for setting high standards and refusing to compromise on them, ensuring a high-quality product is either presented to the Commissioner or representative of the Commissioner.
Pauline is often the first port of call for other government and non-government agencies in the Territory, interstate and internationally, and her professionalism is a credit to Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
