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Northern Territory Council
What we do
The Council is ultimately responsible for the oversight and review of the management, administration, and overall governance of the Society in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Council President is the Society representative on the National Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia.
The Territory Council delegates management of the Society’s resources to the Executive team under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer, to deliver the strategic direction and goals determined by Council.
All Conference members and volunteer positions are unpaid. Any person registered as a Conference or Associate Member has voting rights in relation to the Society and can become a part of Territory Council through member voting and elections.
DAMIAN LEGG
PRESIDENT
Damian initially joined the Society as a Youth Member in Queensland. He has been a member of the Territory Council since 2013, serving as Vice President of Centres of Charity, President of St Paul’s Conference and Vice President Service. Damian works in the Northern Territory Public Sector.
KATHRYN PETTERSEN
VICE PRESIDENT
Kathryn’s first experience with the Society was many years ago in her high school conference, however she officially joined the Mary MacKillop Youth Conference in 2016 and was President for three years. In 2019, Kathryn re-joined the National Youth Team where she has represented the NT as Youth Representative.
Kathryn is the Diocesan Youth Coordinator and is an experienced High School teacher. These skills, combined with her passion for social justice works within schools, has seen her develop the Mini Vinnies program across the Territory.
RUTH GILL
SECRETARY
Ruth Gill is the Secretary of the St Vincent de Paul Society( NT). She has recently moved to Darwin and joined SVDP NT. Ruth is a social worker by profession and has worked for Government, Not for Profit and Corporate Industry. She currently works as contractor for a Government department.
EMIL JOHN
TREASURER
Emil’s commitment to the St Vincent De Paul Society started in catholic school in India with
many of his extended family members of the Society and close interactions with Vincentian priests over the years. Emil was appointed to the council as treasurer in 2019. He holds an MBA from Liverpool UK and
has been in the banking industry for over 10 years across SA and NT.
FATHER ADAM CROUCH
SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Father Adam Crouch is a catholic priest with the Missionaries of God’s Love. The Missionaries of God’s Love charisms are working with young people and the poor. Father Adam moved to Darwin in February 2021. Over the past 5 years he has been involved with ministry to the poor at St Vincent de Paul in Campbelltown, NSW.
Father Adam was also chaplain to the Sydney Swans Academy 2016-2021.
DIRK BOTHA
ST PAUL’S CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
Dirk's involvement with the Society began when he relocated to the NT in 2020 and joined the St Paul's conference as a member and subsequently taking on the role of secretary for the conference. Dirk draws on his ministry experience with Men Alive in NSW and in the NT and currently holds a senior role in Catholic Education in the NT. Dirk draws on his experience in Human Resources having worked for a number of years in a senior Human Resources Executive role in retail and manufacturing sectors in both Europe and Australia.
FRANCES ABBOTT
HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
After retiring from a nursing career both overseas and in Australia,
Frances joined SVDP NT initially as a volunteer in the Emergency
Relief service in 2016. She was invited to join the Conference in
2018 and, voted to President after the resignation of Cedric
Francis in December 2020. She appreciates the opportunity to
serve God’s people in this way and, the friendship and interaction
with conference and society members.
GRAEME FINCH
ST MARY’S CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
Hailing originally from South Africa, Graeme has seen poverty on
four continents and recognises that the good works of the Society
can make a real difference to the poor. With decades of
experience in construction and development, Graeme has much
to offer to support the Society in its good works.
KAY FITZPATRICK
HOLY FAMILY CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
Kay’s involvement in the Society began in the small country town
of Hay, NSW in the late 1990s. She moved to Darwin in 2005
joining Palmerston’s Our Lady Help of Christians Conference. After
recovering from illness Kay moved to assist the hands of Jesus in
the Holy Family Conference.
SUE MARSHALL
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
Susan Marshall was instrumental in the reformation of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Conference in Alice Springs in 2023. As a long serving parishioner and friend of the Society, Sue’s passion for the Alice Springs community is a welcomed asset, alongside her experience as an educator and Religious Education Coordinator. She thrives on the opportunity to connect others in the loving missionary works of the Society, particularly through the re-establishment of the face-to-face Emergency Relief Office.
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