David De Silva

David is a prominent member of the Northern Territory business community and legal profession, having practised as partner and principal of De Silva Hebron for 20 years.

David commenced practice as a Judges Associate in the Supreme Court of South Australia and then was granted an Articles of Clerkship with the Darwin office of Poveys in 1989.  Following his admission in 1989, David commenced employment as a young lawyer with Cridlands.

In 1994, he went into partnership with James Hebron to form De Silva Hebron and following James’ departure interstate, David has been principal of the firm for the last 20 years.

David has had extensive board and other experience in relation to private companies, non-government organisations and sporting bodies and is highly regarded in the area of racing and sports law, having recently completed a number of units in racing law through the University of Melbourne.

David is a community-minded practitioner who is focused on adding value to the local community and actively encourages the philanthropic activities of the firm.

David is a keen businessman who fosters and nurtures strong relationships with key stakeholders in the Northern Territory and his reputation in the commercial world has opened a number of opportunities for him to facilitate the development of the Northern Territory, most recently culminating in his appointment as Chairman of the Territory Generation Board and Darwin Entertainment Centre and is a Board member for Darwin Waterfront Corporation. David is Chairperson of Crime Stoppers NT.

Catherine Phillips

Catherine Phillips represents the Northern Territory on the national board of Crime Stoppers Australia and is the Deputy Chairperson of Crime Stoppers Northern Territory.

Until 2014, when the business was sold, Catherine was part owner and Dealer Principal of an Automotive Dealership in Darwin, a position she held for 13 years.  Since the sale Catherine has worked part-time as a Business Development Consultant.  After working in small business for 17 years, firstly in a micro training and business development business and then in the dealership, Catherine is revelling in the opportunity for extended travel and the luxury of time to spend with family and friends.

Catherine was the first female president of the Motor Trades Association (NT), a role she held for six years.  During this period she was a Director of the Motor Trades Association of Australia and a founding Director of the Australia Motor Industry Federation.

Married since 1982, Catherine has two grown children and two wonderful grandchildren. 

Catherine is the Deputy Chairperson of Crime Stoppers NT and represents the Northern Territory on the Crime Stoppers Australia Board.

Helen Summers

Helen has have been in private practice in Darwin for 17 years, with eight visiting clinics in regional and remote areas across  1500 sq km of the Top End, including Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Jabiru (Kakadu); Adelaide River, Batchelor; and Arnhemland homelands, as well as Danila Dilba in Darwin CBD and Saltbush, Stringybark at Darwin Rehabilitation Drug and Alcohol Centre . Clinics are supported with donated ready-mades, sunglasses and low cost glasses from Essilor Vision Foundation.

Helen has an interest in dry eye and anterior eye disease, glaucoma and macula management, contact lenses, children’s vision, neuro-optometry conditions and indigenous health.

The practice is in partnership with Flinders University and hosts final year students for training, mentoring

.In April 2014 the practice relocated to The Avenue, Parap; and opened as Australia’s flagship Nikon concept practice.

Jon Davis

Jon’s working life started at the age of 17 as a radio and television presenter in regional Victoria.  He joined the Victoria Police Force in 1983 and spent the latter seven of his 14 years of service in proactive strategic roles.  At the time of leaving the police force, Jon was the Officer in Charge of crime prevention for the north eastern metropolitan area of Melbourne.  Upon his resignation he was awarded the Victoria Police Medal for Diligent and Ethical Service and he was also the recipient of an Australia Day Award for services to his community.  Jon then commenced his own media and entertainment business and has operated this business on a freelance basis ever since.  During this time, Jon also obtained his private investigator certification and has worked as a specialist in local government compliance, overseeing Melbourne’s largest nightclub and tourist precinct (after hours) as well as handling WorkCover, industrial relations and misconduct matters for corporate and government clients across Australia.  Jon relocated to Darwin in 1999, purchased his first property in the CBD three months after his arrival and is still based in that property to this day.  In 2010, Jon received a fixed-term contract to restructure Neighbourhood Watch (NT) and presently combines his skills and experience to operate and consult for several businesses including The Axiom Group, for which he is their Senior Corporate Investigator.  

Dennis Hart

Dennis Hart arrived in Darwin in 1969 and worked in the automotive industry until 1972, when he joined the Northern Territory Police Force as a public servant.
Immediately after Cyclone Tracey Dennis commenced his police training in Adelaide. Dennis remained with the police for over 20 years; serving a short time in uniform before being transferred into the Criminal Investigation Branch. Over the ensuing years Dennis attained the rank of A/Superintendent and was either the lead or support investigator in a number of high profile Northern Territory cases involving drug plantations, murder, fraud and major crime investigations. After spending a number of years in the drug squad, Dennis was made Officer in Charge of that unit and then later went on to become the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch.
For the last 21 years Dennis has been employed by Paspaley Pearling Coy as their Security Manager. During that time Dennis has travelled extensively across the world either coordinating major pearl auctions, providing safe-hand delivery for pearls, or accompanying the company principals on major business trips. In more recent times Dennis has turned his hand to research and has been working on a project to deliver exotic pearl meat to restaurants globally. This has involved extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders including company directors, scientists, DFAT and other businesses that have achieved export and supply chain accreditation for other seafoods.
Now that his overseas travel is down to three or four trips a year Dennis is looking forward to contributing to the NT community through Crime Stoppers Northern Territory.
In his spare time Dennis enjoys fishing the Peron Islands with his two daughters and wife and dabbles in carpentry, welding, mechanical repairs and basically anything that needs fixing! The last project was to rebuild a tractor from the ground up and Dennis is now waiting for the next project to appear.

Darryl Thomas

Darryl Thomas, a former professional athlete has lived in the Northern Territory for 32 years, residing in Tennant Creek, Pine Creek and Darwin and has worked as a Bank Clerk, Bookmakers Clerk, Policeman and the last twenty odd years in the liquor industry. The first Territorian to complete the Roseworthy Wine Marketing course in 1993, a passion for fine wine resulted in a “lifestyle” career and the establishment of Thomas Chin Pty Ltd in October 2002. Recently been honoured as the first Territorian to be invited to judge at a major Australian Wine Show (Royal Queensland). 

Deborah Hall

Dr Debbie Hall is a Darwin resident, active in both the community and business sectors where she has a wide network of associates.

Growing up on a Zimbabwean farm and an active volunteer her whole life, Debbie has lived and worked in a range of settings across Africa and Papua New Guinea before coming to Australia more than 10 years ago. She has served on a number of management committees for local associations in the past and is currently a member of the NT Business Council executive and of the local off road cyclists club (DORC) committee.

Debbie is currently the General Manager Northern Territory of CPA Australia, an accounting body with a global membership of more than 150,000 members.  In this role she responsible for engaging with and encouraging engagement between local members and is an advocate and voice for the accounting profession.  She is delighted to serve on the Crime Stoppers NT Board, looking forward to increasing community awareness and use of this important resource.