NPA Regional Council Announces New CEO, Dalassa Yorkston

Published on 09 June 2025

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) has announced a unanimous appointment of Dalassa Yorkston to the position of Chief Executive Officer, at a special Council meeting held on 5 June 2025. 

NPARC Mayor Robert Poi Poi said today he was very pleased to announce that Mrs Dalassa Yorkston has been appointed Council's CEO and she has accepted this appointment.

“An experienced senior leader with decades of distinguished service as a Chief Executive Officer, Dalassa Yorkston is the first indigenous woman to be appointed as CEO of a mainstream Council in Queensland, at Torres Shire Council - and as the first indigenous woman to be appointed CEO of any indigenous Council in Australia,” Mayor Poi Poi said.

“I am excited about the future for NPARC and the great progress we can now make with Mrs Yorkston as our CEO".

Facilitated by an independent recruitment agency, the successful appointment by Council followed an extensive recruitment process.  Mrs Yorkston will take up her position as CEO of NPARC on 4 August 2025.

In the meantime, Mr Lew Rojahn will continue to act as interim CEO.

ENDS

Additional info:

Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is Queensland’s most northerly mainland local government area with a permanent population of approximately 4000 residents within the five communities of: Bamaga, Seisia, New Mapoon, Injinoo and Umagico. The NPA is administered by Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC). The region borders Cook Shire to the south of Jardine River, extending north toward Pajinka (The Tip) - and across the Torres Strait is the Torres Shire Council and Torres Strait Islands Regional Council.

Media enquiries:

E: Kerrie.hall@nparc.qld.gov.au / M: 0461 320140

Communications & Media Coordinator.