About the Administrator
His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM was sworn in as the 23rd Administrator of the Northern Territory on the 2nd of February 2023.
As Administrator, His Honour represents the Crown in right of the Northern Territory. His Honour performs a similar constitutional role to that of a State Governor and does not participate in the political process.
Throughout his 50-year health career, His Honour demonstrated outstanding service and excellence in clinical practice, leadership, management and administrative fields. His Honour’s compassionate and exemplary contributions to the health and wellbeing of the Northern Territory’s population, particularly the Indigenous community, was recognised in January 2021 with the awarding of the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service to community health in the Northern Territory. He was further recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List for distinguished service to medicine and medical research organisations, and as Administrator of the Northern Territory. His Honour has participated in overseas humanitarian disaster responses through the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre and in 2021 was awarded the Australian Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for his contributions during the 2015 Cyclone Pam disaster in Vanuatu.
His Honour was born in Melbourne, the eldest of six children, attending Bonbeach High School. His father was a motor mechanic and his mother did voluntary work. On completion of his first degree he relocated to Sydney where he worked as a research pharmacologist and in haematology before returning to Melbourne to complete his medical training. After twenty years as a Rural Generalist Practitioner in Victoria, including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Emergency Medicine and Inpatient care, he relocated to the Northern Territory with his family in 2001. He has six children and five grandchildren.
Prior to his appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory, His Honour was the Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of Public Health and Clinical Excellence in the Northern Territory from 2016 to 2022, and an Executive Member of the Northern Territory Health Leadership Committee. His leadership and advice played a significant role in ensuring the safety of Territorians during the COVID- 19 pandemic. His Honour has served on numerous boards, committees and councils locally and nationally, including Radiation Health and Digital Health.
His Honour was awarded Full Academic Status as a Professor (Academic Level E) in the College of Medicine and Public Health with Flinders University. The Administrator holds a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology), a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (University of Melbourne). He also has a Graduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1983) and a Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education (2011).
His Honour plays an active role in the community serving as Patron to more than 50 organisations. In February 2023, His Honour was invested as a Knight of the Order of St John and is also Deputy Prior of the Order in the Northern Territory. His Honour has a strong connection with the Australian Defence Force and supports the promotion of the Northern Territory’s strategic position in the region. He is Honorary Colonel of the North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE), Honorary Air Commodore of No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron, and Honorary Air Commodore of No 17 Squadron (RAAF Tindal).
His Honour has lived and worked in remote Indigenous communities and regional centres across the Northern Territory and actively promotes reconciliation with, and the progression of, Australia’s First Nations people. As Administrator of the Northern Territory, His Honour values the importance of supporting and promoting all regions of the Territory and its diverse community. He is passionate about hearing the voices and stories of all Territorians.
The Administrator and Ms Ruth Jones have been partners since 2016.
Ms Ruth Eirwen Jones
Ms Ruth Jones was born and raised in Barry, a seaside town in Wales. After completing her nurse training at St. Thomas’ Hospital London, she travelled to Sydney, Australia, in 1988, where she continued her nursing career. With a passion for travelling, Ms Jones travelled extensively around Australia before settling in Darwin, which she has now called home for more than 35 years.
Ms Jones is a qualified and experienced clinical nurse manager, serving at the Royal Darwin Hospital from 1989 to 2023. Ms Jones has specialised in orthopaedic trauma and spinal care. She holds a Masters in Orthopaedic Nursing, a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Health Education. Ms Jones has broad leadership and management experience with expertise in teaching, management of health services, and a passion for safety and quality improvement. Ms Jones is a member of the board and nursing representative of Orthopaedic Outreach, the humanitarian branch of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and represents the Northern Territory orthopaedic nurses in the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association (ANZONA).
Ms Jones has a strong interest in humanitarian work. Her volunteer work has included orthopaedic education in Nepal, Bali and Surabaya with a focus on improving knowledge, skills and management systems to improve the quality of patient care. Ms Jones continues to be involved with volunteer work in Bali through Orthopaedic Outreach Australasia. Travelling and learning about different cultures has been a significant part of her life, and she has undertaken extended trips through the Americas, Europe, and Nepal, including hiking to the Everest Base Camp.
Passionate about nature, Ms Jones is a strong advocate for improving the natural environment. She is an enthusiastic gardener, and one of her greatest personal achievements has been planting and nurturing 200 mango trees to fruition.
Ms Jones has a keen interest in promoting the arts, well-being, health and fitness. She enjoys walking and hiking in adventurous places in the Northern Territory and around the world.
Ms Jones is honoured to promote and support the Northern Territory community as Patron of St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc and the Country Women’s Association of the Northern Territory Inc., and as Joint Patron with the Administrator to a wide range of community groups in the fields of animal welfare, breast cancer support, the law, critical care, health and wellbeing, and water safety.
Ms Ruth Jones and the Administrator have been partners since 2016.