Theresa Roe has been announced as chair of Australia's largest Indigenous legal organisation, whilst Carol Dowling from Katherine has been appointed as her deputy.

As reported by National Indigenous Times, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) last month quietly appointed four new directors after a mass resignation at the end of August.

Two of these directors, Ms Roe, and Ms Dowling, have now also been appointed to oversee an organisation with a new governance model, including a new constitution and board, in the wake of a tumultuous 18 months.

Ms Roe, a Yawuru, Gurindji, and Torres Strait Islander woman, was born on Larrakia country, and has lived and worked throughout the NT.

"I am proud to have been appointed to the role of chair of such an important organisation as NAAJA," Ms Roe said.

"At a time when more and more Aboriginal youth and adults are being locked up, my focus will be on reducing the incarceration rates of our people and advocating for a fairer justice system."

Echoing calls from a number of experts across the sector, she added: "With almost 85 per cent of the prison population being Aboriginal people, our current system is clearly broken and needs urgent reform."

Ms Roe and Ms Dowling have been appointed until NAAJA's 2025 AGM having been appointed at the first directors' meeting following the election of directors last month.

Having previously worked for both the Northern Territory and Australian governments in social security, education, and employment and training, Ms Roe moved on to a senior policy advisory role in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), and later at the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance NT and the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT).

A NAAJA spokesperson said Ms Roe brought a long history of building strong and close relationships with Aboriginal people in communities across the NT to the organisation, as well as "fostering good governance in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations".

"She has been actively involved in many activities and events at the local, territory and national level to advocate for the rights of Aboriginal people," the spokesperson said.

"Some of Ms Roe's achievements include assisting in the establishment of the Red Lily Health Aboriginal Corporation, the Aboriginal Housing NT peak body and the Aboriginal Governance and Management Program within APO NT."

NAAJA has faced significant criticism and turmoil over the last months, which culminated in the organisation last month apologising "without reservation" to ousted chief executive, Priscilla Atkins, after the Federal Court ruled in June she had been unlawfully sacked.

In August, former acting deputy chief executive, Leeanne Caton - who stood down in June after only five months in the role - began circulating a petition among current and former NAAJA staff calling for a vote of no confidence in the board.

On November 27 at its AGM, NAAJA members approved a new constitution, opening membership to all Indigenous people in the NT, as well as reducing the number of directors from 16, to a maximum of eight, with, for the first time, three independent specialist directors joining five community directors.

Four community directors were initially appointed at the AGM, with Ms Roe and Ms Dowling joined by Bobby Wunungmurra and Joyce Taylor.