The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) has appointed Dr Donna Ah Chee as its new chief executive officer.
Dr Ah Chee is currently the chief executive officer of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service employing over 500 staff to deliver integrated services to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and nine remote communities across the region. She is a proud Bundjalung woman from the far north coast of New South Wales who has lived in Mparntwe for over 36 years. She is married to a local Yankunytjatjara/Arrernte man and together they have three children andthree grandchildren.
Dr Ah Chee has devoted herself to the movement for health and justice for Aboriginal people at a local, Northern Territory and national level. Her advocacy to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through collaborative action, and her firm commitment to holding governments accountable for closing the gap in health outcomes has earned her a national profile. She has made a significant contribution to the health of Aboriginal people through her leadership in primary health care, research, education and public health. She has also made important contributions to reducing the harms caused by alcohol, and to improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal children.
Donna has been appointed to numerous high-level positions including serving as CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), as chairperson of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) and the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum, and as inaugural independent chair of the Northern Territory Children and Families Tripartite Forum (2018-2023).
In 2022, Donna was awarded with the title of Honorary Doctor of Arts from Charles Darwin University, in recognition of her significant contribution to the health of First Nations peoples.
‘Dr Ah Chee brings a wealth of experience and passion to the role and is a CEO with a proven track record in the Aboriginal health sector. We are delighted that she is joining AMSANT’, Rob McPhee, AMSANT chair said. ‘This year AMSANT celebrated its 30th anniversary and we have an ambitious new 2025-2028 strategic plan. Dr Ah Chee is the right person to lead AMSANT at this important time and we look forward to working with her to close the gap for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.’
Dr Ah Chee will be based in Alice Springs and will commence on 23 February 2026.
Media contact: Amy Price, 0437 027 156
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