CEO, Aboriginal Sea Company and ILSC Secretariat

Bo Carne grew up in Darwin but is Jabirr Jabirr through his mother and linked to Bardi through his grandmother from the Dampier Peninsular in WA.  He is the Chief Executive Officer for the Aboriginal Sea Company established June 2022 which is made up of membership from across the Anindilyakwa, Tiwi and Northern Land Councils.   

After 25 years in the Northern Government, Bo left his role as the Director Local Decision Making (LDM) and Director Aboriginal Interpreter Service with the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet (DCMC).  In this role he led a team in the design and development of the NT Government’s key policy, Local Decision Making.

Prior to joining DCMC, Bo work with NT Fisheries for 17 years, influencing the development of many of the Indigenous engagement and development strategies (both Territory and National), including Indigenous employment, economic development, resource management and research.  Some of which have been recognised by a number of Territory and National Awards.

Bo also worked as a Primary School teacher and has a Diploma in Business, Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Leadership, participated in the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and completed the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program.

Achievements 2001-2021:  

- Establishment of the Aboriginal Marine Ranger Program. 

- Policy and program design for fisheries Aboriginal economic development initiatives and engagement in resource management.

- Led the implementation of Aboriginal employment in NT Fisheries through an Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program which increased the Aboriginal employment from 2% up to 24%.

- Development and implementation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Fishery Strategy.

- 2010 National Seafood Industry Training Award, as Manager of the Fisheries Indigenous Development Unit.  

- One of the founding members of the National Indigenous Reference Group for the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

- 2011 Chief Minister’s Award, led a team for the development and implementation of fisheries compliance training for Aboriginal rangers.

- Winner of the Top End NAIDOC Person of the Year Award 2011.

- Undertook an Indigenous Leadership Scholarship with visits to Canada and USA to investigate First Nations leadership and representation in fisheries resource management and businesses.

- In 2016 the first Aboriginal person to act as the Director Fisheries in NT. 

- Between 2001 and 2017, a member of various local and national boards and committees.

- Since 2017, as Director Local Decision Making, led a team to undertake extensive consultation across government and the Aboriginal sector to design the NT Government’s Local Decision Making Policy.

- In 2019 become a member of the CSIRO First Nations Reference Group.

- In 2020, led a team for the development and implementation of the Approved Remote Essential Worker initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

- 2020-21 Selection Panel member for CSIRO recruitment of Program Director – Indigenous Science and Engagement.

- 2021, Acting Regional Executive Director for Central Australia with the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet.  This involved whole of government coordination across the region working closely with NT government agencies and other key stakeholders.