Aboriginal Territorians should not sit at the edge of the Territory’s next wave of development. They should be making decisions, acquiring assets, owning risk and sharing in the returns.

That ambition sits at the heart of Aboriginal Investment NT (AINT), a first-of-its-kind Aboriginal-led investment institution established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. Created to steward Aboriginal capital generated through resource development on Aboriginal land, the organisation has been designed to do more than fund projects. Its purpose is to place Aboriginal capital behind Aboriginal priorities while protecting and growing wealth for future generations.

In a Territory where economic development is increasingly linked to major projects, renewable energy, critical minerals, agriculture and regional infrastructure, the question of who owns, shapes and benefits from growth is becoming more important than ever.

For AINT, the answer is clear: Aboriginal people should not merely participate in development. They should be decision-makers, shareholders, equity holders, asset owners, project partners and long-term beneficiaries.

Since its establishment in 2022, the organisation has worked to create an investment model that balances today’s priorities with tomorrow’s opportunities. Guided by its Strategic Investment Plan, AINT focuses on four key objectives: growing Aboriginal money for future generations, strengthening Aboriginal economic, social and cultural systems, building collective Aboriginal wealth and assets at the local level, and elevating Aboriginal interests.

That approach reflects a broader shift in thinking about economic development. Rather than viewing Aboriginal communities solely as recipients of funding or consultation participants, the emphasis is increasingly on ownership, equity and retaining value locally.

“The Territory’s future workforce, enterprise base and economic prosperity are inseparable from Aboriginal participation, ownership and success,” says AINT Chief Executive Officer Nigel Browne.

An experienced lawyer and former long-serving chief executive of the Larrakia Development Corporation, Browne took the helm of AINT as the organisation moved from establishment into delivery. He credits the Board, previous leadership and staff with laying the foundations for what comes next.

Governance is central to the model. AINT is overseen by a 12-member Board comprising eight members elected through and appointed by the Northern Territory’s four land councils, alongside two ministerial appointees and two independent members. The structure combines Aboriginal-majority governance with public accountability, disciplined investment processes and sound commercial principles.

Today, AINT manages capital through two complementary funds.

The Community Ready Fund provides capital for current priorities, grants and place-based investment, while the Future Fund is designed to protect and grow Aboriginal capital for future generations. Together, they seek to ensure Aboriginal capital can support immediate community priorities while creating a stronger long-term economic foundation.

The organisation’s growing footprint can be seen across remote communities, regional centres and urban areas throughout the Territory.

As of August 2026, AINT had allocated $73.5 million to more than 315 Aboriginal businesses and organisations across the Territory. The funding supports a diverse range of initiatives spanning cultural development, business growth, training, education and community priorities.

Importantly, the focus is not simply on distributing capital. The objective is to generate sustainable economic, social and cultural outcomes that strengthen Aboriginal systems and create enduring assets for future generations.

Examples can be found across the Territory.

At Pinyama Nursery in Pirlangimpi, investment has supported local economic participation and capability development. In Darwin, support for Deadly Vision Centre has helped strengthen an Aboriginal-owned business delivering services and employment opportunities. These initiatives demonstrate the diversity of projects being backed through Aboriginal capital and Aboriginal decision-making.

The organisation is also exploring opportunities for Aboriginal participation in larger-scale developments.

One example is AINT’s non-binding memorandum of understanding with Tivan. The agreement is not a completed investment or project outcome, but rather an exploration of how future Territory developments could create opportunities for Aboriginal equity, investment, procurement, employment and training, subject to due diligence and all relevant Traditional Owner, native title and regulatory processes.

The opportunity is significant.

“Aboriginal people already comprise almost one-third of the Territory’s population. Our population is also significantly younger, with a median age of 27 compared with 36 for non-Aboriginal Territorians,” Browne says.

Aboriginal economic development is not a niche policy area. It is fundamental to the Territory’s future. As major projects continue to expand across northern Australia, questions about ownership, equity and participation will increasingly shape the Territory’s economic landscape. Industries such as aquaculture, carbon abatement, critical minerals, renewables, biosecurity and eco-tourism all present opportunities to build Aboriginal wealth while strengthening culture and connection to Country.

For Browne, the long-term goal extends beyond economic growth alone.

“Aboriginal Territorians should not be treated as stakeholders to be consulted after decisions have already been made. We should be shareholders, holding equity, owning assets, shaping decisions and receiving enduring returns. AINT’s role is to place Aboriginal capital behind that shift,” he says.

If that vision is realised, the benefits will extend far beyond individual projects. More value will remain in regional communities. Aboriginal businesses will grow. Jobs and capability will be created. Culture and Country will be strengthened. And the Territory itself will be better positioned to prosper.

That, Browne argues, is the finish line. TQ