Owned by the Territory Government but operating in a forward-thinking private enterprise model, the company has become a driving force behind some of the most significant events in the Territory.

Over the last 12 months, and under the leadership of outgoing Chief Executive Officer Suzana Bishop, Northern Territory Major Events Company experienced extraordinary growth, innovation and collaboration.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Suzana Bishop, who took the helm just over 20 months ago, Northern Territory Major Events Company has experienced extraordinary growth, innovation and collaboration.

“We’ve had a big, exciting year – we’ve refreshed our purpose, vision, and values, and now we’re working towards even better things,” says Mrs Bishop, who was last month appointed CEO of Department Tourism and Hospitality within the Northern Territory Government.

One of the most significant achievements of this milestone year is the acquisition of the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP), which will become the Territory’s first major global sporting event.

Darwin will host the MXGP in September 2025. It will be hosted in the Territory for at least five years, marking the event’s return to Australia after a 24-year absence.

The program will feature the prestigious MXGP and MX2 classes, the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, and a national support class. The event will make Darwin the first Australian city to host the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and is expected to draw thousands of international visitors, providing a substantial economic boost during the quieter shoulder of the tourism season.

Mrs Bishop says: “Our aim is to strengthen the Territory economy through our work. MXGP captures the essence of the Territory. I know Territorians will embrace it.

“We have seen in the numbers just how much Territorians and visitors embrace what we do.

“In 2023-24, six major events were responsible for generating 410,206 visitor nights and delivering a total economic stimulus of $155.45 million. The economic and tourism impact of ‘new money’ from these six events was $85.03 million in direct spending impact in host regions and $98.36 million in direct spending impact in the NT.”

The company has spearheaded numerous initiatives to enhance events across the NT. It includes forging new partnerships and pursuing innovative developments, including a renewed approach to customer experience with a focus on event quality, which has led to the introduction of successful new programming initiatives.

Notable accomplishments include:

• Innovative partnerships: collaborating with NT Indigenous Business Network to enrich Parrtjima – A Festival in Light with the inaugural three-night Buy Blak Market that offered art, bush foods, jewellery and beauty products.
• New developments: introducing the new 360-degree stage, BASSment, dedicated to dance music, expanded corporate hospitality at the BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival.
• Strategic growth: developing a new Strategy and Acquisition team to secure and attract more top-line events and position the Territory as a world-class destination. Events acquired and delivered include MXGP in a landmark five-year agreement, world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, NRL match, three AFL games and the return of the Australia Cup Playoffs.

Mrs Bishop, originally from Brazil but a proud Australian for more than 20 years, adheres to a philosophy of continuous improvement.

“Our philosophy is simple but powerful: always striving to improve.”

In addition to the major events such as the betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars Indigenous Round, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival and Red CentreNATS, Northern Territory Major Events Company continues to run popular initiatives such as Million Dollar Fish.

Million Dollar Fish, Australia’s richest fishing competition, offers anglers the chance to reel in a red- tagged million-dollar barramundi.

The million-dollar tagged barra was reeled in by 19-year-old Keegan Payne on 28 April 2024, just two days before the end of the seven-month extended Season 9.

The Katherine teenager caught a red-tagged 67-cm barra to claim the competition’s first million-dollar fish.

The campaign not only generates priceless publicity for the Territory’s world-class recreational fishing but also attracts visitors outside of the traditional tourism season.

Supported by Sportsbet, Million Dollar Fish Season 10 returns on 1 October and will run until 31 March 2025.

It is clear hearing from the company’s CEO, Mrs Bishop, they are just as proud to support events across the Territory as they are to deliver them. In the 2023-2024 financial year the Event Funding Program (EFP) supported 58 events over two rounds ranging from cultural events, music festivals, Aboriginal events, major sporting events and special interest events like Chariots of Thunder, Barunga Festival, Alice Springs Beanie Festival and Thailand Grand Festival.

As Northern Territory Major Events Company celebrates its 25th anniversary year, it looks forward to continuing its mission of enhancing the Northern Territory’s reputation as a place of amazing event experiences and continuing to build upon the Territory’s suite of major events.

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CONTACT
Northen Territory
Major Events Company
ntmajorevents.com.au
major.events@nt.gov.au
Darwin

Level 2, 16 Bennett Street, Darwin, NT 0800
GPO Box 3333, Darwin NT 0801

08 8999 5256

Alice Springs

Level 1, 36 Todd Street, Alice Springs NT 0870
PO Box 1095, Alice Springs NT 0871

08 8951 6442

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