Hugh Heggie

Ruth Jones

​

(m. 2016)​

His Honour The Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM
23rd Administrator of the Northern Territory
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 February 2023
Residence	Government House, Darwin
Alma mater	University of Melbourne

Hugh Crosbie Heggie AO PSM (born 1950) is an Australian public servant and physician who is the 23rd and current Administrator of the Northern Territory since 2 February 2023. ^[1]

Career

Heggie was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1950, ^[2] and educated at Bonbeach High School. He attended the University of Melbourne and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. On the completion of his first degree he relocated to Sydney where he worked as a research pharmacologist before returning to Melbourne. In 2001, after 20 years in Melbourne, he relocated to the Northern Territory with his family. ^[3]

Between 2016 and 2022, Heggie served as the Chief Health Officer and executive director of Public Health and Clinical Excellence in the Northern Territory. He played a significant role during the COVID-19 restrictions in Australia and served on numerous boards, committees and councils locally and nationally. ^[3]

On 29 November 2022, the Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announced Heggie would become the 23rd Administrator of the Northern Territory, succeeding Vicki O'Halloran. ^[4] He was sworn in by Governor-General David Hurley on 2 February 2023. ^[1]

In April 2025, Heggie apparently made a comment supporting the Labor Party in the upcoming federal election despite having a "non-partisan" role. ^[5]

Honours

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	2024 Australia Day Honours for "distinguished service to medicine and medical research organisations, and as Administrator of the Northern Territory"	26 January 2024 [6]
	Public Service Medal (PSM)	2021 Australia Day Honours for "outstanding public service to community health in the Northern Territory"	26 January 2021 [7]
	Knight of Grace of the Order of St John	2023 Special Honours appointment as Deputy Prior of the Venerable Order of Saint John.	5 February 2023 [8]
	Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal	with Vanuatu clasp.	2021 [3]

Honorary appointments

•   Australian Army 2023: Honorary, Colonel of North West Mobile Force ^[9]
•   Royal Australian Air Force 2023: Honorary, Air Commodore of No. 13 Squadron RAAF ^[10]
•   Royal Australian Air Force 2023: Honorary, Air Commodore of No. 17 Squadron RAAF ^[11]

References

1. "Swearing-in of the 23rd Administrator of the Northern Territory". govhouse.nt.gov.au. Government House. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
2. "Family Notices". The Age . No. 29669. Victoria, Australia. 31 May 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2023– via National Library of Australia.
3. "About the Administrator". govhouse.nt.gov.au. Government House. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
4. "Hugh Heggie named as next NT Administrator". NT Independent. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
5. Bowles, Annabel (30 April 2025). "NT Administrator appears to back Labor ahead of federal election despite 'non-partisan' role". ABC News . Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
6. "His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Crosby Heggie PSM". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
7. "Heggie, Hugh Crosbie". Australian Honours. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
8. Invested as a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John, Government House, Darwin, retrieved 9 February 2023
9. "Honorary Colonel of Australian Army North West Mobile Force". Administrator of the Northern Territory. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
10. "3 June 2024 Diary". Administrator of the Northern Territory. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
11. "Air Commodore". Administrator of the Northern Territory. Retrieved 10 April 2025.

Government offices
Preceded by Vicki O'Halloran	Administrator of the Northern Territory 2023–present	Incumbent