Mr Napau Pedro Stephen

Mr Napau Pedro Stephen, Portfolio Member for Governance and Leadership

Chairperson, Member for Port Kennedy

Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM is in his third term as a member and second term as Chairperson of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Board.

Mr Stephen has more than 40 years of extensive experience in executive leadership and management with Australian Government and state and local government agencies and community organisations.

Previously a maritime engineer, he spent 10 years with the Royal Australian Navy before returning to Thursday Island in 1982.

Mr Stephen is a former Mayor of the Torres Shire Council and served the community for 20 years in that role.  He is an ordained minister of religion and a member of the Port Kennedy Association and the Torres Strait RSL.

His aspiration is to establish a single regional governance body in the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area, to provide effective and efficient governance with a model of hope and security in line with social and economic independence for people living in the Torres Strait

Mr Stephen continues to advocate for increasing the wealth of the Torres Strait region through developing local industries and jobs, and for supporting community organisations with service delivery.

He is passionate about local-led action towards Closing the Gap, including around housing and home ownership, employment, health, domestic and family violence prevention and climate change to support more local people and communities to thrive.

In 2022, Mr Stephen was appointed to the Referendum Working Group and Referendum Engagement Group alongside First Nations representatives from across the country tasked with establishing the path towards a referendum on the Voice to Parliament.