Belinda is a passionate advocate for the sustainable development of Northern Australia and leads creative content for the CRC for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA). She also provides creative support to rural businesses through North Creative Agency and is an experienced writer and photographer, specialising in design, art, culture, agriculture and rural life in the Top End with her works published regularly in NORTH on Substack.

Prior to joining the CRCNA, Bel was a Director in the Australian Government’s Office of Northern Australia where she led coordination of the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia and was a Senior Adviser with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Indigenous Affairs Group.

Bel has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Cultural Heritage, an Advanced Diploma in Interior Design and a Diploma in Aboriginal Interpreting. Bel is a member of the Northern Territory Government ArtsNT advisory board, Library and Archives Reference Group, and the Developing Northern Australia Conference committee.

Bel is from the Northern Territory where she lives in croc country and one day hopes to run her own cattle enterprise.

b.carlson@crcna.com.au