Northern Land Council
Elena Zola is a highly experienced legal professional specializing in Native Title and litigation, currently serving as a Senior Lawyer at the Northern Land Council since November 2019. Prior to this role, Elena held positions as a Solicitor and Project Officer at the Top End Women's Legal Service and worked as an Associate to the Aboriginal Land Commissioner John Mansfield AM QC at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Additionally, experience includes roles as an Academic Tutor at Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education, a Legal Assistant at EMA Legal, and various internships focusing on community development and anthropology. Elena holds dual Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Adelaide and Utrecht University. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratisation at the Global Campus of Human Rights (2024-2025).
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Northern Land Council
The Northern Land Council was established in 1973 to represent traditional Aboriginal landowners and Aboriginal people in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. The most important responsibilities of the NLC are to consult with traditional landowners and other Aborigines with an interest in the land. This is to make sure the landowners as a group give their informed consent before the Land Council or a Land Trust enters into any agreement, or takes any action affecting their land. It also ensures that affected Aboriginal communities and groups have the chance to express their views and that land use agreements entered into are reasonable. These principles are fundamental to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. The NLC also acts as a representative body for native title claimants in its area under the Native Title Act 1993.