Max Stretton

There are many things that Max Stretton enjoys about living in the Territory – the lifestyle, the friendliness, the multiculturalism and the unparalleled work opportunities.

But it’s the NT’s role in connecting Australia to Asia that excites him most.

Max loves living in the Northern Territory and is an enthusiastic ambassador for its role as the Gateway to Asia.

He likes to say that he is a “product” of a government partnership between Australia and Indonesia – his Balinese mother met his father while she was on a teacher exchange in Darwin.

Max was destined to make Darwin his home.

His late great uncle, Major-General Alan Stretton, was in charge of the city’s reconstruction after the devastation of Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Max was born in Bali and moved to Darwin with his parents at the age of two.

He was on a path to studying law at Melbourne University, but changed his mind three weeks before he was due to head south and went to Charles Darwin University instead.

“I was at a party when two family friends who are lawyers in Darwin took me aside and told me I should go to CDU. They said I would get a great education and the study would be more focused on my interests – Northern Australia and the connection to Asia."

“I’ve never regretted going to university in Darwin. Turning my back on Melbourne in favour of CDU was the biggest and best decision of my life."

“We have fantastic opportunities in the Northern Territory.”

Max now works for a thriving Darwin-based company offering political and commercial strategy advice to companies wanting to establish major projects in the NT.

“The company wants to make the Northern Territory an even better place to live. And that’s what I want to do.”