Born and raised in Katherine, Mayor Joanna Holden is proud to be the first Mayor of Katherine born in the town. A third-generation resident, she lives locally with her husband and has raised two children here. Her family has long contributed to the community. Her grandfather, Frank Streten, donated the much-loved Low Level Park to the town and her father, Ron Streten, helped secure the establishment of RAAF Base Tindal, which continues to deliver significant social and economic benefits to the region.
This deep family connection has shaped her commitment to making Katherine a place where people feel pride in their town and have a strong sense of belonging. As Mayor, she is focused on strengthening community connection, improving local services, and supporting sustainable development that benefits everyone.
Joanna brings extensive experience in regional and First Nations economic development through her work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, where she helped build the agency’s economic practice and developed tools to create long-term opportunities for First Nations people.
She also worked with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority to co-design a consultation framework and deliver a $40 million investment in First Nations economic water entitlements. These experiences have given her a firm grounding in governance, consultation, negotiation, and policy development — critical skills for delivering the best outcomes for Katherine.