The National Native Title Tribunal welcomes the appointment of Dr Joe Fardin as a full-time Member of the NNTT.
Dr Fardin is a mining and Indigenous land rights lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience across Indigenous affairs, native title, land management, public policy and agreement making. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology), and a Master of Laws with Distinction from the University of Dundee. In 2025, Dr Fardin was awarded a PhD from the University of Western Australia in the field of Indigenous consent.
He is widely recognised for his expertise in native title negotiations and the management of complex relationships between First Nation peoples, governments and industry, particularly within the resources sector, acquired in regional, national and global settings.
An Honorary Research Fellow and Associate Director at the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law, Dr Fardin is admitted as a legal practitioner in NSW, Western Australia and the High Court of Australia.
“Dr Fardin brings a depth of legal, policy and agreement-making experience and expertise to the evolving, complex work undertaken by the NNTT,” said NNTT President Kevin Smith.
“I join with Native Title Registrar Katie Stride, my fellow NNTT Members and staff in congratulating him on his appointment.”
Dr Fardin will be based in Perth. His five-year appointment will start on 11 May 2026. National Native Title Tribunal
