Bree Ahrens has been appointed the new executive director of the Environment Centre NT, the organisation has announced.

ECNT board chairperson Robin Knox said Ms Ahrens has over 20 years of experience in climate advocacy, social justice and workers’ rights, and has led ECNT’s climate campaign for the past three years.

She said Ms Ahrens had focused on initiatives such as opposing the Middle Arm industrial precinct in Darwin Harbour and advocating against fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

“Bree has already been at the forefront of ECNT’s key campaigns for many years, including revelations of a major methane leak on Darwin Harbour and the Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas and petrochemical hub,” Ms Knox said.

“The ECNT board wishes Bree well as she leads ECNT’s watchdog work to defend our nature and climate here in the Territory.”

Ms Knox said Ms Ahrens holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and has a diverse background as a researcher, educator, editor and translator.

“Our challenge is to shift the economic development narrative from digging, drilling and extracting, to a future that favours people and the planet,” Ms Ahrens said.

“Whether it’s rolling out almost 1,000 ban fracking signs across Darwin or taking on destructive industries like industrial cotton farming and the deforestation crisis, we’re ready to defend the Territory’s iconic nature.”

She succeeds Dr Kirsty Howey, who stepped down in August.