The Country Liberal Party has selected a new party executive, choosing a former political adviser as president at its annual conference in Alice Springs over the weekend, with approval by a former chief minister, sources said.

Lawson Broad, current CEO of Somerville Community Services, was elected president, replacing Fiona Darcy. It was heavily speculated former deputy chief minister Dave Tollner would also seek the position, but sources said he did not challenge for it at the last minute.

Former NT Police officer Terri Hart and Alice Springs business owner Sean Heenan were elected vice presidents, while Tony Schelling was elected general secretary of the party.

Mr Broad, who previously worked for former deputy chief minister Peter Chandler and briefly for Lia Finocchiaro during the CLP’s tumultuous four-year reign from 2012 to 2016, said he was excited to take on the new role and said the party had spent the weekend focused on key policy areas, including on the economy, crime and “Indigenous advancement and the environment”.

“We are now two years out from the next Northern Territory election and I look forward to working with party members and the Leader of the Opposition and her team to build a strong alternative for Territorians,” he said in a statement.

“The Fannie Bay by-election result was a huge vote of confidence in the CLP and it is important that we build on that momentum.

“Discussions over the weekend concentrated on key policy areas of growing our economy, creating safer communities, Indigenous advancement and the environment.

“I have every confidence that the Country Liberal Party has a bright future and will win the confidence of Territorians.”

Party stalwart and former chief minister Shane Stone was quoted in the NT News – by a reporter who worked for the CLP for many years who did not declare a conflict – as supportive of the new president, saying the party was “lucky to attract someone of his talent”.

Sources told the NT Independent that Mr Stone’s influence on the party was strongly felt at the annual conference over the weekend. Newly elected vice president, Ms Hart, previously worked for Mr Stone.

“There’s nothing that will happen within the party that Shane Stone won’t know about now,” said a party source.

Ms Finocchiaro thanked Ms Darcy for her “stewardship of the party and the encouraging results in the Fannie Bay by-election”.

“I look forward to working with Lawson Broad who brings a wealth of experience to the role as we charge towards the 2024 general election,” she said.

Calls to Ms Darcy went unanswered. Ms Darcy was elected president in February following the abrupt resignation of Jamie De Brenni from the role while questions about the future of the party were raised ahead of the federal election and amid internal allegations that inappropriate behaviour against women over the last couple of years was not being investigated by the party.