Mayor Brian Pedwell said  Mrs Sangster would start in her new role on April 3.

She will work with interim CEO Russell Anderson during the hand-over period.

Mayor Pedwell said Mrs Sangster is relocating to Katherine from Darwin with her family and has lived in the Northern Territory for nearly 20 years.

Mrs Sangster has a background in social policy and program management with a degree in Social Work and Masters in Social Research.

She previously fulfilled the role of executive director of the Office of Women’s Advancement and has been an Alderman on the Darwin City Council for 11 years and was the president of the Australian Local Government Women's Association NT.

“I would like to welcome our new CEO on behalf of myself and all the VDRC councillors to the Victoria Daly Regional Council on behalf of all the staff and look forward to working together towards a bright future for our region and constituents,” Mayor Pedwell said.

“At the same time I would like to thank Russell Anderson for his hard work over the past few months and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Mrs Sangster stood for the CLP in the 2012 NT election in the seat of Johnston and was ultimately defeated by Labor’s Ken Vowles.