The Northern Territory's leading Indigenous legal organisation has appointed their sixth acting chief executive in a little over 18 months, with Anthony Beven taking over from Phil Brown.

On Tuesday, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) said they'd appointed Mr Beven as Acting CEO pending a process to appoint a permanent CEO.

It comes after the announcement last month that Mr Brown – who had agreed to serve as NAAJA's Acting CEO temporarily until the end of August – would return to his substantive position as Deputy CEO.

A legal practitioner who most recently worked as a Partner with Grant Thornton (Indigenous Advisory), Mr Beven also served as the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations for a decade, playing a key role in lifting governance and performance sector wide amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

"NAAJA is an incredibly important organisation in the Territory, representing clients who are among the most vulnerable and over-incarcerated population nationwide," he said.

"I have worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities around Australia, and I am driven to make a positive contribution.

"I look forward to continuing NAAJA's role in contributing to First Nations' justice policy development, and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."

Mr Beven also spent two decades working for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) - including 10 years in the NT.

A NAAJA spokesperson said they were pleased Mr Beven had taken on the role.

"His extensive experience and strong track record will hold NAAJA in good stead as we continue to implement our strategic plan to build our workforce capacity across the Territory and strengthen organisational performance," they said.

NAAJA also thanked Mr Brown, arguing his work had taken the organisation forward and put them in a "strong position to provide important representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Territory".

NAAJA has faced a series of public controversies over the last 18 months, with the Federal Court last year putting an injunction on the board, preventing it from recruiting or advertising for former CEO Priscilla Atkins position.

In June, a federal court found she was unlawfully sacked in early 2023.

They have also faced criticism for appointing Arrernte man Hugh Woodbury as chairperson earlier this year - despite being aware of his previous domestic violence charge - as well as revelations the NT government was attempting to recoup almost $2.7 million in unspent funds for the 2022-23 financial year.