NAIF board appoint Neil MacDonald as new CEO for five years
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility board has appointed its new chief executive as the organisation transitions its role as lender and investor. The new boss’ role explained
The incoming chief executive officer of the northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is expected to lead the organisation through a period of transition toward playing a role as long-term investor in jobs, opportunities and economic growth.
Private equity investment and banking specialist Neil MacDonald has been appointed new CEO by the public lender’s board for a five-year term.
The appointment comes after Minister for Resources and northern Australia Madeleine King last week announced the $7bn NAIF would continue for another 10 years, and as the government considered the outcome of a statutory review of the organisation.
“I look forward to working with Neil to further strengthen NAIF as it invests in projects across the north that will create jobs, support First Nations communities, build resilient infrastructure and position Australia as a leader in critical industries,” Ms King said.
“Neil will be pivotal in leading NAIF as it prepares for the next decade of delivering for the people and communities of our north.”
She said Mr MacDonald was currently the chief financial officer of the government-owned National Intermodal Corporation Limited and de has previously been the head of corporate finance for Mining and Primary Steel, head of corporate finance of Klesch Group Limited, and executive director and head of project finance Asia Pacific of JP Morgan.
Mr MacDonald will be based in Cairns and will start as NAIF CEO in early 2026.
Ms King paid tribute to retiring chief executive Craig Doyle.
“I thank Craig for the significant contribution he has made to NAIF,” she said.
“He has led the organisation with distinction since June 2022, overseeing major investments from large-scale resources and energy developments to social infrastructure projects across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.”
NAIF has a current portfolio of 32 project investments – 14 in Queensland, 10 in Western Australia and eight in the Northern Territory. Together, these investments represented about $4.3bn in approved loans towards projects forecast to generate more than $33bn in public benefit and support thousands of jobs across the north.
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Originally published as NAIF board appoint Neil MacDonald as new CEO for five years
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