NAIF: Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility acting CEO Amanda Copping resigns
The multibillion-dollar Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility’s acting CEO has resigned as the government body searches for its fourth top bureaucrat in less than three years.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE multibillion-dollar Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility’s acting CEO has resigned as the government body searches for its fourth top bureaucrat in less than three years.
Amanda Copping stepped into the role in November following the shock resignation of Chris Wade, who told staff of his immediate resignation the afternoon before he was due to appear before a Senate Estimates hearing.
Ms Copping, who was NAIF’s chief investment officer at the time, said she was not told the reason of Mr Wade’s resignation and was only informed of his departure five minutes before the email was sent.
Mr Wade succeeded the organisation’s inaugural CEO Laurie Walker, who stepped down in 2019.
This latest resignation leaves the important body’s revolving door wide open for another high-paid administrator to take the reins.
A NAIF spokesman said Ms Copping would depart the organisation on March 23 to pursue another career opportunity.
“As a key member of the organisation’s investment team and chief investment officer, Ms Copping has overseen the delivery of investment commitments worth $3.4bn across a range of key sectors to Northern Australia,” he said.
“These projects are forecast to generate $25bn in economic impact and support 13,000 jobs.”
Only two Far North Queensland projects have been flagged as beneficiaries of the $7bn funding body so far.
Metro Mining will receive funds for a $47.5m new floating terminal for its Skardon River bauxite mine in Cape York, and CQUniversity’s has access to a loan of up to $76m to fund a package of capital expenditure programs across its eight campuses over two years – including one in Cairns.
Ms Copping said her departure followed a series of reforms that left the organisation in good stead.
“With the NAIF reforms now being implemented and investment commitments continuing to be approved by the NAIF board, I will depart the organisation at a time when the future is bright for NAIF,” she said.
“I will leave behind a good team who are excited about NAIF’s mission to deliver investment to the north, generating jobs and Indigenous outcomes for the region.
“I wish everyone well.”
Labor Senator for Queensland Murray Watt took aim at the federal government over NAIF’s leadership woes.
“Right now, our north needs stable leadership and investment from our federal government,” he said.
“Instead, Scott Morrison’s NAIF has become a revolving door of CEOs that just isn’t delivering what was promised.
“Until the NAIF gets stable leadership, it will remain the No Actual Infrastructure Fund.”
A NAIF spokesman said the recruitment process for a new permanent CEO was progressing.
More Coverage
Originally published as NAIF: Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility acting CEO Amanda Copping resigns
‘Profoundly manipulative and bizarre’: Stalker lit fires, sent strippers to ex’s home
A Cairns soccer coach lit fires around his ex-girlfriend’s home, sent sex workers to her house and pretended to be a police officer during “profoundly manipulative” behaviour after a break-up, a court has heard.
Read more
Bow and arrows, fractured skull: Aurukun man sentenced over clan violence bashing
Two men were flown from the remote cape community of Aurukun by the Royal Flying Doctor Service after clan rivalries erupted into extreme violence after a man threatened a women with a bow and arrow, a court heard as another man was sentenced for his beating.
Read more