Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) appoints new Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil MacDonald as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAIF effective from March 2026.

Mr MacDonald is currently the Chief Financial Officer at the National Intermodal Corporation and has been in that role since 2021. Prior to that, Neil held roles as Head of Corporate Finance at Klesch Group Limited in the UK and Head of Corporate Finance at J.P. Morgan.

Mr MacDonald has deep experience in project finance, export finance, and acquisition finance. He has led infrastructure investments in transport, energy, logistics, and intermodal precincts. Neil brings a strong understanding of alternative financing mechanisms and how NAIF can better utilise them to catalyse new investment within NAIF's Investment Mandate parameters.

Mr MacDonald is also familiar with all levels of government and with government funding processes, and public accountability. Neil brings a strategic mindset and strong project execution skills.

Mr MacDonald will succeed Craig Doyle, who has served in the role since June 2022, and will be based at NAIF's headquarters in Cairns, Queensland.

NAIF Chair Tracey Hayes said: "On behalf of the Board we welcome Neil as the new CEO of NAIF. Neil has an impressive background in finance and major infrastructure-related roles, and we believe he possesses the right experience and skills to take NAIF forward into our next exciting phase of growth whilst supporting key infrastructure investment across northern Australia.

A thorough executive search process was carried out to fill the role with consideration of a number of impressive candidates. During the process it became clear that Neil's combination of infrastructure experience, financial acumen and executive leadership skills form a compelling combination for steering the organisation through the exciting times and opportunities ahead.

Ultimately NAIF is about working with proponents and helping deliver economic benefit and impact to communities across the north, whether that be jobs, Indigenous outcomes, or the flow-on effects to suppliers and other small businesses."

The appointment of a new NAIF CEO comes as the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, the Hon. Madeleine King MP, recently announced plans to introduce legislation to extend the operations of the NAIF for a further 10 years. This follows a statutory review of NAIF which found broad support for the organisation across government, industry and the public.

Ms Hayes added: "NAIF welcomes the recent announcement of an extension to NAIF's operational timeline by ten years beyond the current investment deadline of 30 June 2026. Such an extension will strengthen our capacity to deliver additional investment and support more projects in the north."

About NAIF

The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is a Commonwealth Government financier, providing concessional loans for the development of infrastructure projects in northern Australia and the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. NAIF's Investment Mandate focuses on projects that deliver public benefit, Indigenous outcomes and contribute to the sustainable growth of the region.

NAIF has committed $4.3 billion in loans across 32 project investments ranging from large-scale resource and energy developments to social infrastructure, including universities, airport upgrades, agriculture and aquaculture developments. In total, NAIF-supported projects are forecast to deliver $33 billion in public benefit and Indigenous outcomes for the region, and support more than 18,100 jobs.

Contact:
Matt Pitman
P: 0448 114 986
E: media@naif.gov.au