Our Board
The CEFC is governed by an independent Board whose members are jointly appointed by its two responsible Ministers.
The Board reports to the Australian Parliament through the responsible Ministers.
The CEFC Board oversees the efficient and effective operation of the CEFC. This includes prudent oversight and governance of CEFC investment decisions and risk management. Board members have deep market, governance, investment and legal expertise.
Meet our Board members
Steven Skala AO
Chair
Mr Skala has a distinguished career on the boards of public, private, not-for-profit and government organisations, with more than 40 years’ experience in law, business and banking. He is Chairman of Investment Banking Coverage and Vice Chairman, Australia of Deutsche Bank AG, a Member of the Foreign Investment Review Board and a legal consultant at EMT Partners.
Mr Skala served as a partner focusing on commercial, corporate and corporate financing law in two leading Australian law firms for more than 20 years. A former Chairman of Film Australia Ltd, The Island Food Company Ltd, Wilson Group Ltd and Hexima Ltd, Mr Skala is also a former Acting Chairman and Director of the ABC, a Director of the Channel Ten Group, Max Capital Group Ltd, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Australian Ballet, and a founding panel member of Adara Partners (Australia) Pty Ltd.
Mr Skala currently Chairs the Heide Museum of Modern Art, is Honorary Life Governor of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, a Director of The Centre for Independent Studies and a Member of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Mr Skala holds BA and LLB (Hons) degrees from the University of Queensland and a BCL from the University of Oxford. Mr Skala was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010 in recognition of his service to the arts, business and commerce and to the community.
Re-appointed 7 August 2022 for five years.
Matthew Howell
Mr Howell has more than 37 years’ experience in metals and manufacturing and recycling, including base and precious metals smelting, capital intensive operations and energy intensive manufacturing. He is a Non-Executive Director with Mineral Carbonation International Pty Ltd.
Mr Howell was previously Chief Executive Officer of Tomago Aluminium, having led its transformation into the largest and most efficient aluminium smelter in the Asia Pacific region. He has also been a Director of the board of the Australian Aluminium Council.
Mr Howell has held senior and diverse roles in the resources sector in Australia, the United States and Europe. This includes a range of management roles at Nyrstar (now Trafigura), a global multi-metals business with a market leading position in zinc and lead.
Mr Howell is a former President of Zinifex Clarksville Inc., the former General Manager of Australian Refined Alloys Pty Ltd and General Manager at Nyrstar Port Pirie Smelters. Mr Howell has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Tasmania.
Appointed 14 May 2022 for five years.
David Jones AM
Mr Jones has more than 30 years’ experience in investment markets and has served on numerous private and public boards. He is Chair of VGI Partners Global Investments Limited, Catalyst Metals Ltd and a Director of Regal Asian Investments Limited. Mr Jones is also a member of the Investment Committees of Aviron Investment Management and EMR Capital, Chair of both DTS Capital and the Derwent Search Advisory Board and an advisor to Alium Capital Management.
Mr Jones was previously a Managing Director at CHAMP Private Equity, Executive Director and Country Head of UBS Capital and an Executive with both Macquarie Bank Private Equity and McKinsey & Company. Mr Jones was formerly Chair of the National Museum of Australia, and the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. He also served on the board of the Cape York Partnership and as a Director of Regal Partners Limited.
In 2021 Mr Jones was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the museums and galleries sector, and to the community. Mr Jones has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
Appointed 8 April 2022 for five years.
Andrea Slattery
Mrs Slattery is a recognised leader in Australia’s financial services, environment and energy transition, infrastructure and investment sectors. As an experienced global independent non-executive Director, Mrs Slattery has served on boards, board committees and advisory committees in public, private and government sectors.
Mrs Slattery is a non-executive Director of AMP Limited and AMP Bank and previously chaired their respective Audit Committees and currently chairs the ESG and Sustainability Advisory Group, is a non-executive Director of Infrabuild Limited and chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, is Deputy Chair of the Woomera (Prohibited) Area Advisory Board and a member of the AMP Foundation.
Mrs Slattery was previously on the boards of Argo Global Listed Infrastructure, Centrepoint Alliance, AMP Life, National Mutual Life and the South Australian Cricket Association and led the seven fold transformational growth of the Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) industry as founder and former Managing Director/CEO of the SMSF Association.
Mrs Slattery has a Bachelor of Accounting, a Masters of Commerce, is a fellow of Certified Practising Accountants Australia, a fellow of CAANZ, a fellow SMSF Specialist Advisor, a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Global Competent Boards ESG Designation. She was named Australian Woman of the Year in the Australian Women in Financial Services Awards in 2014.
Reappointed 5 October 2022 for five years.
Samantha Tough
Ms Tough is Pro Vice Chancellor Industry and Commercial at the University of Western Australia and combines that with key industry board roles including Chair of Horizon Power and the National Energy Selection Panel. Ms Tough is a Director of Aurizon Holdings Limited and Rumin8 Pty Ltd.
Ms Tough's previous roles have included Chair Retail Energy Market Co, Structerre, Aerison, Southern Cross Goldfields Ltd and Director of Synergy, Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd, Fluence Corporation Ltd, Mineral Carbonation International Pty Ltd, Cape LLC, Strike Resources Ltd, Murchison Metals Ltd and Ox Mountain.
Ms Tough has held executive roles at Woodside Energy, Hardman Resources, Commonwealth Bank and Pilbara Power Project. She has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Jurisprudence from the University of Western Australia and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Reappointed 5 October 2022 for five years.
Nicola Wakefield Evans AM
Ms Wakefield Evans is a non-executive director of Macquarie Group Limited and Macquarie Bank Limited, Lendlease Corporation, Metlife Insurance and Viva Group Energy. She is a member of the Takeovers Panel, on the board of the University of NSW Foundation and a Director of the Goodes O’Loughlin Foundation. She was previously non-executive Director of Chief Executive Women, the national board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, BUPA, Asialink and Asialink Business.
As a partner of King & Wood Mallesons, Ms Wakefield Evans held a variety of management positions, including responsibility for the development and growth of the international practice and the Hong Kong, China and London offices.
Ms Wakefield Evans’ key areas of industry expertise include resources and energy, infrastructure, airports, financial services, technology and media and communications. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, law and diversity in January 2023.
Reappointed 5 October 2022 for five years.