National Reconstruction Fund board appointed

The eight-member board of the National Reconstruction Fund, the federal government’s signature manufacturing program, has been announced, with Founding Director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Martijn Wilder as its Chair.

In a statement on Wednesday, industry minister Ed Husic said the experience of the independent board – which will make investment decisions for the $15 billion NRF – “brings to bear the independence and industry experience that taxpayers, project proponents and co-investors expect of this critical national project.”

The NRF Corporation will provide finance through debt and equity to selected companies in seven priority investment areas: Renewables and low emissions technologies; Medical science; Transport; Value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors; Value-add in resources; Defence capability; and Enabling capabilities.

Wilder is founder and CEO of climate change investment and advisory firm Pollination, has previously chaired the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and was Founding Director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), which the NRF is modelled on.

Other board members include:

Dr Katharine Giles, the current CEO and Managing Director of medical device company OncoRes Medical and Venture Partner at Brandon Capital Partners;
Kelly O’Dwyer, a Non-Executive Director of Barrenjoey, Equity Trustees, and HMC Capital, and former federal Coalition minister;
Daniel Petre, Co-Founder and Partner Emeritus of venture capital firm AirTree, Chair of Vera Living, and a Director of MetaOptima Technology Inc.; and
Daniel Walton, former Secretary the Australian Workers Union (AWU), and Director of AustralianSuper.

According to Husic, “This is a Board of diverse perspectives, united in the NRF’s purpose to invest in world-class Australian know-how to rebuild our industrial capabilities.”