- Our Organisation
- NAIF Board
Our Organisation
NAIF Board
Meet the experienced and diverse NAIF Board, with expertise in infrastructure, government, finance, construction, and law.
The NAIF is governed by a Board of Directors with extensive experience and expertise in northern Australia across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, government, finance, construction and law.
Tracey Hayes
Chair (Northern Territory)
Tracey Hayes is a senior executive leader in business across northern Australia, recognised both nationally and internationally. As the first female CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, she led initiatives that shaped the billion-dollar NT pastoral industry. Additionally, Tracey served as Chair of a Government Statutory Authority a founding board member of the Cooperative Research Centre for northern Australia and a Member of the Order of Australia Honours Council.
Her commitment to fostering international relationships is evident through her involvement on the board of the Australia Indonesia Institute, aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. She also played a key advisory role in the National Resilience and Recovery Agency, showcasing her dedication to national resilience efforts.
Currently serving as the Head of Corporate Affairs Australia at AAM Investment group, a prominent $1B Australian-owned operator, Tracey continues to make an impact in the agricultural industry. Concurrently, she holds the position of Federation Board Chair for the Royal Flying Doctors, underscoring her dedication to serving regional Australia. With extensive experience across infrastructure, health, and agriculture sectors, Tracey Hayes is a respected leader dedicated to advancing regional development and prosperity.
Vanessa Elliott AM
Director (Western Australia)
Vanessa Elliott is a Jaru woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia with cultural and family connections in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
She has more than 20 years’ experience working in strategic leadership roles in economic development, community services, regional and remote project management, strategic planning, including headworks, energy, mining, native title and service commissioning.
Ms Elliott has worked on some of the major project developments in Australia across the resource industry, regional development and town planning, specialising in project life cycle, land access, regulatory approvals, social performance, local content and diversity and inclusion.
Stephen Margetic
Director (Northern Territory)
Mr Margetic is Managing Director and co-owner of Sitzler Pty Ltd, a territory construction and development contractor with operations in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. He is also a Director of Master Builders Australia and Chair of the Darwin Major Business Group (DMBG).
A long-term Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mr Margetic has served on numerous industry boards and working groups. He served as Chairman of the Northern Territory Land Development Corporation from its inception in 2004 to retirement in 2010, as Director of Power Water Corporation, as President of Master Builders NT and as a member of the Territory 2030 Strategic Plan steering Committee.
Mr Margetic has considerable experience delivering major infrastructure works under public-private partnerships, alliancing and joint ventures.
Kate George
Director (Western Australia)
Ms George has a legal background and has extensive experience working in the resources industry, regional and Indigenous business and infrastructure and asset management.
Her employment has been in the public (State and Commonwealth) and private sectors and includes policy development, consultancy work especially with the resources sector and community sector, housing development and planning roles in areas including Aboriginal justice, health, governance, training and employment and economic development including residential land development. Membership on Boards, committees and working groups has been across a number of sectors including those mentioned above.
Grant Cassidy OAM
Director (Queensland)
Mr Cassidy owns and runs two award-winning hospitality businesses, as well as heading up a cattle-grazing property in Rockhampton, where he is based.
Mr Cassidy’s current roles also include Director of the Gladstone Ports Corporation, Chair of Regional Development Australia Central and Western Queensland, Chair of Capricornia Business Advisory Alliance and Vice Chairman of Beef Australia Limited.
He also has a background in commercial radio and multi-media and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019 for services to the tourism and hospitality sector.
Robert Edel
Director (Western Australia)
Robert Edel is a commercial lawyer and corporate advisor with more than 35 years experience in the acquisition, development and operation of projects in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, including renewable energy and digital infrastructure. Robert was previously the Global Head of Mining at King & Wood Mallesons and prior to that held the same role at another major international firm.
Robert advises clients on strategy, risk management and the acquisition, sale and development of projects both in Australia and internationally including in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He has specific expertise in corporate governance, regulation, project development & financing, strategy and risk analysis. He has previously lived in northern Australia and has advised on the development of many projects in that region.
Robert previously served on the board of Fremantle Ports for more than 8 years and was the foundation chairman of the Stop the Toad Foundation, a not-for-profit entity which conducted operations in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia aimed at preventing the spread of cane toads across northern Australia.
Robert holds degrees in law from the University of Western Australia, a Masters degree in law from King’s College London, an executive education diploma from Harvard Business School and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Lisa Hewitt
Director (Queensland)
Ms Lisa Hewitt has a lifelong association with northern Australia, which she has continued through her current role as Elders State General Manager Queensland and Northern Territory (NT).
Ms Hewitt grew up on cattle properties in Queensland, working in the livestock production industry on her family farming operation, and in a previous role led the ANZ commercial and agribusiness team in North Queensland.
Ms Hewitt’s experience has included working in corporate and middle market lending as well as managing high-risk lending across Queensland, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory.
A highly regarded business leader in northern Australia, Ms Hewitt is passionate about regional development, as well as building high performance cultures that best serve the interests of clients and the communities they live in.
Jim Betts
Director (Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications)
Jim Betts was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in July 2022.
Mr Betts has spent over 30 years working in government agencies in the UK, Victoria and (for the last 8 years) New South Wales.
Prior to becoming Secretary, Mr Betts was a partner at strategy consultancy EY Port Jackson Partners, having previously led the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) as Secretary for 2.5 years. During that period, the department undertook transformational reform in areas like land use planning, water, urban design, sustainability, climate change, biodiversity conservation and energy. From 2013 to 2019, he was Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW where he led the development of 2 State Infrastructure Strategies, oversaw the state’s infrastructure program, delivered major state infrastructure projects and developed a state plan for the construction sector.
Before moving to New South Wales, Mr Betts spent 5 years in Victoria as Secretary for the Victorian Transport Department and 4 years as Victoria’s Director of Public Transport. Mr Betts strives to be a champion for inclusivity and social justice, not least for First Nations people.
Find out more
Explore more about what makes NAIF a unique financier and access essential resources and information about NAIF's operations.