Darwin Major Business Group meets with new NAIF CEO

DMBG members had the opportunity yesterday to meet with Neil MacDonald, the new CEO of Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).

It was a timely discussion, with the conversation focused on both the opportunity and the reality.

NAIF remains one of the most significant funding vehicles available to support transformative projects in the Northern Territory. From enabling critical infrastructure to unlocking private sector investment, its role is central to advancing the Territory’s economic potential.

As our members discussed, accessing capital, whether through NAIF or other investment funds, is not without its challenges. Project readiness, risk allocation, co-investment requirements, and the need for strong, evidence-based business cases all remain critical requirements.

The message was clear: the opportunity is there, but the Territory must be ready to meet it.

For DMBG, this reinforces our ongoing focus on getting the settings right: policy, planning, and project development, to ensure the NT is well positioned to secure investment and deliver on its economic potential.

We look forward to continuing the conversation with NAIF and other capital partners as we work to unlock the next phase of growth for the Northern Territory.