The Albanese Government has reappointed Steven Skala AO as a part‑time member to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for a one‑year period.
Mr Skala has a long and distinguished career across private, not‑for‑profit and government organisations.
He has been Chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Board since 2017. Mr Skala was Vice Chairman Australia and Head of Investment Banking Coverage of Deutsche Bank AG between 2004-2024. Prior to that, he was a commercial partner of two major Australian law firms. He is also a former Chairman of Wilson Group Limited (now Pinnacle Investment Management Limited) and Film Australia Limited and is a former Acting Chairman and Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The reappointment, beginning on 18 September 2025, will support the Board to continue to provide effective advice on the operation of Australia's Foreign Investment Policy and the administration of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.
The FIRB is a non‑statutory body established in 1976 to examine proposed investments that are subject to the foreign investment framework and to make recommendations to the Government on these proposals.
The Albanese Government has strengthened and streamlined Australia's foreign investment regime and the members of the Board, including Mr Skala, have played a part in that.
Labor's reforms to foreign investment have sped up processing times which are now twice as fast, compared to when we first came to office.
We thank Mr Skala for his contribution to date and for agreeing to continue to serve on the Foreign Investment Review Board.
We will continue to ensure we have the right settings in place to scrutinise high risk transactions and incentivise more investment that is in Australia's national interest.
