The Opportunity

The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (the AIFFP) is seeking an Independent Member to join the AIFFP Advisory Board (the AIFFP Board).

The AIFFP is a $4.55 billion financing facility providing loans and guarantees (up to $3 billion) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) grants (up to $1.55 billion) to support the financing and delivery of priority infrastructure projects in the Pacific and Timor Leste. The AIFFP focusses on projects in key areas of: climate resilience; energy; transportation (with a focus on ports and airports); and telecommunications and digital infrastructure.

The AIFFP’s objective is to partner with the Pacific and Timor-Leste to finance and deliver strategic infrastructure in line with Pacific-identified priorities that drives economic and social development and builds long-term resilience. To deliver on this objective, the AIFFP focuses on the following two enduring facility outcomes.

• Pacific and Timor-Leste partners and people increasingly have access to sustainable quality infrastructure assets financed by the AIFFP in priority sectors.
• The AIFFP and Pacific and Timor-Leste partners optimise local content and equity benefits, and mitigate the risks associated with infrastructure development for local communities.

Since its establishment in 2019, the AIFFP has committed approximately $2.1 billion in financing to support 59 infrastructure projects across 13 countries in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

As an Independent Member of the AIFFP Board, you would work alongside senior executive staff (SES) from Australian Government agencies to oversee the AIFFP project portfolio, make informed assessments of potential AIFFP projects and provide high-quality advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. In making formal recommendations in line with the AIFFP’s investment mandate, the AIFFP Board is expected to provide input into the development of proposed investments, including prioritisation of projects, and consider implementation of existing projects. If called upon, the AIFFP Board may also provide advice on other matters relating to the AIFFP. Further details on the AIFFP Board member roles and responsibilities is in the AIFFP Board Charter available on the AIFFP website.

The AIFFP Board meets in Canberra at least three times a year. In addition to regularly scheduled and out-of-session meetings, AIFFP Board members may be asked to meet with DFAT officers, including the Head of the AIFFP to discuss AIFFP Board matters.

This opportunity seeks to fill the current vacant Independent Member position, but the process will also be used to identify suitable candidates to fill future vacancies.

More information about the AIFFP, its projects and the AIFFP Board is on the AIFFP’s website: www.aiffp.gov.au.

Remuneration

Independent Members of the AIFFP Board receive a fee for each meeting attended, comprising of:

• a base amount of $3,500 (exclusive of GST); and

• a superannuation component, being a sum equivalent to the level stipulated from time to time in the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) which, as at the date of writing, is 12 per cent of the base amount.

Independent Members will be entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable domestic travel costs incurred to attend each meeting in person. Travel allowances and incidentals will be determined in line with guidance issued by the Remuneration Tribunal. Virtual attendance can be supported if required.

Independent Member Appointment

An assessment panel comprising of SES from the DFAT will review applications and interview shortlisted candidates in June. At the conclusion of the process, the Foreign Minister will consider a list of candidates put forward by the assessment panel. The Independent Members is appointed by the Foreign Minister. Potential appointees may be approached to ascertain details of the appointment.

Our Ideal Candidate

As an Independent Member, you would bring your extensive infrastructure or finance expertise to join other board members in making formal recommendations to the Australian Government on financing infrastructure projects in the Pacific and Timor Leste.

Independent Members should demonstrate/possess the following:

• expertise in infrastructure and/or finance gained from holding executive roles in these industries; experience in the Pacific and Timor-Leste is desirable;
• a proven ability to engage appropriately with and manage risk, work collegiately and transparently, and navigate complex issues;
• informed and independent judgement and ability to provide strategic advice informed by different perspectives, situations and environments;
• ability to gain a sound understanding of the legal, regulatory and policy environment in which the AIFFP operates;
• integrity in decision-making and a commitment to upholding ethical standards; and
• experience as a non-executive director, with qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors or another relevant body, desirable.

The AIFFP utilises DFAT’s legal, governance and compliance arrangements. As outlined in the AIFFP Advisory Board Charter, AIFFP Board members and staff are required to comply with relevant legal, governance and compliance policies. DFAT is required to comply with requirements set out in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth).

DFAT requires the successful candidate to hold or obtain and maintain a minimum of a Negative Vetting 1 level (NV1) security clearance that would be sponsored by DFAT. Loss of a security clearance at any time may lead to termination of the member’s contract. An appointment may proceed on lower-level clearances or without a clearance in some circumstances, and DFAT would work with you to facilitate this if you were successful.

All members appointed to boards of the department are expected to comply with the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct , the DFAT Values Statement and declare conflict of interests, including mitigation strategies if required.

Appointments will take into account DFAT’s diversity objectives as well as the AIFFP Advisory Board requirement to aim for at least 40 per cent female and 40 per cent male representation.

About the Department

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade serves as Australia's foreign service, leading and coordinating the nation's international agenda by engaging with foreign governments and organisations to advance strategic, security, and economic interests. From Australia and across our overseas posts, we cultivate relationships and networks to provide strategic insights, deliver international development and humanitarian assistance, lead on crisis response and offer consular and passport services. development and humanitarian assistance, lead on crisis response and offer consular and passport services.

How to Apply

Suitably qualified individuals can submit their expression of interest by email to aiffp.secretariat@dfat.gov.au.

Applications close at 07:00 am AEST, Monday 25 May

Your expression of interest should include.

• Your contact details.
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) (no more than two-pages)
• A pitch of no more than 500 words addressing the role description.
• Confirmation of a current valid security clearance of NV1 or above; or a willingness to gain an NV1 clearance (to be sponsored by DFAT).
• Contact details of two professional referees.

DFAT will collect the above information to assess your expression of interest and to communicate with you about this process. DFAT may disclose your personal information to contracted service providers who are engaged to assist DFAT to conduct this process.

The Department’s Privacy Policy contains information about how you can access or seek correction of the personal information that we hold about you; how you can make a complaint about a breach of privacy; and how we will deal with any privacy complaint.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Anticipated timeline

Vacancy Closing 07:00 am AEST, Monday 25 May 2026