Leilani Frew

As Deputy Secretary Financial and Commercial, Leilani Frew is responsible for the Capital Markets and Commercial, Infrastructure and Urban Growth teams. Leilani joined the Treasury in May 2021.

Prior to joining us, Leilani was Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Project Financing Agency (IPFA) for the national government of Australia. The agency drives the commercial and financial ability of the Australian Government as a significant investor in national infrastructure and major industry initiatives. She has held a number of board and committee positions including currently as an Advisory Board Member of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Leilani is a respected and experienced commercial and finance professional having held a number of leadership positions in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining IPFA, Leilani spent nearly five years leading NSW Treasury teams in the provision of commercial and financial advice to the NSW Government and its agencies delivering on the Government’s major infrastructure and services commissioning priorities and serving on a number of Government advisory boards and committees.

Before her public service career, Leilani held senior leadership positions in in investment banking for firms such as Moelis, RBS, ABN AMRO and Commonwealth Bank, including as Head of RBS’ Asia Pacific Oil and Gas business and Co-head of its Australian infrastructure and power business. In these roles Leilani specialised in mergers and acquisitions, divestments project financing, and public capital raisings for major ASX listed and private infrastructure companies, global energy companies and Australian governments.

Her contribution to the infrastructure industry was recognised by her peers in 2015 when she received the Women’s Achievement in Infrastructure Award from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. Leilani holds a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Engineering, both from Queensland University of Technology. Leilani enjoys mentoring emerging female leaders and is passionate about grassroots rugby for girls. She is also an avid All Blacks supporter and, alongside her husband Paul, is a proud parent of their son Joshua.