Here’s a comprehensive profile of Shemara Wikramanayake, the...

Here’s a comprehensive profile of Shemara Wikramanayake, the Managing Director and CEO of Macquarie Group:

1. Background and Early Life 112

• Born: 1962 in England to Sri Lankan parents (her father was a doctor).

• Migration: Moved to Australia at age 14 with her family, who faced financial hardships and racism in England.

• Education:

  • Attended Ascham School in Sydney.

  • Earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 1985.

  • Completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1996.

2. Career Trajectory 126

• Early Career: Worked as a corporate lawyer at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) before joining Macquarie Group in 1987.

• Key Roles at Macquarie:

  • Established and led corporate advisory offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

  • Headed Macquarie Asset Management (2008–2018), growing it into a global leader in infrastructure and real assets.

  • Appointed CEO of Macquarie Group in December 2018, becoming the first woman and first Asian-Australian to lead the company.

3. Leadership and Achievements 1312

• Global Influence:

  • Oversees Macquarie’s operations in 31 markets with $560+ billion in assets under management.

  • Advocates for renewable energy and climate finance, serving on the World Bank’s Global Commission on Adaptation and the UN’s Climate Finance Leadership Initiative.

• Awards and Recognition:

  • Highest-paid CEO in Australia (e.g., $A23.7 million in 2022).

  • Ranked among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women (9th in 2023) and Forbes’ Most Powerful Women (24th in 2021).

  • Named Australian Financial Review Business Person of the Year (2021) for leadership during the pandemic.

4. Climate and Advocacy Work 1613

• Climate Finance:

  • Pushed for a six-fold increase in private-sector climate investments through the UN initiative.

  • Advised the Australian government on green technology and renewable energy policies.

• Recent Shift: In 2024, Macquarie reversed its coal policy, allowing involvement in coal-sector consolidation under her leadership.

5. Personal Life and Legacy 112

• Family: Married to investment banker Ed Gilmartin; two children.

• Trailblazer:

  • First female CEO of an ASX 200-listed company and only woman among Australia’s top 20 company CEOs.

  • Known for her collaborative leadership style, rejecting the "hero CEO" stereotype.

A DEI appopintment?