BCom LLB (UNSW) 1985, AMP (HBS) 1996
As of 2018, Shemara Wikramanayake is the first woman to be the Managing Director and CEO of the global financial services group Macquarie Group and as of 2019 is the highest paid CEO in Australia. Born in 1962, Shemara studied a Bachelor of Communications and Bachelor of Laws at UNSW, graduating in 1996. She worked as corporate lawyer at Blake Dawson Waldron in Sydney before joining Macquarie Group in 1987. Prior to her appointment as CEO, Shemara was the Head of Macquarie Asset Management and worked in numerous countries, managing 1600 staff across 24 markets. During her time at Macquarie Group she has advocated to increase renewable energy production and in 2018 was appointed a Commissioner of the Global Commission on Adaptation, which aims to hasten climate adaptation action. In 2019, Shemara was also appointed to the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative, which seeks a 600% increase in climate mitigation investment from the private sector and provides consultancy on green technology investment to the Australian Government.
