John Hopkins, new CEO of Export Finance Australia
Former banker John Hopkins has been appointed chief executive of Export Finance Australia, the government’s export credit agency.
He replaces Swati Dave, who is moving on after a five-year term.
After working in management roles at Westpac, NAB and Goodman Group, Hopkins joined EFIC (as EFA was called then) in 2012. He has served as its chief risk officer and chief operating officer.
He is taking over at a time when EFA’s role funding investments in the region has become more important to the government, given its focus on restoring relations with Pacific nations.
Last year, the government gave EFA broader powers to finance “transactions that serve Australia’s national interests and priorities,” adding equity funding to its mandate.
The addition of equity funding was designed to “support important infrastructure investments in Indo Pacific or export linked projects in Australia”.
It was also given responsibility for management of a 2019 initiative, the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, acting as lender for its operations.
Hopkins will also have to navigate the Labor government’s tougher stance on climate. The Climate Change Bill 2022 includes an amendment to the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act that requires consideration by EFA of Australia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement and emissions reductions targets in the performance of its functions.