Shemara Wikramanayake

Five years into her tenure leading the sprawling global financial services firm, Wikramanayake’s results speak for themselves: For the third straight year, Sydney-based Macquarie posted record profits, $3.5 billion for the fiscal year ended in March 2023. Wikramanayake, who joined Macquarie in 1987, has emerged as one of global business’s most engaged and committed climate leaders. She’s focused investment at Macquarie—also the world’s largest infrastructure manager—on renewable projects and digital infrastructure like rural broadband networks. A weaker global economy is testing the business this year, and Wikramanayake is defending the firm against criticism that its past stewardship of once public infrastructure has left some assets worse off. She argues Macquarie investments are improving infrastructure and driving better community outcomes.