Steven Skala

Steven Michael Skala
Born	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)	Investment banker, corporate governance professional, lawyer, philanthropist
Years active	1980–present
Known for	Chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation; Vice Chairman Australia at Deutsche Bank AG; director at Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Steven Michael Skala is an Australian professional known for his work in investment banking, corporate governance, law, and philanthropy. He currently holds the position of chair at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Early life and education

Originating from Brisbane, Queensland, Skala completed his Arts and Law degrees with Honours at the University of Queensland in 1974 and 1976 respectively. He further advanced his legal studies by obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from Wadham College at the University of Oxford.

Career

Between 1980 and 2004, Skala practised law across Brisbane, London, and Melbourne. His legal career included a three-year partnership at Morris Fletcher and Cross (presently Minter Ellison) followed by nearly twenty years as senior partner and head of the corporate and commercial division at Arnold Bloch Leibler.

In 2004, Skala transitioned into investment banking, taking on the role of Vice Chairman Australia at Deutsche Bank AG, a position he maintained until September 2024.

His governance experience spans private enterprises, non-profit organisations, and government bodies. He has chaired entities such as Film Australia, Wilson Group, Hexima, the King Island Company, Channel Ten group, Max Capital Group Limited, and Blue Chilli Technology.

From October 2005 to November 2015, Skala was a director at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, completing two consecutive five-year terms. In July 2017, he was appointed chair of the government-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), where he remains in leadership.

Cricket

During his time at Wadham College, Oxford, Skala participated in two first-class matches representing Oxford University. Additionally, he played in two List A cricket games for the Combined Universities team, which combined players from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. His role on the field was as a right-handed lower-order batsman and wicketkeeper.

Other activities

Skala holds the chairmanship of the Heide Museum of Modern Art and serves as deputy chair of the General Sir John Monash Foundation. He is also a director at the Centre for Independent Studies and is affiliated with the International Council of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). His prior nonprofit involvements include positions with the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and The Australian Ballet.

Honours and recognition

On 26 January 2010, Skala was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant contributions to business, commerce, visual and performing arts, as well as his efforts to enhance educational opportunities for young Australians. In 2015, he was awarded the Colleges' UQ Alumni Award.