National Leadership Award - 2024

Swati Dave stands as a shining example of leadership and influence in the global finance and banking sectors. With experience spanning over three decades, Swati's success exemplifies her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on communities and countries alike.

Swati's entry into the world of banking was serendipitous, sparked whilst completing her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Newcastle.

"I fell into banking by accident, but I quickly realised that through banking, you can actually make a very positive impact on your community and your country."  

This realisation set the stage for a career where Swati would finance critical infrastructure projects like schools, hospitals, roads, and ports—each contributing to the growth and prosperity of communities across Australia.

“When I was financing schools and hospitals, I knew they had a huge impact on the community. And when I was financing roads and ports and renewable energy projects, well, they have a huge impact on the economic growth and prosperity of the country.”

One of the most defining moments in Swati’s career was as Managing Director and CEO of Export Finance Australia, where she spearheaded a significant business and cultural transformation. Swati guided the organisation in securing an Indo-Pacific Infrastructure mandate and an additional $1 billion in callable capital, strengthening both its national and international presence. She also introduced an equity investment mandate that broadened the agency's impact. In a time when traditional financing options were limited, Swati’s team played a crucial role in supporting small and medium-sized businesses to expand globally. Her leadership also broke new ground for gender equality, with women comprising more than 50 percent of both the Executive and Senior Leadership teams —a first for the organisation.

Swati's career has involved arranging and financing a series of complex and innovative projects, each requiring her to navigate diverse stakeholder landscapes and bridge cultural divides. Her ability to find solutions that satisfy all parties involved has been honed through years of experience.

“A key thing is being really clear and understanding what your key stakeholders want and need and coming to a solution. And that comes from taking time to understand the issue, to bridge the cultural divide, and to think deeply about how you can find innovative solutions to whatever problem is at hand.”

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2024 Alumni Excellence Award Recipient | Swati Dave 1:31

Leadership, for Swati, is about more than just steering a team toward success; it's about creating a culture of care, respect, and inclusion while driving high performance and accountability. Throughout her career, Swati has stayed authentic, learning from the leaders she's encountered while preserving her distinct leadership style. Her leadership philosophy centres on the conviction that true leadership involves empowering others to succeed. To Swati, connecting with people on a deeper level means being sincerely human - listening, empathising, and collaborating to reach common goals.

“You need to be yourself when you're leading. You don't need to be a version of somebody else. And I have taken that very seriously throughout my career. I've been very clear about what's important, what I stand for, and what kind of impact I want to have on the people around me. For me, the best thing you can do as a leader is to enable and empower your team to succeed.”

This authenticity has been the cornerstone of her leadership philosophy. Swati is a strong advocate for gender representation and cultural diversity, consistently driving engagement within her teams. Her efforts have left a lasting impact, not only on the organisations she has led but also on the broader Australian and international communities.

Today, Swati continues to build her legacy, serving as the Inaugural Chair of the Federal Government’s new Centre for Australia-India Relations. This position has provided her with the opportunity to foster meaningful connections between Australia and India, developing innovative models of cooperation between the two nations, and across the broader Indo-Pacific region.

"Australia's role in this region is very, very critical. For us to work more closely with our neighbours in that region is going to be critical for many, many decades to come."

Swati credits the University of Newcastle with providing her the confidence to be an independent thinker, challenge the status quo, and embrace lifelong learning.

"The University of Newcastle has been an amazing experience for me. It showed me that I didn't need to be comfortable all the time and that I could push myself to do things that were very uncomfortable, but which actually provided me with the greatest growth."

As she looks to the future, Swati remains excited about the next chapter of her journey.

"My journey so far has been purposeful and organic, and I can't wait for what the next chapter looks like.”

Swati Dave’s story is an inspiring example of how determination, authenticity, and a commitment to making a difference can lead to a life of profound impact and leadership.

Swati Dave
International Finance and Business Leader Inaugural Chair, Centre for Australia-India Relations Deputy Chair, Non-Executive Director

Bachelor of Commerce 1985

Australia's role in this region is very, very critical. For us to work more closely with our neighbours in that region is going to be critical for many, many decades to come.

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