The CEO Forum meets annually and provides advice to heads of government on desirable policy changes to strengthen economic prosperity for both India and Australia. The annual meeting of the CEO Forum coincides with meetings of the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers and Trade Ministers.
Throughout the year the CEO Forum convenes and takes part in a wide range of events focused on strengthening Australia-India relations. The CEO Forum has been active since 2012 and was relaunched in 2023 by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Our leadership
The Australia-India CEO Forum is co-chaired by Shemara Wikramanayake, Managing Director and CEO, Macquarie Group (Australia) and Dr Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Group (India).
Shemara has been Macquarie Group’s Managing Director and CEO since late 2018. Macquarie is a global financial group offering asset management, banking, leasing, advisory, and risk and capital solutions. Operating in 35 markets, Macquarie manages approximately $A890 billion in assets.
Dr. Anish Shah is the Group CEO of the Mahindra Group and the Managing Director of M&M, the parent company of the Group. His primary focus is on nurturing a purpose-driven organization, establishing tech leadership in each industry, and enabling value creation across businesses.
Strengthening Australia-India economic ties
- Launched in 2012 by the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers with the aim of driving the Australia-India economic and strategic partnership to a new level.
- Inaugural meeting was held in Delhi March 5th 2012.
- Inaugural Indian co-chair of the CEO Forum was Mr Naveen Jindal MP, Chairman and Managing Director, Jindal Steel and Power.
- Inaugural Australian co-chair of the CEO Forum was, Mr Lindsay Fox AC, Founder and Chairman of the Linfox Group of companies.
- In March 2023, during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Mumbai, the Australian and India Governments announced a revitalised CEO Forum to build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2020 and the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) which was signed in April 2022 with entry into force in December 2022.
- At the meeting of the CEO Forum in Mumbai three months later, the Business Council of Australia and the Confederation of Indian Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver the annual meetings of the Australia-India CEO Forum and the intersessional work of five joint working groups
- In May 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Australian members of the CEO Forum during his visit to Sydney
- Planning is underway for the 2024 CEO Forum
Highlights from our
first forum
The Australia-India CEO Forum held its first meeting in Delhi on March 5, 2012. Key leaders included Mr. Naveen Jindal and Mr. Lindsay Fox as co-chairs, alongside prominent CEOs from both nations. This gallery captures the highlights of that historic event.
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The value of the
Australia-India relationship
Business Council of Australia
The Business Council of Australia (BCA) is the nation’s pre-eminent voice for business, bringing together the expertise and insights of our members to develop and advocate common-sense policies and practical solutions that move the country forward.
The BCA has 130 member CEOs, who represent the largest and most influential Australian companies.
Confederation of Indian Industry
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering Industry, Government and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, with around 9,000 members from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 365,000 enterprises from 294 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
Growing trade partnership
48.4 Billion total two-way trade between the two countries in 2022
Education & skilled migration
Represents 2.6% of Australia’s population and largest source of skilled migrants.
Top 5 global economy
India ranks fifth in nominal GDP and third in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)