Indigenous Business Australia appoints David Knights as new CEO

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) has appointed David Knights as its new Chief Executive Officer for a four-year term.

Knights brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across banking, superannuation, management consulting and engineering. He spent two decades at the National Australia Bank in senior roles and is currently a partner at Entregar Partners. Since 2009, he has also served as a non-executive director of Traditional Credit Union, Australia’s only Indigenous-owned credit union, which delivers essential financial services and employment opportunities in remote communities.

IBA plays a critical role in advancing the economic independence of First Nations people. Its programs include business advice, home loans, tailored finance solutions and investment initiatives that help individuals, entrepreneurs and communities build assets and expand opportunities. The IBA Board confirmed Knights’ appointment after what it described as a rigorous, independent national search.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy welcomed the decision and said she’s looking forward to working with Knights to strengthen economic empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. “I am confident Mr Knights, working with the board and executive, will positively contribute to the future of the IBA and its work to enhance economic development opportunities,” she said in the announcement.

For HR and business leaders, the appointment signals continuity and focus at an institution that partners closely with employers, lenders and community organisations. With Knights’ deep financial services background and his long-standing governance role in Indigenous banking, stakeholders can expect an emphasis on practical access to capital, capability building and sustainable growth for First Nations talent and businesses.