Banking the bedrock of a career
Former West Coast Eagles chairman Mark Barnaba says he could not have pursued his passions in sport and the arts without his grounding in finance.
Mr Barnaba has been made a Member in the General Division for his achievements in finance, education, sport and the arts.
The 51-year-old from Subiaco has enjoyed a high-profile and diverse career, from his stint as chairman of Western Power to his role at the helm of West Coast between 2007 and 2010.
He co-founded corporate advisory firm Azure Capital in 2004 and led WA's involvement in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting business forum in 2011.
Mr Barnaba is the current chairman of the University of WA Business School and the Black Swan State Theatre Company and is on the board of Fortescue Metals Group.
But the foundation of his professional life has been his bread-and-butter work as an investment banker.
Mr Barnaba graduated from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar and received an honorary doctorate in commerce from UWA in 2012, where he serves as an adjunct professor in investment banking and finance.
"That's been the cornerstone that's allowed me to do other things," he said.
As chairman of the Macquarie Group in WA, Mr Barnaba has not had much time to think about awards but said today's announcement was humbling.
"It's a great honour," he said.
Liam Croy
