Andrew Penfold AM

Andrew Penfold AM is the Executive Director of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).

A former finance lawyer and investment banker with 20 years’ experience working in leading international firms in Sydney, London and Hong Kong, Andrew left the business world in 2004 and spent five years working on a full-time, voluntary basis for a range of non-profit and charitable organisations, before establishing AIEF in 2007.

Andrew was a finalist for Australian of the Year in 2010 and was nominated by The Australian for its Australian of the Year award in 2012 and 2014. In 2013 Andrew received the inaugural NSW Human Rights Award, becoming NSW Human Rights Ambassador; an Order of Merit from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the highest award issued by the organisation; and the 2013 Community Alumni Award and the 2013 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence from the University of Technology, Sydney. Andrew was also named an inaugural member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council in 2013 and in 2014 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Indigenous community.