Tania Constable, who has more than 20 years' experience in the Australian resources sector, was named as the new chief.
She was most recently CEO of the Co-operative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies and prior to this was a senior executive in the Australian Public Service, including chief advisor in the Treasury's revenue group and head of the department of industry's resources division.
The MCA did not give her start date, with David Byers continuing as interim CEO until this was finalised.
Previous CEO Brendan Pearson resigned last year after leading the organisation for over nine years.
