Joe is an experienced finance executive and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He joined SGCH in June 2022. Joe brings almost 30 years of commercial finance experience with twelve of those as a Chief Financial Officer, most recently at Venues NSW. Joe commenced his professional career at EY before joining AMP Capital, culminating in his appointment as Fund Controller for the Property Division. Joe brings experience in similar organisations having been CFO of Campus Living Villages between 2010-2017. In this role, Joe played a key role managing investor and financier relationships while supporting the operating business to serve thousands of students living in properties in Australia, NZ, the USA and UK.

Colin Anstie is an incredibly passionate artificial intelligence, marketing and communications powerhouse, a true force for getting things done! He not only embraces but thrives on simplifying the most complex challenges. He runs one of Canberra's most innovative businesses, a marketing and communications consultancy called RD Consulting. They work with a range of clients from realestate.com, to ANU through to the Department of Defence. He has a Masters of Business Administration, and with more than 20 years industry experience, Col loves diving into implementing artificial intelligence, processes, new systems, productivity gains and loves running marketing workshops and training sessions galore!

Nikki Beaumont is the Founder and CEO of Beaumont People and has over 35 years of experience in the recruitment industry. Since founding Beaumont People in 2001, Nikki has transformed the industry with her innovative, people-first approach, earning recognition for her pioneering efforts, including the implementation of the Four-Day Work Week. Beaumont People has been recognised as Best Place to Work in Australia for companies with under 100 employees for three years consecutively, a validation of Nikki’s unwavering dedication and belief in “Placing People First”. Nikki's disciplined nature and drive shine through in her personal endeavours as well. From trekking to Everest Base Camp, to seeing in the new millennium driving a team of Huskies from Finland to the Russian border in sub -30c temperatures, Nikki's personal motivation is an inspiration to all around her. She is immensely passionate about the Not-for-Profit sector, and in 2009, at the peak of the Global Financial Crisis, founded a Not-for-Profit Division, that has saved charities over $47 million in recruitment fees. Nikki is celebrated not only for her business acumen but also for her compassion and commitment to meaningful work.

Brad is the CEO of Hume Community Housing, a Tier 1 CHP with approximately 5,000 dwellings under management across NSW. Prior to joining Hume last year, Brad led Anglicare NSW/ACT and has previously held various senior executive roles in the corporate and higher education sectors.

Chris Bratchford is the Executive of Mission Australia Housing Partnership Limited and Mission Australia Housing Tasmania. He is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational performance, and sustainable growth of Mission Australia Housing. With extensive experience in leadership roles across both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, Chris has made significant contributions to housing initiatives both nationally and internationally. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Chris oversees Mission Australia’s property portfolio, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission to support individuals and families in need of secure housing. Chris is committed to fostering collaboration and innovation within the community housing sector, advocating for policies that enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations. He regularly shares his insights at conferences and forums, focusing on the importance of strategic partnerships in driving positive outcomes in housing and community development.

My name is Beauty Bwembya, and I am in a general management capacity role managing the housing operations of Bethanie Housing Ltd (BHL), the housing division of the Bethanie Group. With an empathetic and professional approach, I have assisted to create vibrant and safe communities for over 600 people across the Perth and Southwest regions in Western Australia. Before becoming a member of the BHL leadership team, I was awarded the Rising Star and Scholarship Immersion’ by Power Housing Australia in 2020. In 2016, my dedication and talent in the property industry was recognised by the Property Council of Australia’s and I made the ‘100 women in property’ inaugural program. I am passionate about community housing as well as supporting tenants in having successful and sustainable tenancies. I am also proud to work for an organisation that shares my passion of promoting and developing independent and social communities for everyone. I am equipped with undergraduate and post graduate university level qualifications in Property and Business Administration.

Doug Cameron is a former trade unionist and Senator for New South Wales with the Australian Labor Party. He served as National Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union before entering politics in 2009. Under the Rudd Government he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Homelessness, and as Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness in opposition. Cameron is a passionate advocate for public housing, and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from this time in public office.

Ruth holds qualifications in architecture and project management, and has 20+ years experience in the delivery of housing and aged care development projects. She has also held roles with responsibility for operational and asset management. Two of Ruth’s most recent projects include Spence on Light – a multistorey apartment building in the CBD of 75 dwellings with a mix of aged, social, affordable, NDIS and commercial tenure; and Nightingale Bowden – 36 zero carbon, Greenstar certified apartments delivered in partnership with Renewal SA, Nightingale Housing and the SA Housing Authority.

As the Community Development Manager at the Women's Housing Company, Libby is committed to addressing the social determinants of health to achieve long-term, sustainable outcomes while empowering women to take control of their lives. She is passionate about advancing women's self-determination by strengthening social connections, fostering a sense of belonging, and expanding access to meaningful opportunities and resources. Outside of the office, Libby has had extensive experience working within her local community, bringing people together to create positive, lasting change.

Brendan Coates is the Housing and Economic Security Program Director at Grattan Institute, where he leads Grattan’s work on housing, retirement incomes and superannuation, macroeconomics and aspects of tax reform. He is a former macro-financial economist with the World Bank in Indonesia and consulted to the Bank in Latin America. Prior to that, he was an official in the Australian Treasury. Brendan has published extensively on all aspects of Australia’s housing problem, from taxation to land use planning to rent assistance and social housing.

Passionate about organisational culture and the development of people, Tony is a dedicated leader with extensive executive experience in property development. Previously General Manager, Major Projects and Pipeline at Renewal SA, Tony was responsible for setting up a new pipeline team and undertaking acquisitions and sales of Renewal SA assets. Prior to that, Tony was Business Development Director for Lendlease – responsible for acquisitions and growth across Victoria and Western Australia. Tony firmly believes organisations are only has strong as their people and success can only be achieved through a driven and engaged team, who are valued and add value.

Andrew is a Consultant in our Banking, Governance & Corporate team having been Senior Partner and head of social housing at Devonshires. His work in the social housing sector spans over 35 years, starting from his time as a banking lawyer at the outset of the period when housing associations started to borrow in order to fund their development work. He is known for his strategic advice, regulatory compliance, structuring transactions and dealing with “problem cases”. Andrew has been a member of the NHF’s Finance Policy Advisory Group and the Regulator of Social Housing Advisory Panel and has been a board member of both not for profit and for profit social landlords. He received the NHF Lifetime Achievement award for his work in 2018. Andrew advised the then Regulator on the UK Housing & Regeneration Act. He has also worked on social housing projects in Ireland, South Africa, Australia, Rwanda, India, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, understanding different policy environments and opportunities. His clients include a broad range of providers of For Profit and Not for Profit social housing in the UK, including London & Quadrant and Sage Homes.

Carolyn Doherty is a distinguished leader in the Community Services Sector, boasting an illustrious career that spans over three decades. Her tenure includes more than 14 years in pivotal executive roles within the Community Housing sectors of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Presently, she steers Argyle Housing as its CEO, championing the cause of delivering exemplary social and affordable housing solutions for regional populations in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. Under her adept leadership, Argyle Housing has seen remarkable strides in innovation and teamwork, culminating in strategic partnerships aimed at augmenting housing supply in less urbanised areas. Carolyn's influence is notably evident in landmark ventures like the Regional Social Renewal initiative in Tolland, Wagga Wagga, and the collaborative Griffin Green project in partnership with Griffith City Council. Her esteemed role on the Board of the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) underscores her profound commitment to fostering sustainable, community-centric housing models, thereby affirming her status as an indispensable asset to the wider community housing movement.

Gidon is an Executive Director at Plenary where he specialises in the development of property, major infrastructure and PPP projects in Australia. Gidon’s involvement in development and investment spans almost 20 years, and he has experience managing all phases of project origination including transaction negotiation and execution, structuring, capital raising, consortium leadership and stakeholder and asset management. In recent years Gidon has lead Plenary’s housing initiatives nationally with a focus on “housing as infrastructure”, and he has held consortium leadership roles in various Government led initiatives where Plenary has partnered with CHPs, including HAFF, and Ground Lease Model projects in Victoria.

Responsibilities: Finance and centralised administration Enhancing business capacity through support services and structural improvements Managing ICT services Providing professional analysis of opportunities and development/business proposals Qualifications: Chartered Accountants (CA ANZ) Bachelor of Economics (University of Adelaide) Registered Tax Agent    Experience: · Over 16 years of finance management experience in the community housing sector · Extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector spanning 30 years · Former Business Manager at a large independent school, overseeing finance, building development, administration and support services (14 years) · Previous role as General Manager, Finance supervising financial administration and development of 15 retirement villages and aged care facilities in SA and Queensland housing approximately 2000 people (4 years).

Eileen Fitzgerald is the founder and principal of ThruSight LLC, a strategic consulting and advisory services firm. She brings more than 30 years’ experience as a strategist and a seasoned leader, with deep expertise in housing affordability, community development, philanthropy and nonprofit management. Eileen is an innovator and a change agent with a strong track record of success who utilizes her deep expertise to support organizations and senior executives. Eileen started ThruSight LLC in early 2023 and has provided support for organizations’ growth strategies through strategic planning and advising, business models, and initiative expansion. She has supported CDIFs, affordable housing developers and owners, tax credit syndicators, green and climate financing groups, policy and advocacy organizations, and impact advisors. Eileen is also a trained facilitator and very much enjoys bringing different voices and perspectives to a shared consensus. Prior to ThruSight, Fitzgerald served as head of housing affordability philanthropy at Wells Fargo, where she led the development and execution of a $1 billion Housing Affordability Philanthropy commitment. Fitzgerald also served as president and CEO of Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), a collaborative of nonprofits that collectively owns and operates more than 140,000 affordable rental homes nationwide, and as CEO and COO of NeighborWorks® America. Fitzgerald worked at the Fannie Mae Foundation and as chief investment officer for Single Family at the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. She also served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service as the Associate and Acting Administrator. Fitzgerald currently serves on the boards of the National Housing Trust, Low Income Investment Fund, Housing Opportunities Community Partners of Montgomery County, MD, and the National Rural Housing Coalition. Fitzgerald has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business and a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Peter Garrone is the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary at Brisbane Housing Company and has over 20 years of corporate finance, treasury, commercial, legal and accounting experience. Peter has worked both in Australia and overseas across multiple industries with a particular focus on the property development and engineering sectors. He has advised both governments and private sector entities in relation to financing and commercial arrangements for long-term infrastructure assets, including Public Private Partnerships. Peter is the Chair of the PowerHousing CFO Roundtable and also serves as Director and Treasurer of the Community Housing Industry Association (Qld) Limited.

Lindsey has worked in the social and affordable housing development sector for 10 years, both in Government and now as Project Director for Bridge Housing in NSW. While working for the NSW Government, Lindsey led projects as big as major housing estate renewals with thousands of homes, right down to small infill projects with less than 10 homes. Lindsey is currently leading the Bridge Housing redevelopment of a 1 hectare site in Sydney’s inner city suburb of Redfern earmarked for over 350 social and affordable homes. Lindsey has a passion for creating sustainable places that work for everyone, integrate well into the existing community, and give a sense of pride to new residents. She is driven by the challenge and complexity of urban renewal in inner city areas, and enjoys working with all stakeholders to balance the impacts while maximising housing where it is needed most.

Sam, an experienced lawyer and corporate finance specialist, collaborates with Government, Community Housing Providers, Not for Profit Organisations, and Social Purpose Investors. He develops comprehensive, efficient, and timely solutions for social, affordable, and accessible housing. With a career spanning Australia and Asia, Sam specialises in joint ventures and partnerships, mainly with Government-owned entities. He is passionate about leveraging corporate sector efficiency to support organisations aiding disadvantaged people – for profit, with purpose.

Jack Haber is an Architect, Valuer and Land Economist. Since moving from design to managing development projects, he has accumulated over 25 years of experience working with both private and public sector developments spanning all phases of property development. As managing partner of his own consultancy firm, he’s led large residential, commercial, education and industrial projects in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Jack developed expertise in timber and modular construction in his role since 2007 as Chairman of an engineered timber business and is passionate about advancing the use of Modern Methods of Construction in the Australian construction environment. He brings together the design, approvals, procurement and delivery skills to achieve financially efficient, buildable and sustainable project results. Since selling his consultancy, Jack is now head of Development for Haven Home Safe in Melbourne and is leading projects under the Big Housing Build with a combined value of approximately $150 million.

Andrew has over 25 years of senior leadership experience across capital-intensive ASX-listed companies, other public companies and government, spanning property, energy, transport and Defence sectors. This has included new asset development, asset management and leading major commercial transactions. He has seven years of CEO experience in residential property development, investment and management, leading the ACT’s largest social and affordable build-to-rent property developer in CHC. In this role he has conceived new opportunities and brought parties together to deliver new mixed-use developments that includes supporting key workers and some of the most vulnerable people in the community, whilst also financially positioning the organisation to be able to capitalise on major new growth in supply opportunities.

Luke Hayler, a technologist and futurist, is revolutionising executive support roles through cutting-edge AI solutions. With over three decades of experience in emerging technologies, Luke's journey began in 1993 when he founded an internet service provider, setting the stage for a career at the forefront of digital innovation. His international work experience has honed his ability to navigate global business landscapes, a crucial skill for modern executive support professionals. Recently, Luke's collaboration with Tenants Queensland exemplifies his commitment to leveraging technology for community benefit. As founder at Atomic Consulting, he empowers businesses, including those in the housing sector, to harness Generative AI, streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery. Luke's collaborative approach and generosity with his expertise make him a valuable resource for executive assistants seeking to innovate their practices. Looking ahead, Luke envisions AI as a transformative force in community organisations and non-profits. He sees executive support roles evolving to become strategic partners in this AI-driven future. When not pioneering technological advancements, Luke enjoys outdoor adventures, demonstrating the importance of work-life balance in high-pressure environments.

The PHS is a non-profit organization focused on harm reduction for those typically living with concurrent disorders. The PHS provides housing, medical and harm reduction services, food services, peer programming and day programs for those living with numerous barriers to traditional medical and housing supports. As Director, I am responsible for a portfolio of 25 supportive housing and sheltering outreach sites and services; that challenge the status quo by working towards a zero-eviction policy. I am consistently looking to adapt to the political and external environment without wavering from the individual, community, and outcome focused lens. Demonstrated proficiency with relationship building with public bodies and key funders.

Haleh Homaei is a highly accomplished management executive and non-executive director with over three decades of experience across government, executive management, housing, property development, and governance. From 2016 to 2024, Haleh served as Chief Executive Officer of HousingFirst Limited, one of Victoria’s most respected providers of social and affordable housing. Under her leadership, HousingFirst expanded to a housing portfolio of over 1,500 properties, supporting more than 2,200 resident tenancies. Before joining HousingFirst, Haleh held senior management roles with several of Australia’s leading community housing organisations and held key leadership positions within government. Her extensive experience has made her a recognised leader in the housing sector. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Haleh is an experienced director with a deep understanding of governance and strategic leadership. She is currently the Chair of PowerHousing Australia and a board member of Community Housing Canberra(CHC) and Haven; Home, Safe(HHS). Haleh also served on the board of the Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIAVic) for ten years, including three years as Chair, contributing significantly to the advancement of the community housing sector.

Justin Kearnan serves as Managing Director at City Collective in the United States, where his leadership and vision have shaped the global landscape of city-building. Clients say Justin’s expertise uniquely spans the entire spectrum of design — from visionary city planning to the delivery of architecture through construction. He has a knack for realizing master plans into thriving places across the United States and around the globe, guiding numerous projects from conceptualization to completion and ensuring that each design not only meets but exceeds the aspirations of the communities it serves. A champion of innovative, holistic city-building and a relentless advocate for creating vibrant, livable communities, Justin’s expertise spans a wide range of project types and disciplines, with a particular focus on forging impactful Public-Private Partnerships. Communities tell the story that Justin’s ability to navigate complexities at every scale — whether envisioning the intimate details of a neighborhood or orchestrating the expansive dynamics of cities and regions—is truly global. With a background in urban design, city planning, architecture, development economics, and urban policy, Justin provokes all stakeholders in the urban ecosystem to approach city-making with a nuanced appreciation for interconnected challenges and opportunities. His extensive experience includes influential roles with some of the world’s foremost urban innovators, such as SOM, Elkus Manfredi, and AECOM. Through his visionary leadership, Justin continues to inspire transformative solutions that mint remarkable places.

Caryn Kakas is the Head of Housing and Strategy at ANZ where she leads the bank’s commitment to improving the availability of suitable and affordable housing options for all Australians and New Zealanders. Caryn was previously Executive Director, Housing at the Department of Family and Community Services (NSW). Caryn has over 20 years of experience in the residential housing sector working across private, not for profit and government. She is actively engaged in supporting housing outcomes in Victoria including as a member of the Melbourne City Council’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Open House Melbourne and as a member of the Victorian Government’s Housing Growth Advisory Group.

Leonie is the Chief Executive Officer of City West Housing, a Tier 1 community housing provider specialising in affordable housing in NSW. Prior to this, Leonie has over two decades of senior executive experience in the Government and Non-Government sectors. Leonie specialises in social & affordable housing; and disability services and is passionate about changes to policy, housing strategy, program and regulatory design, statutory planning and community & affordable housing industry development. Leonie is also on the Board for Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and the Committee for Sydney.

Ujwal is an expert and thought leader with 13 years of experience in the Australian property and housing sector. He delivers guidance to major clients and the industry as a Director of MBM’s Advisory team, a Non-Executive Director at Gowrie NSW, and a senior practitioner in asset management. Ujwal brings holistic expertise in housing sector challenges and opportunities that drives innovative asset and property management solutions. Ujwal’s knowledge of traditional and modern methods of construction sees him advise on the most effective strategies for asset and property management in the evolving housing landscape and ensures optimal financial and operational performance for stakeholders.

Scott has had a 20 year career in housing development, management and investment spanning the private sector and community housing industry. He believes that affordable housing is the foundation for a healthy housing system with pathways to home ownership also crucial for social and economic well being. Prior to joining Housing Australia, Scott led significant innovation to mobilise institutional investment into affordable housing in Australia in his role as Group CEO of SGCH, a leading community housing provider serving 12,000 customers living in 7,000 homes. Bringing together capital and capability, SGCH had residential assets under management of approximately $3.9 billion, and mobilised over $1.01 billion of private sector investment. Scott held prior roles including General Manager of Housing and Urban Development for Junction Australia and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Australia, after working in the private sector in construction and development. A Chartered Surveyeor (MRICS) with a housing management and development specialisation, Scott also holds an MBA and postraduate qualification in property development, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Nicola is currently the National Social and Affordable Housing Lead for KPMG. Nicola’s prior experience is as CEO of Hume Community Housing, Chair of PowerHousing Australia and Vice Chair of the International Housing Partnership. Nicola is an influential leader, well recognised within housing, property, disability, and social impact sectors. Purpose driven and visionary, Nicola thrives on utilising career honed commercial and financial acumen, to make a positive difference to the lives of individuals and communities. Nicola’s expertise extends to more than 25 years’ developing, and managing, social, affordable, disability and student housing assets. Nicola has extensive experience in designing and executing strategies, that meet customer and community needs, with limited resources, With an innate understanding of housing and homelessness policy and service systems, Nicola has delivered business transformation and growth strategies, creating value and increasing social impact, across the UK, and Australia.

After almost 4 decades of service to the homeless, public and affordable housing sectors Ken Marchingo is a well-known and well regarded former Chief Executive who created Haven Home Safe, Australia’s first Registered Affordable Housing Association, with a unique housing and homelessness entity. Ken has been recognised for his outstanding meritorious work by being inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2018 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 from his peers and colleagues at PowerHousing Australia. The group he established and was the founding Chair of for its initial 6 years, from 2004. Ken is a former Chair of the prestigious International Housing Partnership (IHP) and in October 2013 hosted the first ever Australian based IHP Leadership Exchange in Sydney. Officially acclaimed a ‘Local Hero’ in his hometown of Bendigo, former Director and Treasurer of Bendigo Health, an Honorary Life Governor of the Royal Children’s Hospital, and Victorian Justice of the Peace. Ken is a regular speaker, nationally, internationally, has run Founders courses for the Chartered Institute of Housing in Canada on leadership and innovation and maintains a long standing high local media profile and has previously been a keynote presenter at the largest Housing and Homelessness conferences on 3 continents and regularly across Australia. Ken does the occasional Interim CEO role for organisations that interest him and generally need a significant turnaround.

Andrew is a respected community housing figure, both nationally and internationally. He has delivered social, affordable, and large-scale urban renewal projects for more than 30 years across Australia and the United Kingdom. Andrew’s experience highlights the innovation and vision required to create cutting edge outcomes for projects which link Government, the private sector and the community housing sector – in order to deliver mixed tenure housing and place based urban renewal outcomes which create places for people to thrive. Andrew has been recently appointed to the role of Vice Chair, PowerHousing Australia, and is also a Board Director of CHIA NSW.

Maree McKenzie has been the CEO at Homes North Community Housing since 2007 and has overseen the transformation of the organisation from a small regional social housing provider managing approximately 150 properties to one now managing over 2,700 properties across the New England and North West of NSW. This growth has been achieved by having a strong strategic vision that enabled Homes North to take advantage of a range of opportunities from mergers to tenders for property management and title transfers. Most recently Maree has overseen Homes North’s success contributing to the largest project to date in Australia transferring public housing to the Community Housing sector. Homes North successfully bid for the management of 1,700 public housing properties in the New England and North West of NSW and is now implementing an ambitious plan to re-image social housing services in the region. Previously Maree worked for over 12 years in Government, in a range of areas, from leading Social Housing community renewal projects to managing housing and homelessness front line services.

Antoine has over 18 years of experience in Real Estate and Alternatives investment. In his current role as Head of Australia at AXA IM Alts, Antoine is responsible for defining and implementing AXA IM Alts’ strategy for its investment management platform in Australia. Antoine previously held the role of Head of Transactions for AXA IM Alts in France. During his time at AXA IM Alts, Antoine has worked on high-profile investments, leading more than A$16 billion (€11 billion) of transactions. He was responsible for the origination, sponsorship and execution of real estate investments on behalf of AXA IM Alts clients and has been active across the entire risk spectrum with investment strategies ranging for Core to Opportunistic, including real estate operating companies, both in traditional real estate sectors (office, retail, industrial, residential) and alternatives (hotels, healthcare, data center, student housing). Antoine was notably involved in the growth of AXA IM Alts in the residential and wider living sector, leading in 2019 the investment in Kley, a now 7,500-bed integrated PBSA owner-operator, and in 2021 the creation of a c. A$3 billion (c. €2 billion) strategic venture of c. 10,000 apartment units in the affordable housing sector in France with market leader affordable housing operator in’li. Antoine joined AXA IM Alts in 2010, and holds a Master’s degree from ESSEC Business School in France.

Ben has over 20 years of experience in community services, including playing a key role in operationalizing the first-ever community housing stock transfers in South Australia. In 2019, he brought this expertise to UnitingSA, where he has since become an essential figure. In his current role, Ben is pivotal in expanding UnitingSA Housing’s portfolio. He also oversees significant property and aged care developments, ensuring the organization continues to meet the needs of the communities it serves. Under Ben's leadership, UnitingSA has achieved Tier 1 community housing provider status and successfully completed numerous large-scale projects. These include the $54 million UnitingSA West Lakes Aged Care complex and a $35 million Affordable Housing Development. Ben is deeply committed to advancing key community housing initiatives, ensuring that South Australians with low to moderate incomes have access to affordable and suitable long-term housing solutions.

Charles boasts 35+ years of global leadership across multiple sectors. As the visionary behind BlueCHP, he spearheaded groundbreaking projects, including the largest residential timber building in Australasia. With profound capital market experience, Charles orchestrated significant bond raisings. He also secured substantial investments for disability housing initiatives. Currently chairing for CHIA NSW, Director for CHIA National and serving on key industry boards, Charles is a distinguished leader. Recognised as the 2018 Macarthur Regional Business Award Outstanding Business Leader, he holds extensive qualifications, including a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Warwick University.

Stacey is a respected community housing figure, both nationally and internationally. As the Executive General Manager of Housing Services for Believe Housing Australia Stacey leads the strategic innovation and vision of the business as well as the tenancy and asset operational services to our Tenants. With over $40million homes under construction as part of a $100million housing development pipeline over the next 10 years, the creation of new homes for those who need it is a passion for Stacey. Raised in community housing in the UK, Stacey understands firsthand that housing is fundamental for helping individuals and families transition from crisis, allowing them to build independence and wellbeing for a full and fulfilling life. This personal experience fuels Stacey's passionate advocacy for improving access to social and community housing. She is dedicated to policy reform and securing funding streams, particularly in a climate of rising rental and living costs that intensify the need for these services. With over 25 years of experience in the UK and Australian housing sectors, she is also a PowerHousing Australia Director and serves on the UDIASA Urban Renewal and Liveability Committee. Furthermore, Stacey is Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Believe Housing Australia is one of South Australia’s largest not-for-profit Community Housing Providers (CHPs), serving over 4,800 tenants across more than 2,100 social and affordable homes.

Rebecca Oelkers is BHC’s Chief Executive Officer. Rebecca has worked in the affordable housing sector for over two decades, including 15 years in executive roles within BHC. She leads a growing team of 80 staff who have delivered more than 2,000 homes across 45 developments since 2002. Most recently Rebecca led BHC’s involvement in the Queensland Government’s Housing Investment Fund, securing partnerships with institutional investors to grow the supply of social and affordable housing by up to 1,200 homes in Queensland. Rebecca is committed to providing safe, secure and affordable homes, with BHC delivering services, beyond housing provision, to empower residents to reach towards their goals. Rebecca is the Deputy Chair of CHIA and a Board Member of UDIA Queensland. She has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and recipient of the 2018 UDIA Women in Leadership Award.

Shane joined Bethanie in early 2019 and was appointed CEO of Bethanie Housing in 2022. Since his appointment, Shane has significantly raised the profile of Bethanie Housing and expanded its Affordable Housing options. Under Shane’s leadership, Bethanie has established a development pipeline that will increase the portfolio size by over 50% in the next three years, in partnership with all levels of Government and institutional funders. In addition to his role as CEO of Bethanie Housing, Shane also serves as the CFO of The Bethanie Group. He is a highly motivated senior leader who has guided Bethanie towards financial sustainability amid a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. Shane holds a degree in Actuarial Science and post-graduate qualifications in accounting. Shane is a Board member of HeartKids and previously served as the Chairperson of the Spirit of the Streets Charity.

Aileen O’Neill, the 2023-2024 Rising Star award recipient, is an emerging leader in the community housing sector. She began her journey working in the Australian Community Housing four years ago as Housing Manager at Bridge Housing. Aileen has since taken on roles such as Team Leader of Partnership and Support Coordination, Team Leader of Tenancy, and currently serves as the Team Leader for the Sustainable Communities Team. She is an advocate for staff retention through a flexible leadership style, emphasizing effective and supportive management practices and ensures her team is a place where people want to work.

Eliza Owen was appointed the Head of Research at CoreLogic Australia in 2020. She has spent almost a decade as a housing market researcher, reporting extensively on key issues including housing affordability, credit conditions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing market performance. In addition to her role at CoreLogic, Eliza is passionate about sharing her knowledge with broader consumer audiences, and serves as a state advisory council member for NSW/ACT with CEDA.

Michael is one of Australia’s leading advisers in the financing and structuring of social and affordable housing. He’s the founder and Managing Director of Paxon Group, an international financial and commercial advisory firm. Michael has led transactions involving the newest and most innovative models in the sector, including a number of funding models at the Federal and State level. Over the past 5 years, he has advised on more than $15 billion worth of new projects, including the development of over 50 outcomes-based models across the housing continuum. Michael is an expert adviser to major players in the sector including CHPs, government, private sector, institutional investors, financiers and developers.

A business head with a social heart', Maria is a highly accomplished leader in South Australia's housing and community services sector, with over 25 years of experience. Appointed CEO of Junction in April 2017, she previously served as Director of Housing Strategy at Renewal SA, overseeing the largest transfer of social housing to community providers. Prior to this, she was CEO of Common Ground Adelaide and Executive Manager at UnitingCare Wesley. Maria was a finalist for the SA Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2019, winning the UDIA SA’s Women in Leadership Award in 2021.

Tina Perinotto is managing editor, publisher and founder of The Fifth Estate, an on-line newspaper for green buildings and sustainable cities, established in 2009. The publication has become essential reading for business people, investors, designers, consultants, government officials and politicians working towards a more sustainable the built environment. The Fifth Estate holds thought leadership and interactive events designed to stimulate faster sustainable transformation in the built environment. Key messages from events and related content are typically collated in ebooks distributed to all readers. Tina has also spoken at and facilitated a number of industry events. She previously worked as a senior writer at the AFR and edited Property Australia magazine and holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Monash University.

Gemma is a principal at Right Lane Consulting, a for purpose strategy consulting firm, where she leads their housing practice. She has worked in senior positions in superannuation and the labour movement for over two decades prior to becoming a strategy consultant. Over the last two years Gemma has worked on over 20 housing projects across investors, government and the CHP sector. Gemma is a director of Open House Melbourne and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from RMIT, an Honours degree in Women's Studies and Politics from Monash University and is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors course.

Michelle has over 20 years of senior executive leadership experience in both the NGO and commercial sectors, where she has consistently championed the advancement of gender equality. Michelle has extensive International and Australian business experience in national strategy, change management, community engagement, funding, and commercial partnerships. Michelle is currently the Group Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Australia which provides gender responsive housing and homelessness solutions to enable women and gender diverse people to find stability and feel safe and secure. Michelle joined the PowerHousing board in 2021 and currently sits on the Audit and Risk, and Steering Committee. Michelle is also member of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games - Sunshine Coast 2032 Legacy Plan Community Reference Group.

Kirk is an Executive Director at ICA Partners and has over 20 years of infrastructure and energy investment and advisory experience (in particular social infrastructure and transport). Kirk has recently advised the consortium of BHC and QIC to successfully achieve contractual close and secure long term financing commitments to deliver 604 social and affordable dwellings under Queensland's HIF program. Kirk has worked with many CHPs over the last eight years to successfully structure and receive funding commitments for their social, affordable and disability housing projects. Kirk has extensive networks with Housing Australia, commercial banks and institutional investors.

Miranda Serkinic, Executive Manager, Corporate Services Miranda Serkinic is an experience professional in Corporate Governance and Executive Management, recognised for her leadership in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She holds a certification from the Australian HR Institute and has executive experience in leading Corporate Services and HR and Safety functions. In her current role, Miranda leads several critical portfolios, including Finance and IT, Risk and Compliance, People & Culture and Health & Wellness and Safety. Her active engagement in the sector is reflected in her positions as Chair of the PowerHousing Australia’s People and Culture Communities of Practice and as a member of The Property Council’s national People and Culture Academy Committee. Miranda is committed to shaping the future ways of working. Her work focusses on the strategic positioning and alignment of people and systems with business priorities to advance the organisational culture and its mission, vision and values.

Chris joined Foundation Housing in September 2014 from a statutory investment fund where he held various senior and executive roles in Portfolio Management and General Management. Chris has extensive experience in completing a range of commercial transactions, including establishing new businesses, acquisitions, joint ventures and management agreements. Chris has a longstanding interest in working for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those more broadly within the community. Chris recognises the significance of Foundation Housings’ role in managing significant housing infrastructure and wants to make a positive impact on communities across WA. Chris sits on the Board of the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA). As CEO of Foundation Housing, Chris is responsible for managing Foundation Housing’s strategic priorities in line with policies determined by the Board. Chris is assisted by an experienced executive team which works to ensure Foundation Housing meets its corporate and strategic objectives.

Jesse Taylor is a seasoned community development professional with over 25 years of experience in Australia and the USA, dedicated to fostering positive social change through community-led solutions. Currently serving as the Community Development Manager (Mid North Coast, NSW) and National Grants Manager at Mission Australia Housing, Jesse is also the founder of Community Development Australia and Oz Grants and serves as the MIZ Campaign Manager for the Constellation Project with AAEH. Jesse’s approach to leadership unites organisations for greater impact. This philosophy was exemplified in a recent MOU between three Tier 1 Community Housing Providers, a pioneering initiative that led to successful joint grant-funded projects. Building on this success, Jesse is facilitating the formation of the NSW SHMT Alliance, bringing together six Community Housing Providers to collaborate on enhancing tenant outcomes across NSW. Jesse holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Montclair State University. He has been recognised with multiple senior leadership fellowships in New York City, underscoring his commitment to advancing social justice and community development on both national and international levels.

David is a Board member, Principal and Architect at Hayball leading the practice’s NSW and ACT studios. Passionate about the creation of places for communities to live and learn, he is a sitting member of North Sydney Council Design Excellence Panel. He is a strong advocate for gender equity and was a founding member of the Architects Champions of Change Coalition national group. David’s built work, articles and papers focus on the creation of demonstrable social value through design. He was recently accountable for developing Hayball's new Social Value measurement framework. He is an accomplished architect who has led many award-winning projects that have been widely published in both Australia and Europe, his work regularly employs a co-design methodology to deeply engage the communities that he works with into the creative process. David is an active member of the Australian Institute of Architects, Property Council of Australia, UDIA and Learning Environments Australasia.

Llewellyn Visagie is a performance and results-driven professional with a strong background in the property services industry. As Group Executive Manager of Operations at Pacific Link Housing, he oversees the tenancy and assets teams, ensuring the company's assets and tenancy obligations align with its vision and strategic plan. Llewellyn brings key expertise in asset management, operations management, strategic planning, project management and relationship management. His leadership and foresight were instrumental factors that contributed to the start-up success of Pacific Link Housing’s property maintenance social enterprise, Renew Projects.

Petie has over 25 years’ experience in the property sector across Australia and Asia, with particular expertise and experience in project delivery, as well as corporate operational and strategic leadership and governance across design, construction, development and asset management.  Petie joined Stockland in 2017 and is the Executive General Manager of Sustainability and Delivery, with responsibility for sustainability, First Nations, strategic procurement, design and project management functions. She is accountable for the delivery of Stockland’s >$40bn development pipeline across all sectors. Stockland is a leading residential developer in Australia, focused on delivering a range of masterplanned communities, apartments, medium density housing and land lease communities across the country. Petie has a strong stakeholder focus with a passion for sustainability and a commitment to creating positive impact across both social and environmental domains. Petie is a non-executive Board member of the Tier 1 Community Housing Provider, Homes North and a member of the Smart Cities Advisory Board at Macquarie University. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from AGSM, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management from the Queensland University of Technology and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors course.

Bevan Warner is the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Housing, a specialist homelessness services organisation that has spearheaded the delivery of safe housing to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, for over 70 years. Today, Launch Housing is recognised as one of Victoria’s largest providers of homeless support and advocacy services reaching over 15,000 Victorians each year. Since joining in 2018, Bevan has continued to champion Launch Housing’s vision to end homelessness, working with government and communities to develop strategies that redefine traditional approaches to addressing homelessness and give back to people their right to access without impediments or prejudice, essential services such as education and healthcare and give them too, the sanctuary that having a front door to close behind you, brings. Bevan is also a Director of the Foyer Foundation, which provides integrated learning and accommodation centres for young people at risk of homelessness, and the Alliance to end homelessness, a collective of allied networks working towards ending homelessness in Australia.