HOUSING CHOICES NSW LIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Professional Company Director
Amanda Heyworth is a professional company director with strengths in developing and executing growth strategies and digital transformation. She has served on a range of listed and unlisted boards in the property, finance and research sectors. Previously she ran a venture capital fund and held roles in investment banking and the Federal Treasury. She has worked with a number of not for profits in board and board advisory roles most notably chairing the business advisory board of Vinnies SA and serving on the board of a large Australian disability employer. Amanda currently serves on the boards of Ingenia Communities Group Ltd and People's Choice Credit Union and chairs UniSA Ventures Pty Ltd and the Centennial Park Cemetery Authority. Amanda holds an BA (Accounting) from the University of South Australia and a MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and is a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.
Job Titles:
- Chief Finance and Commercial Officer
Brian is a finance and commercial executive with over 25 years' experience in all aspects of financial and operational management in Australia and Canada. Brian's roles have covered a vast number of industries and sectors including aged care, construction, education, financial services, healthcare, clinical research, aviation and manufacturing.
Since joining Housing Choices in 2019, Brian's strong financial background and negotiation skills combined with a passion for social housing and community building, has contributed to the consistent growth and development of HCA property's portfolio in terms of size, social impact and sustainability.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / Member, AFRC
Chris is an internationally leading housing economist and academic, currently Professor of Property and Housing Economics at the University of South Australia, Adjunct Professor at the University of Adelaide, Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, and Honorary Professor at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He is an editor for the Urban Studies Journal and was previously Editor-In-Chief of the Housing Studies Journal. Focussing on the economics of the housing market, Chris's work has helped inform and shape government policy on housing supply and affordability, particularly in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Chris has undertaken numerous studies for a variety of government departments and entities in several countries, third sector organisations, and a range of academic funders including the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and the Economic and Social Research Council in the UK. Most recently, he has led projects on Australia's housing policy responses to COVID (AHURI), and contributed to policy development work funded by CHIA, Shelter and the Community Housing Council.
Job Titles:
- Executive General Manager - Legal & Governance
Danae leads the legal strategy supporting growth and business diversification. She is Company Secretary across the Housing Choices Australia Group of companies and works closely with the Board and Managing Director to ensure that the Group's governance arrangements are robust and effective. She provides legal advice and strategic guidance to staff, Executive and Board on a wide range of matters including development projects, property acquisitions, funding agreements, government bid submissions, contractual negotiations and debt negotiations.
Danae has a background in real estate law and is passionate about using her skills and experience to have a positive impact on vulnerable people and the community housing sector.
Danae joined Housing Choices in 2017, as Legal Counsel and Assistant Company Secretary, and was promoted to her current role in 2021. She has over 10 years' experience in the legal sector both in private practice and in-house in social and affordable housing. She studied her Master of Laws (JD) at Monash University and has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen's University in Canada.
David has a career in leadership, customer services and property development including urban renewal; public/private and joint venture partnerships; social and affordable housing; and mixed tenure developments in the UK and Australia including large scale urban renewal programs in Glasgow and Manchester. As an experienced CEO with financial, governance and compliance experience, David has proven leadership abilities spanning different countries and jurisdictions. He has consistently worked for organisations seeking to increase their social impact through growth and expansion into new markets, improvements in operational effectiveness and developing new innovative models of service. David is currently on the Board of the Suburban Land Agency ACT, the Chair of Homelessness NSW and former President of NSW Council of Social Services.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / Chair, GARC
David is the CEO of the Ardross Group of Companies, a privately owned property and land development group. He is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of Leadership Western Australia, has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and has extensive experience in infrastructure planning, project facilitation, asset management, town planning and property development.
David is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on the Executive of the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry WA (Vice President) and Jurien Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chief Executive Officer of Possability Group
- Director / Member, GARC
Drew is Chief Executive Officer of Possability Group, one of Australia's leading disability services providers. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Possability during a period of significant transition for the disability services sector under the NDIS, including involvement in a successful merger and the expansion and development of the Group's services into Victoria and Queensland. During this time, Possability have jointly established the Applied Research Centre for Disability and Wellbeing to better connect research evidence with practice in ways to make a positive difference in the provision of supports to people living with disability.
Drew led Early Intervention Services at Relationships Australia, with responsibility for clinical governance and supervision, and has held senior positions in Health, Social Care and Aged Care policy and regulation. He was State Manager for the Federal Department of Health and Ageing during a period of significant health reform.
Drew has held board positions with various community sector organisations and the Australian Institute of Public Administration, Tasmania. He is currently the public officer of a Tasmanian organisation involved in the promotion of men's health issues and has a strong interest in advocating for access to suitable housing for people living with disability.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Non - Executive Director
- Deputy Chair / Deputy Chair, Board of Directors Chair, AFRC
- Non - Executive Director of Impact Investing Australia and of GMCU
Fabienne is an experienced non-executive director who has held numerous board positions in the housing, education, financial and arts sectors.
Fabienne is currently a non-executive Director of Impact Investing Australia and of GMCU, and is a part-time Professor of Practice (Finance) at Deakin Business School. Fabienne is also the Director of SDG Impact, a United Nations Development Programme flagship initiative created to accelerate the mobilisation of private capital towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It provides investors and businesses with the clarity, insights and tools required to strengthen and authenticate their contribution to achieving the SDGs. Fabienne previously enjoyed a 30-year executive career, including 22 years with S&P Global in the Global Ratings division where in her final role she was the Head of Developed Markets Asia-Pacific.
Job Titles:
- Executive General Manager of Customer and Community Services
Hannah is a recognised thought leader and expert in the field of social and community housing. Her passion lies in enhancing resident experiences and creating the capacity needed to construct more homes, improve existing housing, and strengthen communities.
An experienced Executive Officer with a track record of delivering transformation in resident services and landlord performance, Hannah's reputation is built on achieving outstanding results and prioritising resident-driven outcomes. She has worked for organisations of varying sizes, with the largest having more than 60,000 homes across the UK.
Hannah's career and professional achievements have been recognised with a Women in Housing Award (UK), with particular praise for her "remarkable energy and commitment to improving experiences for service users".
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Chartered Accountant
- Board Chair / Chair, Board of Directors
- Member of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee
Heather is a Chartered Accountant, experienced board director and senior executive with experience operating in complex environments across a diverse range of organisations and sectors. She joined the Board of Housing Choices in 2014 and was Deputy Chair of the Board and Chair of the AARC until her appointment as Board Chair in 2019. Heather is also a non-executive Director of Australian Sailing, Risk and Audit Committee member of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and Chair of TADTas, an organisation dedicated to improving the independence and quality of life for people living with a disability.
Heather has more than 25 years' experience spanning audit and corporate advisory (including with Ernst & Young's banking & finance division), private enterprise, start-ups, and for purpose organisations, having held both General Manage and Chief Financial Officer senior leadership positions. Reflecting a strong focus and commitment to social inclusion, Heather's previous governance roles span youth, education and employment initiatives.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen's University School of Business and is a recipient of the Governor General's Award (Canada). She is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of Monash University Council
Jenny Samms is a member of Monash University Council, a Director of the Council to Homeless Persons and undertakes consultancy work mainly in the government and not for profit sectors. She brings a strong understanding and grounding in public policy combined with specialist expertise in social housing, Aboriginal affairs and Aboriginal housing and homelessness.
She was previously the CEO of Aboriginal Housing Victoria. During her time as CEO she led the organisation to achieve Housing Association status, the only Aboriginal organisation in Australia to achieve this level of accreditation and successfully negotiated the historic transfer of ownership of the nearly 1500 DHHS properties that AHV was managing.
Jenny's professional career spans nearly 40 years in the Commonwealth and Victorian public services including departments of Education, Labour, Aboriginal Affairs, Premier and Cabinet and Planning and Community Development. She has held a number of senior executive positions at Deputy Secretary and Executive Director level, focusing on developing and implementing improved social, educational and employment opportunities for all Victorians.
She holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs and Administration.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / Member, AFRC
Matt has over 20 years' experience in property development and project management. Matt has worked for Peet on various master planned projects and Mirvac, where he was responsible for land subdivision projects and was Head of New Business (WA). During his time at Mirvac, Matt oversaw the acquisition and project establishment of a wide range of projects and played a key role in establishing Mirvac's first residential development fund in Western Australia.
In 2007 Matt established Generation Projects, a boutique project management and property development consultancy, involved in a wide range of residential, commercial, mixed use, retail and industrial projects. In 2012 Generation Projects joined with Modus Project Management to form GMPM Consulting, one of Perth's leading project management and strategic advisory consultants in the property development industry. Matt has a wide range of experience in both public and private sector projects.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Civil & Structural Engineering (with Honours) from Curtin University and has completed a Graduate Certificate of Business from UTS Sydney.