Governance Board

Homes North is at a place in its development where it is embarking on new strategic directions.  The tripling of stock numbers, coupled with additional services in homelessness, social housing and private housing assistance, has created an opportunity for Homes North to think about our approach in a bigger, more connected way.  As a leader in issues of housing and homelessness in the New England North West, it is out role to build connections across services, working with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, supporting them in establishing and maintaining stable accommodation.

In recent times, our Board has welcomed new members, Ms Petie Walker and Mr Mike Christensen.  As always, we are grateful for the contribution of our board and thank our new and continuing board members for their dedication and commitment to Homes North.

Current Position
Deputy Chair of Hunter New England Health; Chair and Managing Director of Genre Consulting Pty Ltd; Senior Trainer and Assessor for Novaskill.

Qualifications
Master of Business Administration (RMIT), Bachelor of Business in Accounting (UTS), Diploma of Business (Governance), Diploma of Community Services (Service Coordination), Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, Diploma of Training and Development.

Professional
Graduate (GAICD) and Fellow (FAICD) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA), Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors (FICDA), Chartered Manager of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI-UK), Fellow of the Institute of Management and Leadership (FIML-AU/NZ), Professional Member of the Institute of Public Administration (Australia), and Member of Transparency Australia.

Experience
Thirty-five years working across a range of Commonwealth and NSW State Government enterprises and in the private sector for large organisations such as Telstra Corporation, Bovis-Lend Lease, Bank of America and Brambles Industries.  Roles included corporate services manager, business services manager, property services manager, project manager, adult vocational educator, counsellor and principal consultant.

Special Responsibilities
Member Capital Strategy Committee.

Current Position
Program Advisor First Nations Skills and Training, Inland Rail; formerly Local and Indigenous Engagement Advisor, Trans4m Rail Narrabri to North Star Project; Co-Chairperson, Moree Reconciliation Committee; Chairperson, Pius X Aboriginal Corporation and Medical Service.

Qualifications
Over 28 years’ experience in Aboriginal employment, education, training and cultural safety practices.

Experience
Former Commonwealth Public Servant. Twelve years’ experience across various positions including Regional Manager North West/New England and Moree Branch Manager, Department of Employment, Education and Training specialising in Indigenous Education and Employment. Formerly, Chairperson and founding CEO, Aboriginal Employment Strategy Ltd; National Manager Indigenous Cultural Capability and Direct Recruitment, ANZ Bank. Major infrastructure projects in regional and rural communities.

Special Responsibilities
Chair First Nations External Engagement Committee.

Current Position
Managing Director/Sorry Business Consultant, Ngiyani Wandabaa; Cultural Consultant and Seasons Programs Trainer, MacKillop Seasons (formerly known as Good Grief); Research Assistant (First Nations End of Life Research), Queensland University of Technology.

Qualifications
Background and qualifications in Indigenous Health. Twenty years’ in government and community-controlled organisations contributing to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationally, through direct client contact, cultural safety initiatives, project development and implementation, resource development, and education and training program development and delivery.

Professional
Advisory Committee Member; End of Life Law for Clinicians; Advisory Committee Member, Gwandalan National Palliative Care Project; RAP Committee Member, Palliative Care Queensland; RAP Committee Member, Palliative Care Australia; National Indigenous Projects Advisory Member, Palliative Care Australia.

Experience
Indigenous Project Officer, Indigenous Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (IPEPA) Queensland; Indigenous Project Coordinator/Project Manager (Education & Training), Australian General Practice of Accreditation Limited (AGPAL).

Special Responsibilities
Member People & Culture Committee; Member First Nations External Engagement Committee.

Current Position
Executive General Manager Sustainability & Delivery at Stockland, Smart Cities Advisory Board Member for Macquarie University.

Qualifications
Graduate Certificate in Change Management (AGSM), Bachelor of Applied Science Construction Management (QUT).

Professional
Graduate (GAICD) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Experience
Over 25 years experience in the property sector incorporating project delivery, corporate operational and strategic leadership and governance across design, construction, development and asset operations.  Has a strong stakeholder focus and is passionate about sustainability and highly committed to creating positive impact across both social and environmental domains.

Special Responsibilities
Chair Capital Strategy Committee; Member Audit & Risk Committee.

Current Position
Professor in Management, UNE Business School

Qualifications
Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (Hons 1) (University of Sydney), PhD (University of New England), GAICD, FANZAM, PFHEA

Experience
Thirty years of teaching research and management roles at the University of New England.  Experienced Director, including of Regional Australia Bank, New England North West Regional Development Board (2003-2007) and not for profit training organisations.

Special Responsibilities
Deputy Chairperson; Member People & Culture Committee; Member First Nations External Engagement Committee.

Qualifications
Diploma in Management.

Current Position
Board member, Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD); Chair, Aboriginal Health Committee HNELHD; Committee Member, Good Health Committee & Community & Partnership Committee (HNELHD); Community Advisory Committee, New England Central Coast Primary Health Network; Community representative for Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine; Committee Member, Myall Creek National Committee; Aboriginal Consultant, Convenor for Youth Justice Conference, Juvenile Justice.

Experience
Twenty years working in rural and metropolitan communities in various areas that include child care, Aboriginal community capacity worker, Aboriginal medical services, Lecture (UNE/Schools Medicine/Health), HNE Board Member (10 years – previously on Community Advisory Group HNE), Nationally Accredited Cultural Competency, rural and regional organisation.

Special Responsibilities
Member Reconciliation Action Plan Committee; Member People & Culture Committee; Member First Nations External Engagement Committee.

Current Position
Corporate Accountant, James Knox Investments Pty Ltd; Director, Australian Catholic Super and Retirement Fund (ACSRF); Member of ACSRF Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Qualifications
Financial Administration (Accounting); Fellow CPA Australia; Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors; Justice of the Peace.

Experience
Twenty-four years experience in the financial services industry, including both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors.

Special Responsibilities
Member Audit & Risk Committee; Member First Nations External Engagement Committee; Representative Director Alliance Social Enterprise Co Ltd.

Current Position
Head of Customer Solutions, Lifestyle Solutions; Head of Bindi Enterprises; Deputy Chair, MADEC Ltd.

Qualifications
MBA Executive (CSU) (currently studying), Bachelor of Human Movement – Sports Science (CSU), Diploma in HRM AICD (currently studying), Advanced WorkCover RTW Certification, NFP Board Membership & Leadership Certificate, NSW Ombudsman Corporate & Incident Investigation Certificate, Certificate IV in WHS & Cultural Awareness.

Experience
Twenty-five years working across a diverse range of corporate, multinational & private enterprise organisations, sectors and funding channels.  Executive, chief executive officer and board experience across human services, finance, not-for-profit, corporate retail, fast moving consumer goods, pharmacy and business consultancy.  My strong commercial, business and people management acumen combined with my nous for developing high performance teams is attributed to my leadership success.  These skills coupled with my dedication to the advocacy of the consumer and community have allowed me to be successful at organisations such as Coles Group, Woolworths Ltd, CMLG, IGA, Pharmacy Alliance, Lifestyle Solutions, Bindi Enterprises & LiveBetter.

Special Responsibilities
Chair People & Culture Committee; Member Capital Strategy Committee.

Current Position
Non-Executive Director and Chair, Finance, Audit & Risk, Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT); Non-Executive Director and Chair, Finance, Audit & Risk, Ecstra Foundation; Non-Executive Director and Chair, Risk & Audit, Rosebank College; Member, Lay Persons Panel & Professional Standards Committees, HPCA; Managing Director, Truro Partners; Senior Consultant, Stellar Business Consulting.

Qualifications
Masters of Applied Finance (Macquarie University), Bachelor of Business Management (Major: Economics).

Professional
Graduate (GAICD) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Australian Corporate Treasury Association (FCTA).

Experience
Qualified & experienced company director & advisor board member across property, education, health, and financial services sectors. Prior executive roles incl. GM, Treasury & Finance for top 50 ASX commercial real estate companies. Deep SME network and SME consultancy/coaching experience.

Special Responsibilities
Chairperson: Audit & Risk Committee; Member Capital Strategy Committee.