The Homes Victoria advisory board
The Homes Victoria Advisory Board is established under section 11A of the Housing Act 1983. The board provides strategic advice to the Minister for Housing and the Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria in relation to:
- the long term strategic direction of Homes Victoria
- the financial performance and stability of Homes Victoria; and
- strategic risks and opportunities and approaches to social housing and affordable housing; and
- the corporate plan and performance indicators of Homes Victoria; and
- any other matter referred to the Advisory Board by the Minister.
The board will strengthen governance and oversight of Homes Victoria. The board is independent, accountable to the Minister for Housing and will steer development of Homes Victoria’s Corporate Plan and Annual Reports in alignment with the organisation’s commitment to greater transparency and accountability.
As a non-binding advisory body, the board has no formal decision-making or own motion powers or responsibilities over policy, service delivery or public funds.
The Hon. Colin Brooks
Minister for Housing
The Hon Colin Brooks was appointed the Minister for Housing and Multicultural Affairs in December 2022.
Colin was first elected to the Victorian parliament in 2006 and represents the electorate of Bundoora in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs.
Since then, Colin has held the roles of Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Disability, Ageing and Carers and was also Speaker of the Victorian Parliament for five years.
Colin was first elected to the Victorian parliament in 2006 and represents the electorate of Bundoora in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs.
Since then, Colin has held the roles of Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Disability, Ageing and Carers and was also Speaker of the Victorian Parliament for five years.
Homes Victoria advisory board members
Steve Gross
Chair
Steve is committed to finding scalable, high-quality solutions to address social justice and environmental issues impacting on Australian communities. He has a wealth of knowledge in commerce and is currently the Head of Impact Investing with the Macquarie Group which has a focus on improving housing outcomes for disadvantaged Australians.
Prior to commencing in his current role, Steve held a number of senior positions within the Macquarie Group, including Head of Investor Solutions Group (Asia Pacific) and Chief Operating Officer, European Infrastructure Funds.
Steve has strong experience as a Board member with a range of not-for-profit organisations. He is currently a non-executive Director with Berry Street.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and completed his MBA at the London Business School.
Prior to commencing in his current role, Steve held a number of senior positions within the Macquarie Group, including Head of Investor Solutions Group (Asia Pacific) and Chief Operating Officer, European Infrastructure Funds.
Steve has strong experience as a Board member with a range of not-for-profit organisations. He is currently a non-executive Director with Berry Street.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and completed his MBA at the London Business School.
Pat Cashin
Pat Cashin is Laing O Rourke’s Melbourne-based Clients Director and has held executive positions at Laing O Rourke since joining the business in 2014 to open the Victorian office. Before joining Laing O Rourke, Pat held the position of Executive General Manager, Lend Lease, Southern Region, with responsibility for the building sector in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Prior to that he held the position of Executive General Manager, Operations, for Baulderstone’s Victorian, South Australian and West Australian operations, with responsibility for both building and engineering disciplines.
Pat has a 40-year track record in the construction industry in both building and engineering infrastructure with extensive experience in the road, rail, defence, health, hospitality and social infrastructure sectors, across a range of procurement models including, PPP’s, design and construct, managing contractor and collaborative alliances. His career includes 25 years at Baulderstone (part of the Lend Lease Group since 2011), and 7 years in Ireland prior to coming to Australia.
As part of his current role, Pat brings his experience to alliance boards and steering committees for large projects being undertaken by Laing O Rourke and is a passionate advocate for reform in the construction sector.
Pat holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from University College Dublin in Ireland and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Pat has a 40-year track record in the construction industry in both building and engineering infrastructure with extensive experience in the road, rail, defence, health, hospitality and social infrastructure sectors, across a range of procurement models including, PPP’s, design and construct, managing contractor and collaborative alliances. His career includes 25 years at Baulderstone (part of the Lend Lease Group since 2011), and 7 years in Ireland prior to coming to Australia.
As part of his current role, Pat brings his experience to alliance boards and steering committees for large projects being undertaken by Laing O Rourke and is a passionate advocate for reform in the construction sector.
Pat holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from University College Dublin in Ireland and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Sarah Clarke
Sarah Clarke is an executive leading pre-financial risk management focused on ethics, environmental social and corporate governance, and stakeholder engagement.
Sarah leads the Mirvac sustainability strategy, “This Changes Everything”, and is also the current Deputy Chair of Sustainability Victoria. She has experience across multiple sectors and industries, including property, oil and gas, public transport, and social policy.
Sarah received a Master of Arts (Professional & Applied Ethics) from the University of Melbourne, is a graduate of the McKinsey & Co Executive Leadership program, the Prince of Wales Business & Sustainability Leadership program from the University of Cambridge, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons, English) from James Cook University.
Sarah leads the Mirvac sustainability strategy, “This Changes Everything”, and is also the current Deputy Chair of Sustainability Victoria. She has experience across multiple sectors and industries, including property, oil and gas, public transport, and social policy.
Sarah received a Master of Arts (Professional & Applied Ethics) from the University of Melbourne, is a graduate of the McKinsey & Co Executive Leadership program, the Prince of Wales Business & Sustainability Leadership program from the University of Cambridge, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons, English) from James Cook University.
Danielle Dalby
Danielle Dalby has extensive experience in the industry super sector and is a skilled property lawyer and investment manager with demonstrable experience in managing and negotiating complex, strategic transactions including the acquisition and divestment of high-value property assets.
Danielle has board experience as a former member and chair of the Volunteer West Committee and in providing legal advice and support in relation to corporate matters.
Danielle holds a Bachelor of Law from University of New England, and a Graduate Diploma in Property from Deakin University, as well as an Associate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and Investment.
Danielle has board experience as a former member and chair of the Volunteer West Committee and in providing legal advice and support in relation to corporate matters.
Danielle holds a Bachelor of Law from University of New England, and a Graduate Diploma in Property from Deakin University, as well as an Associate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and Investment.
Jefa Greenaway
Jefa Greenaway is a nationally recognised Indigenous architect who brings a unique cultural perspective into design of social housing, communities and placemaking.
As a registered architect in private practice in both NSW and Victoria, he seeks to reveal layers of history and memory through connections to place, demonstrating the value of people centred design which interrogates one’s own philosophical or ethical underpinning and design responsibilities.
Over 2 decades he’s also championed Indigenous led design thinking, particularly through the International Indigenous Design Charter, as Regional Ambassador (Oceania) of INDIGO (International Indigenous Design Alliance) and sits on numerous boards that intersect with art, architecture and cultural heritage.
Jefa has extensive experience sitting on panels, boards and committees within the State Government, not-for-profit and educational sectors. Jefa is strongly committed to social issues, particularly around Aboriginal community engagement and empowerment, and has expertise in Aboriginal placemaking.
Jefa holds a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) and a Bachelor of Applied Science.
As a registered architect in private practice in both NSW and Victoria, he seeks to reveal layers of history and memory through connections to place, demonstrating the value of people centred design which interrogates one’s own philosophical or ethical underpinning and design responsibilities.
Over 2 decades he’s also championed Indigenous led design thinking, particularly through the International Indigenous Design Charter, as Regional Ambassador (Oceania) of INDIGO (International Indigenous Design Alliance) and sits on numerous boards that intersect with art, architecture and cultural heritage.
Jefa has extensive experience sitting on panels, boards and committees within the State Government, not-for-profit and educational sectors. Jefa is strongly committed to social issues, particularly around Aboriginal community engagement and empowerment, and has expertise in Aboriginal placemaking.
Jefa holds a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) and a Bachelor of Applied Science.
Dr Tam Nguyen
Dr Tam Nguyen is the Deputy Director of Research at St Vincent’s Hospital and brings a strong health perspective with a unique understanding of the intersections of housing, mental health, wellbeing and vulnerability.
Tam is also a health communications expert, with particular interest in culturally and linguistically diverse messaging to different communities, Indigenous health and intergenerational families. Tam comes from a culturally diverse background and is familiar with the social housing system in South Australia, bringing firsthand experience perspective of the social housing system.
Tam holds academic appointments as an Associate Professor at Melbourne Medical School and as an Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) at Monash Medical School.
Tam is also a health communications expert, with particular interest in culturally and linguistically diverse messaging to different communities, Indigenous health and intergenerational families. Tam comes from a culturally diverse background and is familiar with the social housing system in South Australia, bringing firsthand experience perspective of the social housing system.
Tam holds academic appointments as an Associate Professor at Melbourne Medical School and as an Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) at Monash Medical School.
Lucy Roffey
Lucy Roffey is the Chair of Coliban Water and has been a board member since 2015. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Central Goldfields Shire Council and has held other executive roles in Local Government over the last 12 years since moving to Regional Victoria. Prior to Local Government, Lucy held senior financial roles in the film industry including Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image from 2004-2009.
Lucy is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s Public Sector Panel, a member of the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership and a member of the Telstra Regional Advisory Committee.
Lucy is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Management from the University of NSW (AGSM).
Lucy is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s Public Sector Panel, a member of the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership and a member of the Telstra Regional Advisory Committee.
Lucy is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Management from the University of NSW (AGSM).
Meredith Sussex AM
Meredith Sussex is an expert on city planning and is committed to community engagement in the development and implementation of public policy. Meredith is chair of the Fishermans Bend Development Board in Victoria. She has also been a non-executive director of a number of boards, including Housing Choices Australia (a national community housing provider), the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Port of Melbourne.
Meredith runs her own consultancy providing specialist expertise in public policy, planning, management and governance, specialising in city planning. She has also held senior positions in the Victorian State Government, including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
From 2002-2006 she led the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, for which she was awarded the Order of Australia in 2007. She was also a lecturer in the Masters programme on Urban Governance at the University of New South Wales.
Meredith holds qualifications from the University of Melbourne and the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.
Meredith runs her own consultancy providing specialist expertise in public policy, planning, management and governance, specialising in city planning. She has also held senior positions in the Victorian State Government, including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
From 2002-2006 she led the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, for which she was awarded the Order of Australia in 2007. She was also a lecturer in the Masters programme on Urban Governance at the University of New South Wales.
Meredith holds qualifications from the University of Melbourne and the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.
Ex-officio members
Chris Barrett
Chris Barrett commenced as Deputy Secretary, Economic Division in January 2021. Chris is responsible for the provision of high-level economic and policy advice to Government on productivity, taxation and regulation, along with social, environmental and development issues.
In his most recent role as Invest Victoria CEO, Chris led both the Victorian Government’s approach to investment attraction and the Economic Recovery Mission in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Chris’ career includes nearly two decades in public service in both Canberra and Melbourne, including as Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.
In 2011, Chris was appointed Australian Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, where he led Australia’s engagement with the OECD and contributed to global best-practice public policy. Following on from his role with the OECD, Chris spent four years with the European Climate Foundation in Berlin, where, as Executive Director, Finance and Economics, he led an international philanthropic strategy on the economic and financial implications and opportunities of the low-carbon transition.
In his most recent role as Invest Victoria CEO, Chris led both the Victorian Government’s approach to investment attraction and the Economic Recovery Mission in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Chris’ career includes nearly two decades in public service in both Canberra and Melbourne, including as Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.
In 2011, Chris was appointed Australian Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, where he led Australia’s engagement with the OECD and contributed to global best-practice public policy. Following on from his role with the OECD, Chris spent four years with the European Climate Foundation in Berlin, where, as Executive Director, Finance and Economics, he led an international philanthropic strategy on the economic and financial implications and opportunities of the low-carbon transition.