Keynote Speakers

Scott Langford

Scott Langford

CEO, Housing Australia

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.

Djaran Murray Jackson

Djaran Murray-Jackson

Chair of Workstream Strengthening Culture, Communities and Families, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victora

Djaran is the Reserved Seat Holder for Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. The Assembly is the democratically elected body of Traditional Owners who are currently negotiating the first Treaty in Australia with the Victorian Government.

Simon Newport

Simon Newport

CEO, Homes Victoria

Appointed CEO of Homes Victoria in July 2023, Simon Newport leads the agency responsible for delivering new housing through the Big Housing Build and providing stewardship of Victoria’s social housing and homelessness system.

Prof. Michelle Norris

Professor Michelle Norris

Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin

Michelle Norris is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy at University College Dublin. Her teaching and research interests focus on housing policy and urban regeneration.

Clare O'neil Mp

The Hon Clare O’Neil

Federal Minister for Housing

Clare grew up in Melbourne’s south-east. After she finished school, Clare studied Law at Monash University in Clayton. While she was at university, Clare was elected to the City of Greater Dandenong Council and a year later she became mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong.

Mathew Aitchison

Mathew Aitchison

CEO, Building 4.0 Collaborative Research Centre

Professor Mathew Aitchison is Chief Executive Officer of Building 4.0 Collaborative Research Centre and a Professor of Architecture at Monash University.

Dr Philip Alviano

Dr Philip Alviano

Senior Advisor, Future Built Environment, Master Builders Victoria

Philip has been the Sustainable Building Advisor at Master Builders Victoria for the past 20 years and has worked on building and construction related projects and research for the last 24 years.

Damein Bell

Damein Bell

CEO, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria

Damein Bell is the CEO of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, leading the staff operations that drive the Treaty process—advancing self-determination and justice for First Nations people.

Jennifer Beveridge

Jennifer Beveridge

CEO, Tenants Victoria

Jennifer has been CEO of Tenants Victoria since June 2019, with over 25 years of experience in housing, health, youth, and community development. Driven by social justice values, she combines operational skills with public policy expertise and stakeholder engagement.

Josh Danahay

Josh Danahay

Climateworks Centre

Joshua works in Climateworks’ Cities team to decarbonise Australia’s buildings through the Renovation Pathways program. Joshua previously worked in Climateworks’ Sustainable Economies team, focused on renewable energy industrial precincts.

Tania Davidge

Tanya Davidge

Open House Melbourne

Tania Davidge is the Executive Director at Open House Melbourne. As an architect and advocate for good design, she is passionate about communicating the import role of good design to public audiences in ways that encourage people to think more deeply about the issues that shape our cities.

Patrick Fensham

Patrick Fensham

Principal & Partner / National Lead Urban Policy & Governance, SGC Economics & Planning

Pat is a highly experienced urban planner and is Principal and Partner and National Leader for Urban Policy and Governance at SGS Economics and Planning. Pat is currently President of the Victorian Division of the Planning Institute of Australia.

David Fisher

David Fisher

CEO, Housing Choices Australia

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.

Nicola Foxworthy

Nicola Foxworthy

Founding Director, Imagine Housing

Nicola is co-founder of Middle Ground Housing, an incubator for a new model of cooperative housing that provides secure, sustainable cost-stabilised homes for Australians locked out of homeownership.

Stephen Glackin

Stephen Glackin

Senior research fellow, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University

Stephen is a senior research fellow in urban planning and urban geography at Swinburne University. His fields of expertise include strategic planning, planning law, community engagement and geo-spatial analysis.

Ian Goodhardt

Ian Goodhardt

Principal, Goodhardt Consulting

Ian Goodhardt is the Principal of Goodhardt Consulting, and has been delivering training to the community housing sector for over 15 years.  He delivers the Mental Health First Aid course, other mental health courses, conflict resolution, Trauma Informed Practice and his most popular course on Hoarding and Squalor.

Mubeen Hamza

Mubeen Hamza

Community Place Manager, Haven Home Safe

Mubeen is the Community Place Manager at Haven Home Safe, where they are dedicated to building strong, connected communities. Passionate about human connection and co-design, Mubeen leads initiatives to activate social and affordable housing spaces, ensuring residents feel a sense of belonging.

David Hayward

David Hayward

Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and the Social Economy at RMIT University and chair, Victorian Government’s Social Housing Regulation Review

David Hayward is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and the Social Economy at RMIT University. He is a former Dean of Business (2004-2009) and Dean of Social Science (2004-2016). He is a life member of the Victorian Council of Social Service.

Mark Heeney

Mark Heeney

Executive Director Housing Strategy, Mind Australia

Mark has a diverse skillset that has assisted him to lead high performing teams, drive innovation, influence significant business enhancements, and develop strong relationships across his career.

Fiona Herman

Fiona Herman

Beyond Housing

Stephen is a senior research fellow in urban planning and urban geography at Swinburne University. His fields of expertise include strategic planning, planning law, community engagement and geo-spatial analysis.

Radhika Ittiel

Radhika Ittiel

Business Leader Employment Services, Uniting Vic Tas

Radhika Ittiel is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, with extensive experience in the nonprofit, community services, and education sectors.

Duncan Maxwell

A/Prof Duncan Maxwell

Director, Building 4.0 CRC

A/Prof. Duncan Maxwell is an architect and the Director of the Future Building Initiative at Monash University, a research group dedicated to advancing industrialised building practices.

Cara Macdougall

Cara McDougall

CHIA NSW

Cara MacDougall worked in community development, homelessness and community housing for the first 2 decades of her career before working for TAFE NSW Community Services for 17 years.

Lisa May

Lisa May

State Operations Manager, Community Housing Ltd

With over 20 years in the property sector and 10 years in community housing, Lisa May is the Victorian State Operations Manager at Community Housing Ltd (CHL).

Oscar Mclennan

Oscar McLennan

CEO, Ys Housing

Oscar McLennan is the CEO of Ys Housing, dedicated to the design and delivery of high-quality, affordable housing in Victoria.

Lee Monik

Lee Monik

Chief Governance Officer, Community Housing Ltd

Lee Monik is an accomplished governance professional with extensive experience in corporate law, property development, project finance, financial services, and community housing.

Trivess Moore

Dr Trivess Moore

Associate Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University

Dr Trivess Moore is an Associate Professor in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University.

Bess Nolan Cook

Bess Nolan Cook

Chief Executive Officer , Tourism Northeast

Bess is the CEO of Tourism North East, the regional tourism board for Victoria’s High Country. Bess has a background in marketing, communications and major events, and is passionate about using creativity to solve complex business problems.

Justin Peysack

Justin Peysack

Registrar, Victoria

Justin Peysack is the Housing Registrar of Victoria, appointed in 2022 after an extensive career spanning public and private sectors. He has been instrumental in modernizing regulatory approaches through data-driven methodologies and technological innovation.

Cazz Redding

Cazz Redding

Strategic Planner, Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia

A strategic planner with 25 years’ experience, Cazz was a sessional member of Planning Panels Victoria for 15 years, a planning lecturer at RMIT for 20 years, and was made a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia in 2018.

Natalie Reiter

Natalie Reiter

Deputy Secretary, Strategy and Precincts, Department of Transport and Planning

Natalie is a dynamic and highly motivated Executive with a strategic mindset. Natalie is Deputy Secretary of Strategy and Precincts at the Department of Transport and Planning.

Charlie Souma

Charlie Souma

Group General Manager Affordable Housing Services, Evolve Housing

Charlie is a highly accomplished executive leader with over 20 years of experience in managing residential property portfolios in the private and not-for- profit sector.

Jim Spillane

Jim Spillane

Principal Policy Officer, Affordable Housing | Homes Melbourne

Jim is the City of Melbourne’s Principal Policy Officer for Affordable Housing. He has experience in private consulting, and with state and local governments.

Mikaela Stafrace

Mikaela Straface

Founder, WomenCan Australia

In addition to being admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia, Mikaela Stafrace is a Myer Innovation Fellow and an AMP Tomorrow Maker. She holds qualifications in Law, Commerce, Risk Management, an MBA and is a GAICD.

Liz Thomas

Liz Thomas

Managing Director, CEHL

Liz Thomas is an experienced Board Director and CEO, recognised and acknowledged as a dynamic leader with a trademark style that combines a strong sense of social justice and sound commercial acumen.

Meron Tierney

Meron Tierney

Project Lead, Beyond Housing

Meron is an accomplished architect and project manager with over 17 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. She brings a deep understanding of design and delivery processes to discussions on housing solutions.

Rob Tyson

 Rob Tyson

Economist, Polis Partners

Rob is an economist with over 20 years of experience advising governments, industry groups and providers on housing policy and investments.

Kate Vander Voort

Kate Vander Voort

Founder & CEO, Social Mediology | The AI Success Lab | Hot of the AI Grapple Podcast

Kate is a leading expert in AI education and business integration, with 15+ years in digital strategy.

Jacob Wallace

 Jacob Wallace

Manager, Sustainable Design Team, Homes Victoria

Jacob has spent the past 9 years working for Homes Victoria and precursor agencies, focused on improving the performance of new and existing social housing stock to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes.

Corrie Williams

Dr Corrie Williams

Master Builders Victoria

Corrie’s current role is as Executive Director, Collaboration & Innovation. Her team works in the fields of policy and advocacy, future built environment, outreach and future skills.