Meet the Minister for Housing and the Homes Victoria board that's been appointed to oversee the rollout of the Big Housing Build.
The Hon. Harriet Shing
Minister for Housing
The Hon. Harriet Shing was appointed the Minister for Housing in October 2023. Harriet is also the Minister for Water and Equality.
Harriet was first elected to the Victorian parliament in 2014 and represents the electorate of Eastern Victoria.
Harriet was first elected to the Victorian parliament in 2014 and represents the electorate of Eastern Victoria.
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.
Homes Victoria advisory board members
Sarah Clarke
Chair
Sarah Clarke is a leader at the forefront of building responsible, sustainable, people-focused organisational capability. She brings a focus on environmental and social governance, culture, strategy, risk, and public affairs to help meet contemporary stakeholder expectations. She has led functions in the corporate, government, and charitable sectors, delivering outcomes which align purpose with profit.
Sarah is the current Group General Manager, Sustainability at Mirvac. She is the Deputy Chair of Cladding Safety Victoria and was previously the Deputy Chair of Sustainability Victoria.
She has led corporate communications and sustainability portfolios in property, public and government affairs in transport, community engagement in energy mega projects, held executive roles with the Australian Government, and senior advisory roles with the Victorian Government.
This is Sarah’s second term on the Board and first as the Chair.
Sarah is the current Group General Manager, Sustainability at Mirvac. She is the Deputy Chair of Cladding Safety Victoria and was previously the Deputy Chair of Sustainability Victoria.
She has led corporate communications and sustainability portfolios in property, public and government affairs in transport, community engagement in energy mega projects, held executive roles with the Australian Government, and senior advisory roles with the Victorian Government.
This is Sarah’s second term on the Board and first as the Chair.
Mark Gepp
Mark Gepp is a former member of the Legislative Council in the Victorian Parliament (2017 – 2022). Prior to that, he was Senior Adviser to the Minister for Emergency Services.
Mark brings a wealth of experience in government, policy, advocacy and senior leadership to this role. During his time as a member of the Victorian Parliament, his personal experiences and knowledge of public and social housing were recognised as bringing a level of expertise and understanding to this area of public policy.
Mark has also previously served on boards, including as a Trustee Director with the Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trusts (AGEST, now formally merged with Australian Super) and maintains a strong connection to the finance sector.
This is Mark’s first term on the Board.
Mark brings a wealth of experience in government, policy, advocacy and senior leadership to this role. During his time as a member of the Victorian Parliament, his personal experiences and knowledge of public and social housing were recognised as bringing a level of expertise and understanding to this area of public policy.
Mark has also previously served on boards, including as a Trustee Director with the Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trusts (AGEST, now formally merged with Australian Super) and maintains a strong connection to the finance sector.
This is Mark’s first term on the Board.
Tony Michele
Tony Michele has extensive experience delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, including delivery of major health infrastructure projects for the Victorian Government.
Tony is the current Chair of the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project and recently held the role of Executive Director, Delivery for the Victorian Health Building Authority.
He was also involved in the delivery of the Victorian Heart Hospital, Bendigo Hospital and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Tony holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
This is Tony’s first term on the Board.
Tony is the current Chair of the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project and recently held the role of Executive Director, Delivery for the Victorian Health Building Authority.
He was also involved in the delivery of the Victorian Heart Hospital, Bendigo Hospital and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Tony holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
This is Tony’s first term on the Board.
Jefa Greenaway
Jefa Greenaway is a nationally recognised Indigenous architect who brings a unique cultural perspective into design of social housing, communities and placemaking. He is a registered architect in private practice in both New South Wales and Victoria.
Over two decades he has 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. He 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.
This is Jefa’s second term on the Board.
Over two decades he has 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. He 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.
This is Jefa’s second term on the Board.
Tony Keenan
Tony Keenan has held many leadership positions in local government and the community sector and has served in a wide range of advisory roles for governments. Tony was the inaugural CEO of Launch Housing, following its creation from a merger between Hanover Welfare Services and HomeGround.
Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Hanover Welfare Services from 2006. Tony is a current non-executive Director of the Brotherhood of Saint Laurence. He has been President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, the Victorian AIDS Council, Chairperson and Director of the Australian Foyer Foundation and a Director of Victorian Council of Social Service.
Tony was awarded a Harkness Fellowship in Public Policy by the University of California – San Francisco. He is a graduate of Australia and New Zealand School of Government’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
This is Tony’s first term on the Board.
Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Hanover Welfare Services from 2006. Tony is a current non-executive Director of the Brotherhood of Saint Laurence. He has been President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, the Victorian AIDS Council, Chairperson and Director of the Australian Foyer Foundation and a Director of Victorian Council of Social Service.
Tony was awarded a Harkness Fellowship in Public Policy by the University of California – San Francisco. He is a graduate of Australia and New Zealand School of Government’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
This is Tony’s first term on the Board.
Lucy Roffey
Lucy Roffey is a Director on the Coliban Region Water Corporation 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 employment, 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. She 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).
This is Lucy’s second term on the Board.
Prior to local government employment, 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. She 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).
This is Lucy’s second term on the Board.
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.
This is Meredith’s second term on the Board.
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.
This is Meredith’s second term on the Board.
Ex-officio member
Paul Donegan
Paul Donegan was appointed as Deputy Secretary, Economic Division in December 2023. The Economic Division provides high-level economic and policy advice to the Government on productivity, taxation and regulation, along with social, environmental and economic development issues.
Before starting as Deputy Secretary, Paul was the Executive Director of DTF’s Economic Group, and prior to that, Director of Portfolio Analysis.
Paul has a strong background in addressing significant economic challenges, with leadership roles across State and Commonwealth public services.
This is Paul’s first term on the Board.
Before starting as Deputy Secretary, Paul was the Executive Director of DTF’s Economic Group, and prior to that, Director of Portfolio Analysis.
Paul has a strong background in addressing significant economic challenges, with leadership roles across State and Commonwealth public services.
This is Paul’s first term on the Board.