The Urban Communities team and board members have extensive and varied experience working in both public and private sectors.

Our Board members

Chairman: The Hon Michael Duffy

Mr Duffy is a solicitor who has held a number of senior positions within community organisations in Australia. These include positions as a Board member of Hanover Welfare Services and Chair of the Dandenong Youth Employment Project. Mr Duffy has also held senior positions within government including the position of Federal Attorney General (1990 – 1993), Minister for Trade Negotiations and Member of Cabinet (1987-1990), and Minister for Communications (1983 – 1987). In 1990 he became a Member of the Order of New Zealand for work on the Closer Economic Relations Agreement with New Zealand. He was appointed Chair of Urban Communities in 2008.
 

Mr Ian McHutchison

Mr McHutchison is the Chief Executive Officer of the Adult Multicultural Educational Services, (AMES). Before this he was the General Manager, Social Enterprise, at the Brotherhood of St Laurence. He is also a member of the advisory committee of the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership. Mr McHutchison has a legal background and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Company Secretaries.
 

Ms Kathy McLean

Ms McLean is a partner with executive search firm, Fish & Nankivell, where she runs a practice specialising in senior roles in values-based organisations including government, education, welfare, sport and charity. Ms McLean has qualifications in the arts and business and has particular expertise in working at the intersection of the public and private sectors.
 

Mr Brian Forrest

Mr Forrest, LL.B, is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board and a Director of Intralot Australia and Taranway Pty Ltd. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority. Mr Forrest has also served as the Deputy President of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Chairman of the Crimes Compensation Tribunal (Vic) and Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Vic). Mr Forrest was a lawyer in private practice for 25 years.

Mr Barry Shepherd

Mr Shepherd has been in the property industry for more than 40 years and ran his own property business prior to becoming a Director of Becton.  Recently retired from Becton, Mr Shepherd was responsible for marketing all Becton's residential projects in Australia together with retirement projects.  Barry was previously Chairman of the Melbourne City Council Inner City Residential Committee and was a member of the Department of Infrastructure's Industry Advisory Panel.  He regularly travels overseas to keep up with the latest in international medium density housing trends. 

Chief Executive Officer and board member: Mr George Housakos

Mr Housakos has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 10 years and has spent the past four years in the private sector working in public/private partnerships. He has 10 years of senior management experience in fields such as social enterprise and research and advocacy for the alleviation of poverty in highly disadvantaged communities, such as public housing estates. Mr Housakos also has experience in managing the performance and financial standards of State and Commonwealth government contracts.

Our staff members

Chief Executive Officer: George Housakos
Customer Service Officer: Nicky Chircop
Administration Officer: Branka Coshan
Senior Finance Manager: Jill Stevenson
Accountant: Guy Mills
Community Projects and Partnerships Officer: Deborah Wilson
Asset Manager: Ashley Lance
Housing Services Manager: Elaine Lopez
Tenancy Management Officer: Lisa Edwards
Manager Property & Project Services: Cindy Krizmanic
Executive Assistant: Pam Temby