Our skills-based board brings a wealth of industry and related professional expertise to Evolve Housing, providing sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, for a sustainable, impactful organisation.
Paul Howlett
Board Chair
Paul has an engineering and construction background with more than 45 years’ experience in executive management positions, advising governments and the private sector and not-for-profit organisations. Paul brings a wealth of experience to the Board, particularly in the areas of developing and advising on strategy, procurement and governance. Paul is also a Director of Centacare Evolve Housing in Tasmania.
Chris Eccles
Deputy Chair
Chris Eccles was Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Victoria from December 2014 till October 2020. As Secretary, Chris led the department and the Victorian Public Service in advising the Premier and the Government of Victoria. Chris was previously Director-General of the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet from 2011 to 2014, and Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet from 2009 to 2011. Chris also has previous experience in Victoria’s DPC, having held the positions of Deputy Secretary, Sector Improvement Group and later Deputy Secretary, National Reform and Climate Change Group from 2007 to 2009. Prior to joining Victoria’s DPC in 2007, Chris worked in a variety of government and private sector senior management positions. He has held leadership roles with the ACT Chief Minister’s Department and with the Australian National Training Authority. As an Associate Director with KPMG, Chris headed the national education consulting practice. He subsequently became a foundation Director of the consulting firm, Phillips KPA, which works across all education and training sectors.
In 2017, Chris was made an Officer of the Order of Australia ‘for distinguished service to public administration, to innovative policy development and sound governance, and to the delivery of reform in the areas of training, education and disability’. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University.
Dr Robert Lang
Robert brings to the Board a deep knowledge of and passion for Western Sydney, having previously held the roles of CEO of Parramatta City Council, CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and CEO of Pacific Power. He currently holds a number of Board positions in the private sector, not for profits and government authorities and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Sydney School of Business. His expertise includes urban planning & placemaking, transformational change, strategic repositioning, restructuring, corporate governance, strategy, finance, technology, risk management, operations and human resources. Robert also sits on the boards of Ability Options, Sydney Festival and Greater Sydney Parklands.
David Borger
David is the Executive Director of Business Western Sydney, a not-for-profit business group representing more than 110 of the region’s largest organisations in government, industry and community. It advocates for public and private sector investment that will make the region a better place to live, work, play and learn. David has also served as a NSW Government Minister for Roads, Housing, and Western Sydney. David currently serves on several boards including Placemaking NSW, NRMA, Evolve Housing, and the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.
Kay Veitch
Kay brings extensive experience in executive leadership at Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia Airlines and GWA Group Limited. She is a former Director of CARE Australia and former Chair of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW. Her current appointments include Director of ASPECT Studios, GNS Ltd and Local Land Services and an independent committee member at APA. Kay’s key areas of expertise are organisational transformation, change leadership, commercial distribution and revenue management.
Georgina Lynch
Georgina Lynch has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services and property industry with significant global experience in corporate transactions, capital raisings, initial public offerings (IPOs, funds management, corporate strategy, and acquisitions and divestments. Georgina has extensive executive and board experience – notably, she is the Chair of Cbus Property, which is one of Australia’s leading integrated property developers.
In addition, Georgina is an independent non-executive director, Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, and Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee of ASX-listed Waypoint REIT; and an independent non-executive director and Member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and Risk and Responsible Investment Committee of ASX-listed Tassal Group.
Tim Regan
Tim Regan is an experienced executive and non-executive director across listed, unlisted and not-for-profit companies, both growing and mature. He is the Chief Operating Officer of The George Institute for Global Health and has extensive experience in the health, property and services industries, including his role as former COO of ASX-listed Mirvac Group, CEO of TJS Services, Commercial Manager at Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Tim has a range of commercial and not-for-profit Board positions that allow him to utilise his property, audit, project management, leadership and government relations experience. He is currently a Vice-President & Treasurer of Australia China Business Council NSW, and Treasurer & Member of the State Management Committee of the Australia India Business Council NSW. Tim holds a Bachelor of Economics from University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants and Australian Property Institute. He looks forward to mentoring opportunities within Evolve Housing
Davina Rooney
A property professional with a passion for sustainability, suitability and energy for the built environment, Davina has led the Green Building Council of Australia since 2019. As a qualified engineer, Davina worked on large-scale construction projects in Sydney and London, and spent nearly a year building an award-winning school in the Himalayas. She devoted a decade to driving sustainability at one of Australia’s largest diversified property companies, Stockland, which culminated in Stockland’s recognition as the world’s most sustainable property company. Now leading a member organisation with 550-plus members with a combined value of $46 billion, Davina brings together practical knowledge, on-the-ground experience and a systematic approach to champion leadership in sustainable design and construction. Davina is also on the Board of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and has previously served on NSW & ACT Girl Guides. The property industry has recognised Davina’s leadership with multiple awards, including from the Property Council of Australia and the National Association of Women in Construction.
Tim Spencer
Tim is an experienced executive, leading the Mulpha Development team to deliver world-leading master planned communities. His property experience was founded in Tier 1 construction-development delivery and urban planning. Tim has worked in private and public enterprises delivering the full spectrum of property from residential, commercial, industrial, retail, infrastructure and retirement.
Our Group Executive Team (GET) are highly qualified professionals responsible for strategic development and leadership, operational plan execution, and the high level management of people and performance.
Lyall Gorman
Group Chief Executive Officer
Lyall is a highly successful and well-regarded business leader with more than 35 years’ experience in senior management, project management and administration. His career has spanned the public and private sectors.
He has also worked as the Group CEO of the Cronulla Sharks, CEO of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, the founding Executive Chairman and CEO of the Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners, the Head of the Hyundai A-League and was the former Executive Director of an ASX listed company specialising in corporate finance, corporate advisory and mergers and acquisitions.
He previously held a position at the Association of Independent Schools NSW, where he established education programs that were values-driven, sustainable and innovative and managed that organisation’s Commonwealth Government Capital Grants program.
Lyall also holds non-executive roles and serves as President of the NSW Business Chamber, Chairman of the Parramatta Parklands Trust, Board member to Greater Sydney Parklands and a Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was formerly a Director of Cricket NSW, and also served as Advisory Board Chairman of Western Sydney University’s Centre for Research.
Jitender Balani
General Manager, Strategic Asset Management and Business Growth
Jitender is a dynamic leader of social housing and human services in both an operational and strategic context with a proven track record in influencing and negotiating outcomes, building partnerships and delivering timely results. Jitender holds an Executive Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Building and tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering. He is able to effectively manage and inspire direction and purpose with a large, diverse group of internal and external stakeholders. He has over 30 years’ experience in a range of social housing management roles both in Australia and overseas. Prior to joining Evolve, Jitender was responsible for managing Wentworth Community Housing and Community Housing (FACS) asset portfolio and asset system, including portfolio supply, developments and quality assurance and major asset improvement initiatives.
Jo Lang
General Manager, Resident Services
Jo Lang brings over 30 years of social housing knowledge and experience as an Executive and Leader working in the NSW Government and Community Housing Sector.
She specialises in social policy, implementing large scale multiple projects and programs through building strategic partnerships and has a proven track record of leading high performing teams to operationalise strategic priorities.
Jo has worked with Evolve Housing for 5 years to achieve operational excellence and innovation to achieve positive social outcomes for our Evolve residents.
Jo Henderson-Brooks
General Manager, People and Culture
Jo is a commercially astute and energetic executive leader with over 20 years of experience in the design, implementation and management of people and culture services. Her broad experience includes talent management, organisation structure design, performance frameworks, recruitment and talent attraction, remuneration analysis, and capability and development. She is a subject matter expert in human capital change programs, driving values driven culture and optimal productivity of workforces. She is passionate about continuous improvement, wellbeing services and providing value back to our community. Jo possesses a Bachelor Arts degree, majoring in Psychology and Diploma in Project Management and is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and the Australian Institute of Management.
Brett Manwaring
Group Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Corporate Services
Brett brings more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive and board director across a variety of industries including professional services, finance, manufacturing, sports administration and the not-for-profit sector.
He is skilled in cash-flow and risk management and has a passion for assisting businesses develop and implement sustainable strategic plans that embrace people and culture, data and technology and diversification of revenue streams whilst ensuring strong risk management.
Brett is the current Vice President of the NSW Business Chamber, chair of their Audit and Risk Committee and Joint Trustee of the Illawarra First Fund.
Melissa Scardino
General Manager Governance and Legal, Group Company Secretary
Melissa is a highly capable executive leader with diverse sector experience and capabilities having worked in private practice, as an in-house Lawyer and in government.
Melissa’s wide experience spans across Housing, Real Estate, Property Development and Mergers and Acquisitions.
Leading a team to create and implement frameworks to improve both the processes and the engagement between CHP’s and industry partners, Melissa has a strong passion for community service, having worked at the Department of Communities and Justice, and Land and Housing Corporation for over 4 years.
Previously, Melissa was General Counsel and Company Secretary leading a team of 18 across a broad span of governance and legal responsibilities.
Charlie Souma
General Manager Affordable Housing Services
Charlie is a highly accomplished and motivated senior manager with over 20 years’ experience in managing residential property portfolios in the private and not-for- profit sector. Specialising in affordable housing, he has extensive experience in business development and growth as well as leading and mentoring high performing teams. Charlie holds a Diploma in Property, Certificate 4 in Project Management and Certificate 4 in Frontline Management. He also holds a real estate license in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.