Board of Directors
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Chris Eccles AO
Chair | Non-Executive Director
Chris Eccles AO
Chair | Non-Executive Director
- Appointed Chair of Evolve Housing Group in November 2024
Chris joined the Evolve Housing Board in November 2023, following his involvement with the Evolve Housing Group since 2020, including as Deputy Chair of Evolve Housing Vic Limited (EHVL) and Member of the Transaction Review Committee.
Chris has worked in a variety of government and private sector senior management positions. Most recently, between 2009 and 2020 Chris headed up the Departments of Premier and Cabinet in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. 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.
Committee appointments:
- Finance, Risk & Audit Committee
- Governance, Nominations & People Committee
- Transaction Review Committee
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Dr Robert Lang
Non-Executive DIrector
Dr Robert Lang
Non-Executive DIrector
Robert brings deep knowledge and passion for Western Sydney. He is a previous CEO of Parramatta City Council, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Pacific Power. His expertise includes urban planning, placemaking, strategic repositioning, restructuring, corporate governance, finance, technology, risk management, and human resources. Robert is an Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University’s School of Business. He currently sits on the Boards of Ability Options and Sydney Festival, and is Chair of Defence Housing Australia.
Committee appointments:
- Finance, Risk & Audit Committee
- Transaction Review Committee
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Kay Veitch
Non-Executive Director
Kay Veitch
Non-Executive Director
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 Local Land Services and former Chair of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW. Her current appointments include Director of ASPECT Studios, GNS Ltd and an independent committee member at APA. Kay’s key areas of expertise are organisational transformation, change leadership, commercial distribution and revenue management.
Committee appointments:
- Governance, Nominations & People Committee (Chair)
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Tim Regan
Non-Executive Director
Tim Regan
Non-Executive Director
Tim Regan is an experienced executive and non-executive director with expertise in the health, property and services industries. Tim is currently an Executive Director at Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and sits on the Board of Menzies School of Health Research. Tim has previously worked in executive roles at Melanoma Institute Australia, the George Institute for Global Health, Mirvac Group, TJS Services, Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and PWC. Tim has held numerous Board positions at commercial and not-for-profit companies which have included Australia China Business Council NSW and the National Australia India Business Council.
Committee appointments:
- Finance, Risk & Audit Committee (Chair)
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Davina Rooney
Non-Executive Director
Davina Rooney
Non-Executive Director
A property professional with a passion for sustainability. A qualified engineer, Davina has worked on large-scale construction projects in Sydney and London and helped build an award-winning school in the Himalayas. Davina has received multiple industry awards, and her work at Stockland culminated in its recognition as the world’s most sustainable property company. Davina is currently on the Board of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and the World Green Building Council. She has led the Green Building Council of Australia as CEO since 2019 and holds an advisory role with the UNSW Advisory Committee Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation.
Committee appointments:
- Transaction Review Committee (Chair)
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Tim Spencer
Non-Executive Director
Tim Spencer
Non-Executive Director
Tim is an experienced executive, supporting and leading the Legacy Property team to deliver some of NSW’s leading property development projects. His property experience was founded in tier 1 construction and development delivery, extending into visionary urban planning. Tim has worked for both private and public enterprises delivering the full spectrum of property from residential, commercial, industrial, retail, infrastructure and retirement. Tim is currently on the Board of Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW.Committee appointments:
- Finance, Risk & Audit Committee
- Governance, Nomination and People Committee
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Dr Andy Marks
Non-Executive Director
Dr Andy Marks
Non-Executive Director
PhD and first-class honours in political science and literature, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Dr Andy Marks is experienced in leading major strategic initiatives with government, industry and the community, having previously held roles as Vice-President at Western Sydney University, Chair of Western Sydney Community Forum and appointee to the Prime Minister’s Western Sydney Transport Infrastructure Advisory Panel.
Andy is currently an Executive Director at the Australian Technology Network (ATN) of Universities and sits on the Boards of Wentworth Healthcare Limited, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and Infrastructure NSW. He is also a Trustee of the Royal Botanical Gardens and Domain Trust.
Committee appointments:
- Governance, Nominations & People Committee
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Kate Melrose
Non-Executive Director
Kate Melrose
Non-Executive Director
Kate Melrose is a strategic property executive and Non Executive Director with 30 years’ experience in ASX listed and private sectors, delivering growth, innovation, and community-focused housing solutions. She has held senior executive roles at Lendlease and Ingenia Communities, and serves as a Non Executive Director of Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX:CQE) and Charter Hall Retail Fund (ASX), chairs the UDIA NSW Land Lease Committee and holds a range of advisory roles across Tech, AI and property sector innovations.Â
Kate is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Business-Property Economics, a licensed agent and has continued education in governance, AI and machine learning, Harvard Affordable Housing and will complete the MIT AI for Leaders bringing global insights into sustainable and socially impactful housing solutions.
Committee appointments
- Transaction Review Committee
Executive team
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Lyall Gorman
Group Chief Executive Officer
Lyall Gorman
Group Chief Executive Officer
Lyall Gorman is the Group CEO of Evolve Housing, one of Australia’s largest community housing providers, supporting more than 11,800 residents across 5,400 properties. He brings over 35 years of senior executive experience across the business, government, sport, and not-for-profit sectors, with a focus on purpose-driven leadership and strategic transformation.
At Evolve Housing, Lyall is focused on delivering quality housing outcomes, strengthening stakeholder partnerships, and enhancing the organisation’s impact through innovation, financial sustainability, and a people-first culture. He is passionate about building resilient communities and scaling housing solutions that respond to Australia’s growing affordability challenges.
Prior to joining Evolve Housing, Lyall held leadership roles across diverse sectors, including as Executive Director of an ASX-listed merchant bank and corporate advisory firm. In government and advocacy, he serves as President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), and recently concluded a five-year term as President of Business NSW having served as a Director for 12 years.
Lyall holds a Master’s in Administration from the University of New South Wales and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His career is underpinned by a commitment to ethical leadership, collaboration, and driving social and economic outcomes at scale.
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Jitender Balani
Group General Manager Strategic Partnerships, Programs and Asset Management
Jitender Balani
Group General Manager Strategic Partnerships, Programs and Asset Management
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. He holds an Executive Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Building and tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering.
He is able to effectively manage, 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 Housing, Jitender was responsible for managing Wentworth Community Housing and Community Housing (FACS) asset portfolio and asset system, including portfolio supply, developments, quality assurance and major asset improvement initiatives.
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Jo Henderson-Brooks
Group General Manager People, Culture and Corporate Services
Jo Henderson-Brooks
Group General Manager People, Culture and Corporate Services
Jo is a commercially astute and energetic executive leader with over 27 years of experience in and managing corporate services functions including Human Resources, Information Technology and Project Management. Jo’s career has focused on leading workforce solutions, deploying process and system solutions, people strategy, talent management and development and organisational structure design.
She is a subject matter expert in human capital change programs, enabling values driven culture and optimal productivity of workforces. She is passionate about continuous improvement, wellbeing services and providing value back to our community.
Jo’s passion in fostering an inclusive and high performing organisation was recognised with the organisation achieving the 2024 WSABE Employer of Choice award and the 2023 UDIA Diversity and Inclusion award. Â
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.
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Jo Lang
Group General Manager Resident Services
Jo Lang
Group 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 since 2017 to achieve operational excellence and innovation to achieve positive social outcomes for our residents.
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Brett Manwaring
Group CFO & General Manager Corporate Finance
Brett Manwaring
Group CFO & General Manager Corporate Finance
Brett is an experienced Director and C-suite executive with a broad background across sectors including manufacturing, financial services, accounting, management consulting, government, sporting associations and not-for-profit organisations.
He brings deep expertise in financial risk, corporate finance, and strategic planning. He has a passion for helping organisations build sustainable business models that embrace people, culture, data, and technology — all underpinned by strong risk management.
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Melissa Scardino
Group General Manager Growth, Governance, Legal & CoSec
Melissa Scardino
Group General Manager Growth, Governance, Legal & CoSec
Melissa is an enthusiastic and experienced Executive, Board Director and admitted solicitor. As a leader with significant expertise in delivering on both the commercial and legal functions of a business, she is uniquely positioned to successfully lead both the Strategy, Growth & ESG functions and the Legal, Governance and Compliance functions of Evolve Housing. Melissa is the Group Company Secretary for the Evolve Housing Group.
Melissa has spent her career working in-house in development focused organisations such as Stockland and Challenger, in private practice as a lawyer, in agriculture and in housing departments throughout the NSW Government. Melissa’s wide experience spans housing, real estate, agriculture, property development and mergers and acquisitions. She is described as a people-focused leader, who prioritises the needs and well-being of her team, creating a positive and supportive work environment.
Melissa believes it is a fundamental human right to have a safe and clean home and has dedicated her career to ensuring that there is funding, frameworks and processes to enable housing growth, and support for Australia’s most vulnerable people.
Having a strong passion for community service, Melissa is a current Director of Gutherie House and previously Chaired the Board of the Aboriginal Women’s Children and Crisis Service.
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Charlie Souma
Group General Manager Affordable Housing Services
Charlie Souma
Group General Manager Affordable Housing Services
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. He has extensive experience in business development, driving growth, and leading and mentoring high performing teams.
Charlie led the establishment of Evolve Housing’s profit-for-purpose real estate agency, EchoRealty, which specialises in affordable housing. Under his leadership EchoRealty now operates in Victoria, New South Wales and ACT managing affordable housing portfolios on behalf of local councils, NGO’s, institutional investors, developers and general investors.
