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Meet the Team

Argyle Housing is governed by a Board of Directors who bring a diverse set of skills, experience and knowledge to guide the strategic direction of Argyle Housing, while our Chief Executive Officer and Leadership Team lead an organisation of dedicated individuals to implement this strategy.

Board of Directors   

Donna

Donna Anthes – Chair, Board of Directors

Qualifications – Bachelor of Arts (Communications) (University of Newcastle);  Master of Business Administration (Melbourne Business School); Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

Special Responsibilities – Ex-offico Member, Assets, Acquisitions & New Business Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and Nomination, Remuneration & Governance Committee.

Experience
Donna is an experienced Company Secretary and Non-Executive Director with proven governance & risk management expertise. She has significant board level experience and leverages her strong record of accomplishment in leading change and resolving complex business issues. Donna’s rich experience, ranging from start-up businesses to large-scale organisations, enables her to engage effectively and credibly with a broad range of stakeholders and provide sound business leadership in changing environments. Donna has executive experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors including Qantas, Macquarie Bank and the University of Newcastle, where she has been responsible for achieving operational efficiencies; implementing significant change programs; establishing corporate service functions and governance frameworks. A record of accomplishment of business development accompanies Donna’s strong leadership.

Donna was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 January 2016.

 

Susan

Susan Bailey

Qualifications – BA/LL.M, MPAdmin, GradDipPM, MAICD.

Special Responsibilities – Chair, Nominations, Remuneration & Governance Committee.

Experience
Susan is a non-executive director in the not-for-profit sector and previously in the public sector. She has over 30 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer in the private and public sectors including insurance and electricity. Susan has executive experience as General Counsel of Ausgrid and General Counsel and Company Secretary of Royal & Sun Alliance Australia.

Susan was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 January 2016.

 

Chris

Chris Martin

Qualifications – Master of Commerce (Valuation), with Distinction; Graduate Diploma in Property Investment; Advanced Certificate in Real Estate; Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special Responsibilities – Member, Assets, Acquisition & New Business Committee and Member, Audit & Risk Committee.

Experience

Christopher has 37 years of broad-ranging experience in the property industry, covering property funds management (both listed and unlisted); property and asset management; property investment (including acquisition and divestment); property development; project management; financing and financial management; marketing; sustainability; and corporate governance and compliance. He has experience both on-shore (Australia) and offshore (as Regional Head of Asset Management for Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore, with LaSalle Investment Management).

During his career, Christopher also has held senior roles with GPT Group, Lendlease, BT Funds Management / Principal Financial Group, Colliers International, Jones Lang Wootton (now JLL) and, early in his career, in the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments. Christopher is a non-executive director of Harbison Memorial Retirement Village and is Chair of Harbison’s Built Environment & Development Committee and a member of the Finance & Audit Committee. Immediately prior to his retirement from his executive career in 2020, Chris was managing director of Pindari Capital, a funds management company wholly owned by Mulpha Australia.

Chris was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 January 2018.

 

Yvette

Yvette Pietsch

Qualifications – BBus (Accounting); Master Tax Law; Fellow Chartered Accountant; Certified Tax Advisor; MAICD.

Special Responsibilities – Chair, Audit & Risk Committee and Member, Remuneration & Governance Committee.

Experience
Yvette has over 25 years’ experience in public practice as a Chartered Accountant, working with private groups and not-for profit organisations.

Yvette is currently an independent member of the Governance, Audit & Risk Committee for Shellharbour City Council, and was previously a Trustee and Deputy Chair of Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust and a member of NSW Council for Women’s Economic Opportunity. Yvette has extensive experience in financial and risk management, corporate governance, business operations and commercial management.

Yvette was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 January 2018.

 

Tracey

Tracey Wadsworth

Qualifications – Associate Diploma in Business (Valuation); Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special Responsibilities – Chair, Assets, Acquisitions & New Business Committee; Member Nominations, Remuneration & Governance Committee.

Experience
Tracey has over 25 years in the property and finance sectors in strategic property and financial advisory, development and project management as well as asset and property management.  Tracey has held senior executive positions in both the public and private sector nationally and internationally this has included Landcom, Royal Bank of Scotland, CRI and Tamaki Regeneration Company.

Throughout this time, Tracey has been involved in a number of large scale social and urban renewal projects including most recently the Tamaki Regeneration Programme in Auckland, New Zealand.  This is the largest social regeneration project in New Zealand seeking improve the social and economic well-being of a key area of Auckland.

Tracey’s property and commercial background is coupled with a strong understanding of the social and community housing sector.

Tracey was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 May 2019.

 

Julian

Julian Sawicki

Qualifications – Bachelor of Economics; Chartered Accountant; Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special Responsibilities – Member, Audit & Risk Committee.

Experience
Julian Sawicki has a 25-year career in executive management and membership of boards. This experience covers financial management, strategic planning, risk management, human resources and culture, quality, and compliance with a strong understanding of board governance principles arising from the completion of the Company Directors course via the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Julian’s passion for community services is reflected in his senior and Chief Executive roles with values-based organisations providing a wide range of community and personal support services throughout South Australia. His experience in community housing policy and practice arises from significant involvement with community housing companies such as Westside Housing and Unity Housing. This practical experience coupled with knowledge of government policy adds to his board experience in the superannuation, community services, community housing, and disability services sectors.

Julian believes that access to safe, secure, and affordable housing is essential for a fair community if its members are to participate fully in the life of their community.

Julian was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 May 2019.

 

Robert Mulcahy

Qualifications – B.Bus (Acct/Fin) (UTS); Master of Business Administration (AGSM); Fellow CPA Australia; Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special Responsibilities – Member, Nominations, Remuneration and Governance.

Experience
Robert has over 30 years of senior executive experience in financial services and for purposes sectors nationally and internationally. Initial responsibilities were focused on financial matters and has transitioned towards general management including strategic planning, operational excellence, business development and risk identification and mitigation. Appointments over this period include significant roles at Westpac, Toyota Finance and Uniting.

Robert has been directly responsible for innovative social and financial transactions including the NEWPIN Social Impact Bond and the Foyer Central Youth Accommodation initiative. Robert’s financial services background is complemented by a strong understanding of the social and community housing sector, in particular with regional locations, especially in First Australian communities.

Prior Board appointments have been undertaken in financial services, community housing, disability accommodation, family support and youth services.

Robert was appointed to the Argyle Housing Board on 1 January 2021.

 

PATRON

Trevor Fair

Qualifications – B Bus (Accounting/HRM), CPA

The Board of Argyle Housing is proud to announce the appointment of Trevor Fair as Argyle Housing’s second Patron following the passing of our first Patron, Chris Benton.

“I am honoured to follow Chris Benton, a fellow Rotarian, who was passionate about Community Housing and Argyle Housing in particular. When offered the position of Patron, I felt it both an honour and duty to make sure that the efforts invested by Chris in Argyle Housing are remembered and built on into the future.”

Trevor is a well-known face at Argyle Housing having served on the board for nine years and 11 months before retiring in 2018. Trevor held the position as Chair of the Remuneration Committee on retirement and was responsible for providing the Financial Report to stakeholders at the annual meeting. A quiet achiever, Trevor helped to guide Argyle Housing through a significant period of growth in which Argyle Housing’s portfolio increased from approximately 500 properties to over 2,000 properties. As a member and past president of the Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club, Trevor is committed to helping bring about positive change in the community and lending a helping hand when required.

“I will continue to provide support and encouragement to the Board and hope to remain an integral part of the Argyle Housing story for many years to come.” Trevor Fair.

PAST PATRON

Chris Benton

Qualifications – JP, MAICD

Appointed the first Patron of Argyle Housing in recognition of his significant commitment and contribution over the past 14 years. Chris Benton was a business owner and manager in Bowral who had worked in the banking and finance sector for over 33 years. Past Director and Chairman of the Argyle Housing Board, Chris contributed significantly to the growth of Argyle Housing and to its current status as a Tier 1 Community Housing Provider. Together with his dedication to Argyle Housing, Chris was a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was also a past president of the Rotary Club Bowral/Mittagong, a volunteer firefighter, and foundation treasurer of the Southern Highlands Renal Appeal. Chris was a part of the Argyle Housing Board from 2001 and acted as Chairman of the Board for many years until January 2014 and most recently as Director until February 2015. Sadly, Chris passed away in early February 2017.

 

Argyle Housing Management Team

Carolyn Doherty, CEO

Carolyn has a background in Child Protection and Community Housing, having spent eight years as the CEO of a large housing company in Queensland, prior to returning to NSW. Carolyn is very passionate about housing knowing that it is the foundation of people’s lives. Without long term stable housing, people can face overwhelming barriers to health, education, employment and most of all personal safety.

 

Andrew Allan, General Manager Finance

Andrew has over 30 years of experience in financial accounting leading teams based in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. In that time he has successfully worked in senior statutory and management accounting roles and has been a project manager in acquisition and integration and business operational roles. He now enjoys the opportunity to work in an organisation with strategic objectives that are targeted to support social and affordable housing across regional NSW.

 

Alison Sheer,  General Manager, People and Culture

Alison has almost 20 years of experience as a generalist human resources professional, working in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Alison’s primary focus has been delivering complex and strategic people and client-focused initiatives, including developing, managing and embedding organisational transformations. Further roles and responsibilities include developing recruitment, selection and retention strategies, workforce planning, building and embedding a learning and development culture, implementing reward and recognition initiatives and managing employee relations. Alison holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resources and Accounting and is currently studying a Masters of Business Administration.

 

Milan Ostojic, General Manager Operations

Milan has over 18 years of experience in the community housing and real estate sectors, including over 15 years in senior leadership positions. Skilled in Non-profit Organisations, Budgeting, Government, Social Housing, and Team Building. Strong professional graduate in Project Management. Experience in managing integrated teams comprising frontline business operations, tenancy management, support coordination and place-making in SGCH’s operation. Possessing expertise in the areas of project and contract management, Assets and compliance, strategic partnership management, consortium building, and community engagement and participation to deliver exceptional customer service, strong operational and compliance results, and outcomes contributing to customer wellbeing.

 

 

 

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