Mirvac CEO and former Macquarie director to lead NHSAC

Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz will commence in the leadership role for the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) in 2023, with the interim council set to commence on 1 January.

The NHSAC forms part of the government’s budget promise to deliver a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund that will provide ongoing investment returns and deliver new social and affordable homes as well as investments to address acute housing needs.

Earlier this month, the government released for consultation draft legislation on two new bills to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, as well as an amendment bill to support the new legislation.

It has now established an interim NHSAC council, which is intended to operate “until the council is established permanently in legislation”.

Minister for Housing Julie Collins touted Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz as “widely recognised as one of the most accomplished leaders in Australia’s property sector in recent decades”.

Currently the CEO of Mirvac Group and a member of the steering committee for Property Champions of Change, Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz has previously served on the boards of the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia.

Between 2003–2006, Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz was also an executive director at Macquarie in London and held various roles for over 11 years at Lendlease.

Ms Collins said the appointment of Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz is “an important step in implementing the Albanese government’s ambitious housing agenda”.

“Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz’s experience in the sector will be invaluable as we continue working to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home,” Ms Collins said.

She is set to be joined on the interim council by Housing Choices Australia managing director and former Community Housing Industry Association chair Michael Lennon, who will take on the role of deputy chair.

Other board members assuming roles with the interim council include:

• Professor Rachel ViforJ – economist and member of the steering committee for the Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research
• Helen Waters Silvia – CEO of the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre
• Dr Marcus Spiller – urban economist, planner, and former member of the National Housing Supply Council
• David O’Loughlin – Urban Renewal Authority director, former president of the Australian Local Government Association

“We want to ensure our investments are underpinned by expert advice,” Ms Collins said.

“The council’s advice will be essential as we continue to deliver our ambitious housing agenda.”

Returns from the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund have been earmarked to deliver “the government’s commitment of 30,000 new social and affordable homes in the fund’s first five years, including 4,000 homes for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence or older women at risk of homelessness”.

The fund is also set to address several “acute” housing needs, such as the repair, maintenance and improvement of remote Indigenous community housing, crisis and transitional housing options for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence and those at risk of homelessness, and the building of housing and funding of specialist services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness.

[Related: Draft housing legislation released]