Meet the Directors

• Vicki Allen
• John Kell
• John Dunn
• Shirley Liew
• Gary Milligan
• Dick Persson
• Gary Spreckley
• Helen Wood

Vicki Allen, B Bus, MBA, DFP.

Director since 2007
Skill Area: Human Resources

Vicki is the Chief Operating Officer at Trust Company Limited. She is currently Chair of Trust Company Superannuation Services Limited and director of a number of other unlisted group companies.

Prior to joining Trust, Vicki worked at Lend Lease Corporation and National Australia Bank in a number of senior roles.

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John Kell, BA LLB MEnvStud MAICD,

Director of BHL since 2009; of ESRHA from 2005 to 2009
Skill Area: Law

John is a partner at Hunt & Hunt specialising in corporate and commercial law. In that capacity, he acts for a broad range of private and public sector clients.

John has been involved in community organisations for many years. Prior to the BHL Board, he was a director and later Chairperson of Eastern Suburbs Rental Housing Association Limited (ESRHA). He was instrumental in the merger between ESRHA and Bridge.

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John Dunn, ACA, MAICD.

Director since 2005
Skill Area: Finance

John is a Chartered Accountant by profession, a member of the Institute of Company Directors and has held a number of senior executive roles including Managing Director of an ASX listed public company.

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Shirley Liew, BBus MBA Grad Dip Appl Finance,

Director since 2009
Chair of Finance and Risk Committee
Skill Area: Financial and Risk Management

Shirley has 18 years' experience in financial management, audit, governance, risk and corporate finance, advising in a number of sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, construction and not for profits, particularly in aged care.

Shirley is a director with Moore Stephens Sydney, as well as an independent director for a number of other unlisted and not for profit entities.

Shirley leads the Business Risks and Internal Audit services at Moore Stephens Sydney. She was also a partner at Grant Thornton prior to being an Associate Director with Ernst & Young for about 12 years.

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Gary Milligan, BSc BEng (Electrical) (Hons 1), Grad. Cert. Human Resource Development, MIVMA.

Director since 2007
Chair Asset and Procurement Committee
Skill Area: Asset Management

Gary is a professional engineer with over 35 years' experience in procurement and asset management of government buildings including schools, technical colleges, hospitals, courts, correctional centres, police stations, housing and other public buildings. He has contributed to all aspects of procurement and asset management processes, covering policy development, investigation, design and documentation, construction and maintenance management and project and policy review.

Previously, Gary has served as a Director of several housing service organisations: The Station, Resamen and Marrickville Area Community Housing. In 2007, he completed the AICD Company Directors course. Gary is member of the Institute of Value Management, Australia. He retired from the public sector in 2006.

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Dick Persson AM, BA, FAIM, FAPI.

Director since 2009
Skill Area: Housing policy, Planning and Local Government; Capital Works procurement, Management and Government Administration; Mediation

Dick is an experienced senior public servant having held Director General positions in Queensland and NSW, including Qld Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning, Qld Department of Health and the NSW Department of Public Works and Services.

Dick was Director of the National Housing Policy Review for the Federal Government, and more recently completed a six year term as Administrator of Warringah and Port Macquarie-Hastings Councils.

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Gary Spreckley, BCom (Legal) BAcc Post Grad Dip Taxation. Full accreditation in Australian Taxation and Corporations Law.

Director since 2009
Skill Area: Finance and Accounting

Gary Spreckley is a qualified chartered account with over 20 years in finance at a senior level. Currently the Chief Financial Officer of the General Pants Group, he has extensive work experience in both private and public companies in Australia and South Africa, with a particular focus in corporate finance and retail.

Gary has previously worked as a senior manager in corporate finance for Investec Bank in Australia and South Africa. Gary was instrumental in the merger of BHL and ESRHA.

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Helen Wood, BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRICS MAHI.

Director since 2002
Re-elected in 2005
Skill Area: Social housing from the perspective of a provider; Property Development
Member: Asset and Procurement Subcommittee

Helen is a chartered surveyor who has 25 years' experience as a property professional specialising in social, affordable and aged housing in the UK and NSW. She was CEO of a charitable Housing Association in Central London for 9 years working in a framework which used substantial private sector borrowings to acquire and develop housing. Helen has considerable experience in partnerships between the not for profit sector and the private sector.

Since coming to Australia in 1998 she has carried out housing and development consultancy and other advisory work. Most recently she has worked in the aged care sector developing aged care and seniors housing options. She is currently Manager - Development and Innovation for UnitingCare Ageing NSW/ACT.

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