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17 November 2026
National Arboretum Canberra
Our 2026 National Awards
Judging Panel
The Australian Community Housinh National Awards are judged by an independent panel of respected leaders from across the community housing, propetry, governement and professional services sector.
Their expertise ensures a transparent, fair and rigorous assessment process, recognising excellence, innovation and leadership across Australia's community housing sector.
National Awards Moderator
Dr Fiona McKenzie
Founder and Executive Director
Orange Compass
Fiona has spent her career designing and supporting systems change initiatives and founded Orange Compass in 2018 to support change makers - internationally and at home - transform systems and build better futures. Her work crosses a wide range of issues from natural resource management, agriculture, housing and health through to early childhood, regional development, national security and the energy transition. Fiona’s practice is informed by her qualifications as a human geographer, with a PhD on farmer-driven innovation and expertise in both public policy and academic research. She also has a rich tapestry of 20 years’ experience across academia, business, government and non-government sectors including supporting numerous United Nations collaborations and advising organisations for impact in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Fiona is a Contributing Editor to ‘The Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change’ and a highly regarded facilitator, writer, and thought partner. She is renowned for her ability to guide others to uncover, explore, analyse and make sense of complex issues.
National Awards Judges
Alison Scotland
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC)
Alison Scotland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), a national forum of peak bodies in the Australian built environment, focused on achieving sustainable, productive, and resilient buildings, infrastructure, communities, and cities. She drives a powerful collaboration agenda with industry, government and not-for-profit leaders to develop national policy and technical solutions that enhance the built environment.
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Ben Rimmer
Ben Rimmer, Director General of Housing, Treasury
Ben Rimmer became the first Commonwealth Director-General of Housing, based in the Department of the Treasury, in September 2025. Prior to this, he was Deputy Secretary of the Higher Education, Research and International Group in the Department of Education. Ben is a committed and passionate public servant focused on building strong, capable, diverse and inclusive teams that deliver excellent outcomes for Ministers, the government and the Australian community. He has held a range of senior roles across the Australian Government and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford, Arts and Law degrees from the University of Melbourne, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Craig Ashford
Senior Director & Head of Client Relationships
JLL
Craig Ashford is a Senior Director of JLL and is the Head of Client Relationship Management for JLL’s Australian Valuation & Risk Advisory department. Craig is a registered Valuer and has over 20 years’ experience in providing real estate advice and is responsible for creating and maintaining long-term and strategic relationships with JLL customers to ensure the required and necessary services are delivered upon. He is JLL’s primary national contact for all things community housing. He has a passion for this sector and works closely with clients to minimise unnecessary costs; being cognisant of the importance of every dollar in the CHP’s hand. Craig has a very broad understanding of property and what drives value, he is a creative problem solver and enjoys nothing more than being part of JLL’s client’s solutions to their property needs.
Denita Wawn
Chief Executive Officer
Master Builders Australia
Denita was appointed as Chief Executive of Master Builders Australia in March 2017. She has over 35 years’ experience as a leading advocate for industry and employers in the nation’s capital, around Australia and internationally. Denita is the Deputy Chair and Employer Director of Cbus Super Fund, a Board Member of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), a Board Member of Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation (Brick and Block Careers), and a Board Member on the National Australia Day Council. Denita was born and educated in Hobart, Tasmania. She has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Tasmania.
Josh Burns MP
Member for Macnamara
Special Envoy for Social Housing
and Homelessness
Josh Burns is Labor's Federal Member for Macnamara and the Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness. These positions reflect his commitment to tackling the homelessness crisis, promoting human rights and the principle that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and a safe place to call home. In 2021, he authored a policy paper titled “The Crumbling Australian Dream: An Examination of Australia’s Housing Sector” advocating for federal leadership to prioritise social and affordable housing. Before entering Parliament in 2019, he worked as a teacher’s aide, a factory hand and an advisor in state and federal governments, including to the Premier of Victoria
Mike Zorbas
Chief Executive
Property Council of Australia
Mike is the Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia and a Property Champion of Change, committed to an inclusive industry. The Property Council represents Australia’s leading owners and shapers of the most productive parts of our cities across every property asset class. Property Council members are the stewards of every kind of commercial, industrial, educational, health, retail, retirement, student accommodation, build to rent and residential precinct. Our industry employs 1.5 million people. Previously Mike held executive roles at Lendlease and Stockland and was Deputy Head of Media for the Liberal Democrats in the UK. He is currently on the Boards of ASBEC, the Sydney Institute and the Green Building Council of Australia. He is a former Deputy Chair of the Committee for Sydney and served two terms on the SBS Community Advisory Committee.
Simon Welsh
Director Research and Reputation
RedBridge Australia
With more than 25 years’ experience in social and political research, Simon brings a sophisticated understanding of how people think, behave, and respond to change. Simon has worked extensively in the housing space, including with Australian Community Housing, CHIA Victoria, and the Council to Homeless Persons, to understand public sentiment and expectations in the space and help organisations navigate the politics of housing.
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Aleem Ali
CEO
Welcoming Australia
Aleem has spent more than two decades seeding and mentoring leading initiatives and social enterprises that advance inclusion, belonging and justice for diverse communities. He is Deputy Chair of Oxfam Australia and a mentor and advisor to startups, community enterprises and government agencies. As CEO of Welcoming Australia, Aleem works with leaders and organisations across the country to cultivate a culture of welcome and advance communities where everyone belongs, thrives and shapes our shared future.
Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz
Chair, National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Non-Executive Director, Macquarie Group & Rio Tinto
Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz is Chair of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, a non-executive director of Rio Tinto Limited, a non-executive director of Macquarie Group, a member of the Sydney Opera House Trust, a Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate and Chair of the Senate Building and Estates Committee, a member of the INSEAD Global Board and Chair of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work Advisory Board. Susan was Chief Executive Officer of Mirvac and a Director of the Mirvac Board from 2012 to 2023 and President of Chief Executive Women from November 2022 to June 2025. Prior to this, Susan was Managing Director at LaSalle Investment Management in London. Susan has also held senior executive positions at MGPA, Macquarie Group and Lend Lease Corporation, working in Australia, the US and Europe. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney and an MBA (Distinction) from INSEAD (France). Susan was Chief Executive Officer of Mirvac and a Director of the Mirvac Board from 2012 to 2023 and President of Chief Executive Women from November 2022 to June 2025. Prior to this, Susan was Managing Director at LaSalle Investment Management in London. Susan has also held senior executive positions at MGPA, Macquarie Group and Lend Lease Corporation, working in Australia, the US and Europe. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney and an MBA (Distinction) from INSEAD (France).
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