Our board

The CEHL Board comprises of eleven members, with a composition of:

  • five Elected Directors elected by the CEHL Members at the AGM,
  • five Technical Directors appointed by the Board, and
  • the Managing Director appointed by the Board.

ELECTED DIRECTORS

Elected Directors are nominated and elected by CEHL members. They contribute their personal experiences of living in co-operative housing and offer valuable insights. Additionally, they bring leadership skills specific to co-operative housing, benefiting both current and future generations.

The CEHL Board Chairperson is always an Elected Director.

TECHNICAL DIRECTORS

Technical Directors are appointed by the Directors of the CEHL Board to provide specialised technical knowledge and expertise in areas such as law, accounting, social housing, real estate, and finance. They bring a depth of experience and insight to CEHL in its capacity as a registered housing provider and public benevolent institution.

BOARD COMMITTEES

The Board has established three Board Committees, including the

  • Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
  • People Culture & Governance Committee
  • Property Committee

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

CEHL holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year, at which the company’s annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30 is presented. Motions are considered during the AGM, and Elected Directors are elected to the CEHL Board.

Click on the Board Directors image to discover more about them.

Fiona Herman

Chair and Co-op Elected Director

Keith Bayliss

Technical Director

Fiona Bennett

Technical Director

Tony De Domenico OAM

Technical Director

Damian Dickson

Co-op Elected Director

Sylwia Greda-Bogusz OAM

Co-op Elected Director

Joseph Montero

Co-op Elected Director

Jean Nankin

Technical Director

Michael Pearce

Technical Director

Beth Rundle

Co-op Elected Director

Liz Thomas

Managing Director

What is co-op housing?

A housing co-operative is a community of people who work together to meet their housing needs.

Fiona Herman

Chair and co-op elected director

Fiona Herman holds a Bachelor of Health (Nursing) and a Master of Health and Human Services Management. With a background as a NFP Director, Fiona has been an integral CEHL co-operative member since 1999. She is also a valued member of Endeavour CERC. Fiona’s dedication led to her election to the CEHL Board in 2015. Subsequently, she was chosen to serve as the Chair of the CEHL Board in December 2022.

Keith Bayliss

Technical Director

Keith Bayliss qualifications include a Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors, Associate Australian Property Institute, Member Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Certified Practicing Strata Manager, and Associate Diploma in Valuations. With over 30 years of experience in the property industry, he assumed his role on the CEHL Board in December 2019. Keith’s leadership is evident as he chairs the Property Committee, contributing his insights to the organisation’s property-related matters.

Fiona Bennett

Technical Director

Fiona is a seasoned non-executive director and board chair known for her exceptional leadership in the corporate and for-purpose sectors. She is currently serving as the Chairman of the Victorian Legal Services Board, and her impressive career includes guiding the strategic direction of ASX-listed companies and for-purpose organisations and recognition through Fellowships with the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Tony De Domenico OAM

Technical Director

Tony De Domenico’s background includes serving as National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) Director. Previously, he has held positions such as Chair of AHURI and Deputy Chair of Development Victoria, alongside being the CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Vic). Recognised with an Order of Australia Medal in 2018, Tony’s appointment to the CEHL Board in February 2013 underscores his substantial contributions. Presently, he chairs the People, Compliance, and Governance Committee.

Damian Dickson

Co-op elected director

Damian Dickson’s background as a Welfare and Community Development worker has significantly shaped his involvement in the Social Housing sector. His leadership extends to his role as the Chair of Sun CERC and his past membership with Earth CERC. Damian’s contributions include serving on the planning committee for the Murundaka housing development. Elected to the CEHL Board in November 2022, he now serves on the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee.

Sylwia Greda-Bogusz OAM

Co-op Elected Director

Sylwia Greda Bogusz OAM, a CEHL co-operative member since 2013, holds a Doctorate of Education in Sociology and a Masters of Educational Studies in Behavioral Psychology. Her affiliations include roles on the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, the Department of Human Services VIC Multicultural Advisory Committee, and the Australian Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.

Joseph Montero

Co-op Elected Director

Joe’s program membership spans over 30 years, across two co-operatives in which he has actively served in a range of roles and director positions. Joe also served on the former Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) for eight years and contributed to the  Co-operative Board Advisory Committee (CBAC), providing a valuable opportunity to share his extensive program knowledge and commitment to co-operative principles. 

Jean Nankin

Technical Director

Jean Nankin’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma in Urban & Regional Planning from RMIT, and a Graduate Diploma in Property from RMIT. With over 25 years of experience acquiring and developing properties across various sectors, including Retail, Social Housing, and State Government, Jean was appointed to the CEHL Board in March 2021. She now actively contributes as a member of the Property Committee.

Michael Pearce

Technical Director

Michael Pearce, a Barrister and Senior Counsel, brings a distinctive perspective to the CEHL Board. His involvement extends to being a non-executive director of other companies, including a solar energy start-up. Michael’s commitment to social justice aligns seamlessly with his professional background. Appointed to the CEHL Board in March 2023, he lends his expertise to the Property Committee.

Beth Rundle

Co-op Elected Director

Beth has been a member of CEHL Co-operative Housing since 2008 and has held various roles on the Satellite CERC Board. Beth also participated in the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) for over two years and went on to be a founding member of the Co-operative Board Advisory Committee (CBAC).

Liz Thomas

Managing Director

Liz commenced as Managing Director in November 2021. She has more than 20 years Board Director and Managing Director experience in a range of companies including her own consulting practice. Liz led the transformation of Wayss housing and family violence services in Victoria. She led the development Common Ground social housing project in Tasmania and Australia’s first residential dementia village.

Liz specialises in managing change, stakeholders and bringing people together. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Sociology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).