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SGCH Group Directors

The Directors of SGCH Group Boards are elected for service based on their expertise in finance, accounting, business, management and corporate governance.

Karen Orvad

Non-executive Director, Chair
GAICD, CAANZ, MBA(Exec), BComm (Accounting)

Karen is a former KPMG Partner with a speciality in Governance, Risk Management and Internal Audit. She brings over 25 years experience working with some of the worlds’ most recognised brands in governance, risk, internal audit, board advisory and strategic human resources. Karen has worked with corporate, government and NFP clients across sectors including Health and Human Services, Energy and Natural Resources, Transport, Retail and Financial Services. She has held senior executive internal audit and risk roles in both the financial services and aviation sectors.

Special responsibilities

  • Chair of the Board I Member of Audit and Risk Committee from 04/12/2020
  • Member of Safety and Sustainability Committee from 04/12/2020
  • Member of People and Culture Committee from 25/11/2022

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 05/10/2020
  • SGCH Sustainability – 05/10/2020
  • SGCH Portfolio – 05/10/2020
Corporate head shot of board member Karen Orvad
Corporate head shot of board member Anna Buduls

Anna Buduls AO

Non-executive Director, Vice Chair
BA, M.Comm

Anna is an experienced Non-Executive Director with business, not-for-profit and government policy experience. She has worked in investment banking and provided consulting services to private and government entities., For over two decades she has been on both Government and public company boards across a broad range of industries and sectors, including not-for-profit. She also has deep knowledge of and expertise in homelessness and with disadvantaged communities, garnered from both her government policy work and personal philanthropy. In 2003 Anna  received a Centenary Medal for her community contributions. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 for distinguished service to the business and finance sectors through her advisory roles, and as a supporter and advocate for policy development to reduce homelessness, as well as her contributions to the welfare and charity sectors.

Special responsibilities

  • Vice Chair of the Board
  • Member of the Property Portfolio and Investment Committee from 27/08/2021
  • Member of Audit and Risk Committee from 04/12/2020
  • Member of People and Culture Committee

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 28/11/2019
  • SGCH Sustainability – 28/11/2019
  • SGCH Portfolio – 28/11/2019

Simon Shakesheff

Non-executive Director
M. Comm

Simon has over 30 years of analysis, advisory and operational experience in finance and real estate. He spent 19 years as the head of listed real estate analysis at Macquarie Bank and JPMorgan, before becoming a corporate advisor to listed real estate groups at UBS and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.  He also has operational experience at Stockland Trust Group, where he was responsible for Strategy, Research and Stakeholder Relations, and a member of the Executive Committee. . Simon is now a professional director, serving on the boards of listed, private and NSW Government entities, with a focus on the real estate sector. He has had a longstanding interest in housing and is a member of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s research reference group.

Special responsibilities

  • Chair of the Property Portfolio and Investment Committee from 25/11/2022
  • Member of the Audit and Risk Committee from 27/08/2021

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 28/11/2019
  • SGCH Sustainability – 28/11/2019
  • SGCH Portfolio – 28/11/2019
Corporate head shot of board member Simon Shakesheff
Corporate head shot of board member Philip Fagan-Schmidt

Philip Fagan-Schmidt

Non-executive Director
M Policy and Admin, BA

Philip has had an illustrious career in social housing, having held the position of Executive Director of Housing SA for almost a decade with responsibility for 40,000 social housing properties. He offers insights from his leadership of a large organisation in Housing SA, overseeing 1,000 staff, a $10 billion asset base and an annual operational budget of $400 million.Philip is experienced in policy and strategy, natural and urban resources; and the disability, community services and aged care sectors. He has served on significant national and local Boards and Committees and has worked widely across Government agencies including the Premiers Department, Health, Community Services, and Housing.

He is nationally recognised as an industry leader and was awarded a Queens Birthday Public Service Medal for outstanding service in social housing policy and practice in 2015. Since leaving the South Australian public service in 2018, he has worked as a consultant and independent director and advisor.

Special responsibilities

  • Chair of People and Culture Committee from 25/11/2022
  • Member of Safety & Sustainability Committee from 25/11/2022

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 25/08/2021
  • SGCH Portfolio – 25/08/2021
  • SGCH Sustainability – 25/08/2021

Lianne Buck

Non-executive Director 
GAICD, B Comm (Accounting)

Lianne is an experienced leader, combining current board and governance experience with a successful career as a senior investment professional, with over 20 years in Australian and global markets, focusing on infrastructure and real estate investments. She has experience in investment management, strategy, corporate finance, business transformation and government and stakeholder management. Lianne commenced her executive career in Canada as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG before working in various roles for Macquarie Group, Westpac Banking Corporation, Hastings Funds Management and NSW Treasury Corporation where she was Head of Direct Investments and Infrastructure and a member of their Investment Committee. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Lianne is currently a Non-Executive Director of Argo Investment Limited, ISPT Property Group and AusNet Services Limited. Lianne also serves on the Investment Committee of the St Ignatius College Bursary Fund.

Special responsibilities

  • Chair of Audit and Risk Committee from 25/11/2022
  • Member of Property Portfolio & Investment Committee from 25/11/2022

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 25/11/2022
  • SGCH Portfolio – 25/11/2022
  • SGCH Sustainability – 25/11/2022
Headshot of board member Lianne Buck
Headshot of board member Alex O'Mara

Alex O’Mara

Non-executive Director 
BA/LLB, MALP, GAICD

Alex is an experienced senior executive and leader who has worked across a range of sectors, including sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), natural resource management, planning, property, industry, infrastructure, building, design, culture and public space. Alex began her career in the private sector as a lawyer at King and Wood Mallesons and is an experienced public servant. Alex is now the Principal of Sustainable Solutions Advisory which focuses on sustainability, ESG and place-based approaches across the built environment, energy and infrastructure sectors and provides advice on strategy, social licence, stakeholder engagement, leadership development and governance. 

Prior to this, Alex was the Group Deputy Secretary, Place Design and Public Space in the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment with responsibility for land use planning, infrastructure contributions, design, green infrastructure and public space. Alex led a portfolio of high-profile policy development initiatives and state-wide delivery programs to deliver improved place outcomes. Alex was previously the Deputy Secretary for Create NSW, overseeing over $2b in cultural infrastructure projects, and the Executive Director, Resources and Industry Policy in the NSW Government leading significant climate transition and adaptation policy and regulation, including the Coastal Management Act, social impact guidelines and a framework for wind energy.

Alex is a GAICD and has been a member of a number of Boards and Committees including the Australian Building Codes Board, Resilient Sydney and Placemaking NSW. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts / Law (Hons 1) and a Master of Administrative Law and Policy from the University of Sydney. Alex is passionate about values-led and inclusive leadership.

Special responsibilities

  • Member of Safety & Sustainability Committee from 25/11/2022
  • Member of People & Culture Committee from 25/11/2022

Appointment dates

  • SGCH – 25/11/2022
  • SGCH Portfolio – 25/11/2022
  • SGCH Sustainability – 25/11/2022

Christian Grahame

Non-executive Director
BBus (Prop), MAppFin, MBA, GAICD

Christian has over 25 years of experience in the property industry and has held executive roles in listed and unlisted property organisations in Australia and the UK, specialising in residential and mixed-use development and operational assets and has been involved in numerous housing developments across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Perth and London. His previous board and committee roles include former Victorian President of Property Council of Australia, member of the Build to Rent Advisory Group Member of Victorian Treasury, member of the Ministers Advisory Committee of Fisherman’s Bend and member of the Property Advisory Board of Melbourne University. Christian is current Chair of the National Build to Rent Roundtable for Property Council of Australia and is Head of HOME, an unlisted Australian Build to Rent fund

Tim Beresford

Independent Non-Executive Director
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Economics (Hons)

Tim has over 30 years of significant leadership experience across government, higher education, not-for profit, financial services, and professional services sectors. His areas of expertise include strategy, governance, public policy, service delivery and organisational leadership.

Tim is the Chief Executive of the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). Prior to AFSA, Tim worked in a diverse range of Commonwealth Government roles spanning policy, grant administration and service delivery. Notably, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), and First Assistant Secretary Social Policy Division in Prime Minister and Cabinet,

Tim is the immediate past Chair of The Benevolent Society and has over 20 years working as a Non-executive Director in social enterprises.

Special responsibilities

  • Member of Property Portfolio and Investment Committee from 02/01/2025

  • Member of People and Culture Committee from 02/01/2025