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 4 December I Member of Safety and Sustainability Committee from 4 December 2020 I Member of People and Culture Committee from 25 November 2022.
Appointment dates
SGCH – 05/10/2020
SGCH Sustainability – 05/10/2020
SGCH Portfolio – 05/10/2020
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 I Member of the Property Portfolio and Investment Committee from 27 August 2021 I Member of Audit and Risk Committee from 4 December 2020 I 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. Hehas 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 November 2022 I Member of the Audit and Risk Committee from 27 August 2021.
Appointment dates
SGCH – 28/11/2019
SGCH Sustainability – 28/11/2019
SGCH Portfolio – 28/11/2019
Barry Mann
Non-executive Director
BA Civil Engineering, Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment (FINSIA), AICD
Barry has over 30 years experience as a senior executive in the property industry. His experience includes over 20 years in listed Australian property companies (Lendlease and Stockland) including six years in international postings. He has local and state government experience including as the Chief Executive of the NSW Government urban renewal organisation. Barry brings extensive and diverse experience in urban renewal, property development, housing, major transactions, design and construction, infrastructure delivery, international business, joint venture management and government enterprises. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of NSWALC Housing Ltd, Non-Executive Director of Auckland Real Estate (AKL.ASX and AKL.NZX), an Independent Advisor to the Board of Ingham Property Group and the Independent Chair of the Building Regulation Advisory Panel for the Urban Development Institute of Australia, NSW.
Special responsibilities
Chair of Safety and Sustainability Committee from 25 November 2022 I Member of Property Portfolio and Investment Committee from 4 December 2020.
Appointment dates
SGCH – 27/11/2020
SGCH Sustainability – 27/11/2020
SGCH Portfolio – 27/11/2020
Rajiv Viswanathan
Non-executive Director
BA LLB
Rajiv has over 20 years experience across the public, private and community sectors, gained in diverse roles in New York, London and Sydney. Most recently he was the Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), a commercially focused statutory corporation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to own their own homes, start and grow businesses, and make investments. He previously worked in various roles with the Macquarie Group in New York and Sydney, in business development and risk management. Prior to this, he worked as a corporate lawyer in London and Sydney.Rajiv has extensive experience across a range of commercial transactions, including establishing new businesses, acquisitions, joint ventures, investment funds and capital raising, including in cross-border contexts. He is passionate about developing and applying commercial solutions to create social impact. He is also a non-executive Director of the First Nations Foundation, which works to create financial literacy in Indigenous communities.
Special responsibilities
Member of Safety & Sustainability Committee from 25 November 2022 I Member of Audit and Risk Committee from 27 August 2021
Appointment Dates
SGCH – 25/08/2021
SGCH Sustainability – 25/08/2021
SGCH Portfolio – 25/08/2021
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 November 2022 I Member of Safety & Sustainability Committee from 25 November 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 November 2022 I Member of Property Portfolio & Investment Committee from 25 November 2022
Appointment dates
SGCH – 25/11/2022
SGCH Portfolio – 25/11/2022
SGCH Sustainability – 25/11/2022
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 November 2022 I Member of People & Culture Committee from 25 November 2022
Appointment dates
SGCH – 25/11/2022
SGCH Portfolio – 25/11/2022
SGCH Sustainability – 25/11/2022