Welcoming our newest Board members

Posted Wed 29th Nov 2023 | katie.evans@ohm.org.au

We thank our volunteer Board for their efforts in a busy year. Please join us in acknowledging outgoing Board members—Mark Davis, Naomi Stead, Patrick Rundle and Emma Telfer. As well, we acknowledge and thank Stuart Harrison as the President of our Board and look forward to him continuing as a general member. Welcome to our new Board President Sam Redston, along with new members Caryn Kakas and Gemma Pinnell.

Sam Redston

Sam Redston has been producing events and creative projects at all scales for thirty years, driven by a passion to work with great people to realise creative vision. Across his portfolio of projects there is an emphasis upon advocacy for architecture, design and the arts to improve our quality of life and enriching our understanding of each other and the world around us.

Sam has worked closely with the Naomi Milgrom Foundation since 2014, leading the team 2017–2023 and now continuing to collaborate as producer of the Living Cities Forum since 2017. The Foundation is also known for the annual MPavilion architectural commission and summer design festival – nine internationally acclaimed pavilions, which to date has collectively hosted over 3000 events in collaboration with nearly 4000 creative practitioners.

Sam has delivered many other projects, with highlights including White Night Melbourne & Ballarat (2017), the Melbourne Fashion Festival, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony – New Delhi Handover (2006) and Keating! the Musical (2005).

 

Caryn Kakas

Caryn Kakas is the Head of Housing and Strategy at ANZ where she leads the bank’s commitment to improving the availability of suitable and affordable housing options for all Australians and New Zealanders. Caryn was previously Executive Director, Housing at the Department of Family and Community Services (NSW).

Caryn has over 20 years of experience in the residential housing sector working across private, not for profit and government.

She is actively engaged in supporting housing outcomes in Victoria including being  a member of the Melbourne City Council’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and also the Victorian Government’s Housing Growth Advisory Group.

 

Gemma Pinnell

Gemma Pinnell is a principal at Right Lane Consulting and leads the firms work in affordable housing. She has worked in senior positions in superannuation and the labour movement for over two decades, and works closely with the affordable housing sector and across a range of strategy and stakeholder projects. Gemma is a practical problem solver and an expert at collaboration.

Prior to joining Right Lane, Gemma was Director, Strategic Engagement at Industry Super Australia – the peak body for the profit to member superannuation funds.  Gemma has built her successful career as a skilled leader bringing diverse stakeholders together, solving complex problems and leading and driving outcomes.

Gemma was also previously a trustee director of AustralianSuper, a director of the progressive think tank ‘Per Capita’  and a member of the senior team at the Australian Council of Trade Unions. She is a skilled facilitator and enjoys working with boards and teams across a variety of sectors, with her passion being in housing, gender and sustainability. She has a Masters in Communications from RMIT University .