Executive

Managing Director

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Social Science
Diploma in Continuing Education
Advanced Management Program (Harvard Business School)
Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Member of Chief Executive Women (CEW)

Biography
Ms Mason was appointed as Managing Director of DHA in November 2016 after acting in the role for 12 months. Before joining DHA, she was a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Finance and was responsible for a range of major areas, including taxpayers’ multibillion-dollar investments in government businesses (including DHA); oversight of major government construction projects, technology and procurement; the sale of Medibank Private and reform of the Air Warfare Destroyer Program. She has private-sector experience and was the ACT winner (Community and Government category) and a national finalist in the 2014 Telstra Business Women’s Awards. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women, representing Australia’s most senior women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors.

Key responsibilities
•    Ensure DHA fulfils its role in accordance with the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987
•    Conduct DHA’s day-to-day business in accordance with the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the Public Service Act 1999 and other relevant legislation
•    Relationship management, including Shareholder Ministers, departmental secretaries and the Chief of the Defence Force
•    Strategic management, including achievement against the Corporate Plan and oversight of the Executive group and staff

Mr Paul Groenewegen
Acting Chief Financial Officer

Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce
Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance
Certified Practicing Accountant
Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Biography
Mr Groenewegen joined the DHA executive in August 2018 to serve as interim CFO until Ms Jo Abbot returns to the role in mid-2019. Paul is an experienced executive and consultant with a background in governance practice; strategy development and implementation; fiscal management; compliance and risk activities; and government operations involving regulation and policy. His previous roles include governance and review work with a diverse group of government and industry organisations, executive roles with prudential regulators APRA and PHIAC and several financial management roles involving a range of functions from oversighting whole of government payments through to overseeing the financial management of complex multi-program organisations.

Key responsibilities
•    Fiscal Management
•    Investment management and funding strategies
•    Strategic planning, valuations and capital planning
•    Financial and taxation compliance

Mr Ross Jordan
General Manager, Governance

Qualifications
Master of Social Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Law
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Biography
Mr Jordan joined DHA as Company Secretary in August 2008 and was appointed General Manager, Governance in February 2017. Before joining DHA he held various public sector appointments at the Department of Finance and the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. He also worked in the education sector in Tasmania, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Key responsibilities
•    Company secretariat, including liaison with the Chair of the Board, Board of Directors and the Managing Director
•    Governance and legislative compliance
•    Shareholder and ministerial relations
•    Customer relations
•    Legal services
•    Internal audit

Ms Christine Steele
Acting General Manager, Property and Tenancy Services

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts

Biography
Ms Steele joined DHA as the Head of Delivery for North West in March 2018. She was appointed Acting General Manager, Property and Tenancy Services in August 2018. Prior to joining DHA she was at the Department of Health where she was State Manager for South Australia-Northern Territory. Christine has been an acting or substantive SES officer since 2009 in various departments, including: Department of Social Services; Department of Health and Ageing; and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. She has also previously worked as Head of Research Services for Flinders University.

•    National service delivery including the provision of asset management and housing allocation services
•    Provide direct support to ADF members and their families
•    Maintain the residential property portfolio
•    Regional office and contact centre performance management
•    Procurement and commercial contractor management

Mr Brett Jorgensen
General Manager, Property Provisioning Group

Qualifications
Master of Business
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Advanced Business Diploma
Diploma of Real Estate Management
Diploma of Contract Management

Biography
Mr Jorgensen joined DHA as the National Manager, Governance in August 2008. He was appointed General Manager, Property and Tenancy Services in May 2012 and General Manager, Property Provisioning Group in August 2018. Before joining DHA he held a number of appointments at the Department of Defence as a civilian and was a member of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Key responsibilities
•   Program delivery, including land development, apartment development, Defence-funded programs, retail construction, acquisitions and upgrades, leasing, resource management and development marketing
•   Provisioning support, including project management and coordination, procurement and contract management

Ms Suzanne Pitson
General Manager, Portfolio Management Group

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Law
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Biography
Ms Pitson joined DHA as General Manager, Sales and Marketing in February 2017 and was appointed General Manager, Portfolio Management Group in September 2017. Before joining DHA she held various senior appointments at the Department of Finance and in private sector law firms in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Key responsibilities
•    Funding delivery, including the Sale and Leaseback program, disposals program and mid-lease sales program
•    Members Choice Accommodation and Rent Band Choice portfolio management
•    Investment marketing and brand
•    Communication and Client Relations

Mr Shane Nielsen
General Manager, People and Corporate Capability

Qualifications
Bachelor of Applied Science (Computing Science)

Biography
Mr Nielsen joined DHA in August 2006. He was appointed Chief Information Officer in 2008 and General Manager, People and Corporate Capability in September 2017. Before joining DHA he held various appointments in the financial services sector including at Macquarie Bank and Zurich Capital Markets. He has extensive knowledge in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) delivery, digital delivery and business process re-engineering and optimisation.  

Key responsibilities
•    People and capability, including human resources, workforce planning and learning and development
•    ICT, including business solutions and infrastructure
•    Project Management Office (PMO)
•    Procurement
•    Safety, health, environment and quality
•    Corporate shared services and operational support