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

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.

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

Ms Jo Abbot
Chief Financial Officer

Qualifications
Bachelor Commerce
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants

Biography
Ms Abbot was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in February 2018 after leading the Finance Division at DHA as General Manager Finance for over three years. Ms Abbot has a deep history with the CFO Group at DHA and has successfully led the group through the implementation of a new Financial Management Information System and driven cross business teams through extensive financial forensic reform and business transformation activities. Prior to DHA, Jo worked with Ernst & Young in both Sydney and Canberra across a variety of clients, both private and public sector.

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

Mr Michael Kelly
Acting General Manager, Property and Tenancy Services

Qualifications
Bachelor of Education
Diploma of Teaching

Biography
Mr Kelly joined DHA in 2008 as the Regional Director for South Australia. He was appointed National Service Delivery Manager in October 2013 and Head of Service Delivery (South East) in February 2018. Mr Kelly took over as Acting General Manager, Property and Tenancy Services in March 2018. Before joining DHA he held various senior positions in both the education and property sectors.

•    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
Acting 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. 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