Our Board

Ms Carol Austin

Chair

Mr Kelvin Ryan

Member

Hon Richard Wynne

Member

Mr Nigel Ray PSM

Member

Ms Cathie Armour

Member

Ms Matina Papathanasiou

Member

Ms Mary Ploughman

Member

Mr Damien Tangey

Member

Carol Austin | Chair

Carol has over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry and is a director of the Grattan Institute and Infoxchange, and a member of the Investment, Audit and Risk Committee of the General Sir John Monash Foundation.

Her previous board roles include a director of HSBC Bank Australia, the Tasmanian Public Finance Corporation, and a guardian of the Future Fund . She recently served as a member of the Independent Panel appointed to review the Australian Energy Regulator's draft 2022 Rate of Return Instrument. Carol has also served on the advisory boards of the Australian Office of Financial Management and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, and was a Commissioner with the NSW Independent Planning Commission.

Her executive career included economic research/senior management roles with the Reserve Bank of Australia, BHP, Contango Asset Management, Rothschild Australia Asset Management and Commonwealth Funds Management.

Carol holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from ANU. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Kelvin Ryan | Member

Kelvin was appointed to the Housing Australia Board in July 2021 after performing senior roles in the construction industry since 1998. Initially he worked as a supplier with Boral Ltd and from 2003 onwards as the CEO of two of the largest residential building companies in Australia - BGC Residential and Simonds Group Limited.

Prior to moving into the construction industry, Kelvin held senior executive positions in the mining and manufacturing sector at Downer Ltd, Fletcher Challenge NZ, Aditya Birla Canada and WMC Resources.

Kelvin has a wealth of experience in delivering affordable housing solutions and associated financing options having presided over the financing and construction of tens of thousands of new homes and numerous residential construction projects. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the Western Australian College of Advanced Education and a Master of Science degree from Griffith University.

The Hon Richard Wynne | Member

Richard spent over 12 years as the Victorian Minister for Planning and Housing. During this time, he initiated significant changes to Victoria’s housing sector, including the Big Housing Build. Prior to his appointment as Minister for Planning and Housing, he held a number of Ministerial portfolios including Local Government, Aboriginal Affairs and Multicultural Affairs.

During his time as a Member of the Victorian Parliament, Richard served as Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Cabinet Secretary.

He is a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and served as a Melbourne City Council member.

Richard started his career as a social worker at the Flemington Community Health Centre where he worked in the public housing towers for seven years.

He retired from State politics in 2022 and was Victoria’s longest serving Planning Minister.

Nigel Ray PSM | Member

Nigel has over 35 years' experience in public policy and economic analysis, and in addition to serving as a Housing Australia Board member, is undertaking advisory work, including as Deputy Chair of the Australian Government’s Aged Care Taskforce. He retired from the Australian Public Service in January 2023. 

From November 2020 until November 2022, Nigel was an Executive Director of the World Bank Group, representing Australia and 14 other countries on the Bank’s boards. He was Chair of the Board’s Committee on Corporate Governance and Executive Directors’ Administrative Matters. From November 2018 until November 2020, Nigel was an Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, representing a constituency of 15 countries, including Australia. 

Following a role at the Office of National Assessments, Nigel joined the Commonwealth Treasury in December 1988. From the mid-1990s, he held a range of senior executive positions, including as Deputy Secretary (Fiscal) from 2008-2015 and Deputy Secretary (Macroeconomic) from 2015-2018, when he also served as Australia’s G20 Finance Deputy and was a member of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council.  

In 2013, Nigel was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service. He holds Master of Economics and Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Sydney.   

Cathie Armour | Member 

Cathie was appointed to the Housing Australia Board in October 2023. Cathie’s executive experience includes senior roles in investment banking, law and regulation across both the public and private sectors.  

Cathie is currently a Non-Executive Director for Cboe Australia Pty Ltd, Member of the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, Member of the PwC Audit Quality Advisory Board and a Director of Suicide Prevention Australia.

Cathie was previously a Commissioner of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), General Counsel at Macquarie Capital and also an Executive Director of Macquarie Group, Corporate Legal Counsel at JP Morgan and previously worked in private legal practice in Sydney and New York. Cathie holds a Master of Laws from University of Sydney, and Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from Australian National University.  

Cathie is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women.  

Cathie is Chair of the Housing Australia Audit and Risk Committee (ARC). 

Matina Papathanasiou | Member 

Matina was appointed to the Housing Australia Board in November 2023. Matina's extensive executive experience includes senior roles in investment, asset management, institutional funds management, infrastructure and investment banking.

Matina is currently a Non-Executive Director of Tilt Renewables and a Member of the Investment Advisory Board of the UNDRR.

Matina's executive career includes over 17 years as the co-founder of the QIC infrastructure investment business which manages $32 billion in unlisted equity investments globally. She has 20 years of board experience as a director including Port of Melbourne, Hobart airport, Brisbane airport, North West/M7 roads group, TransGrid, Epic Energy, Pacific Solar and India Infrastructure holdings. Her prior executive experience was with AMP Capital - infrastructure, Bankers Trust and Macquarie Bank and as a tax adviser with Arthur Andersen.  

Matina has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from University of NSW. Matina is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women.  

Matina is Chair of the Housing Australia Investment Committee. 

Mary Ploughman | Member

Mary brings 30 years of leadership, financial services, capital markets, securitisation, mergers and acquisitions, governance and risk management experience from her roles with a range of financial institutions, infrastructure and not-for-profit boards in Australia and New Zealand.  

Mary is an experienced and accomplished CEO and Board member with a background in both ASX-listed and publicly unlisted companies.   

She is currently Chair of Plenti Group, a Non-Executive Director of Prospa Group and Qualitas, Chair of Pitcher Partners, and advisor to Indigenous Business Australia and Gresham Partners.  

Mary holds a Bachelor of Economics from University of Sydney, and is an Associate of the Securities Institute of Australia, and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

Mary is Chair of the Housing Australia People and Culture Committee. 

Damien Tangey | Member

Damien has over 30 years’ experience across the property industry and has held board roles in the private, public and community housing sectors. His experience spans policy, valuation, planning, infrastructure and housing. He possesses a strategic understanding of the policy environment, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics that shape planning outcomes, housing delivery and affordability.

As a non-executive director, Damien has most recently served on the Board of the Victorian Planning Authority, acting as its Board Chair.  Prior to his appointment to the Housing Australia Board, he also served as the Board Chair of Haven Home Safe, a registered community housing provider. Haven Home Safe provides over 2,000 homes along with support and homelessness services to over 9,000 people annually.

As the founder of Birchgrove, a regional Victorian business which has grown residential communities for over 20 years, Damien has contributed to the planning and delivery for several thousand homes. He is a life member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Vic) and has previously served as its President.

Damien holds a Bachelor of Business (Property) from RMIT University and is an Associate of the Australian Property Institute and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.