BUILD-to-rent developer Assemble Communities supercharged its team with 15 new appointments during the pandemic, to deliver its significant $3 billion privately funded mixed-income rental housing portfolio – the largest portfolio of its kind in Australia.
The group has grown its team to 36 after making key appointments across development, operations, marketing & commitments, communications, community engagement, partnerships, finance, placemaking & experience, and publishing divisions.
Key new hires include director – relationships and marketing Rebecca Shackleton, who joins Assemble with over 15 years’ experience.
Respected design advocate and urban designer, Andy Fergus will join as head of urban design, after advising the business on a range of projects including the East Village site in East Bentleigh.
Maggie McKeand joins as community engagement & partnerships manager.
Simon Denny was appointed senior development manager, brining 17 years’ experience in residential, retail, education and commercial development in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Assemble managing director Kris Daff said, “We are primed to take on key development opportunities within affordable and social housing, and our team will continue to scale to deliver our significant project pipeline.
“The talent and diversity in the team set us apart in the build to rent space. We have the expertise to deliver resident-centric, community minded housing that responds to the significant societal issue of housing affordability and security.
“In addition to our current portfolio, we are actively exploring new site opportunities, particularly interstate where we can deliver mixed-income rental housing to more Australians,” Daff added.
The group has also launched a dedicated partnerships division, overseen by director, Tom Billings. He brings more than 13 years’ experience in infrastructure development, M&A and financing from origination and investment banking roles at Plenary, Goldman Sachs, and RBS/ABN AMRO.
Last month Assemble announced its newly formed board, with former HESTA board chair, Angela Emslie, appointed as independent chairperson.
