GDI Property Group has appointed David Ockenden to head of development, a newly established role in the company.
Ockenden has worked at GDI in a similar role, including as a consultant, delivering schemes for developments including Westralia Square 2 (WS2) and 1 Mill Street Perth.
Before consulting, Ockenden was Lendlease’s development director, WA, prior to that position he served as a director at Brookfield Multiplex.
“David’s appointment will enable us to look at all of our assets and opportunities through a new lens,” said Steve Gillard, managing director of GDI.
The new role was created to accommodate both the group and Ockenden, placing Ockenden in a more permanent position.
“Although we are not changing our strategy to become a developer, a good proportion of the assets that we review and anticipate buying in the future have ‘value add’ opportunities that will include an element of development,” added Gillard.
The appointment will enable continued work on WS2, with its construction commencement upcoming and on 1 Mill Street, which the group is seeking pre commitments on to facilitate commencement.
“David’s unique skills will help us to maximise the value of not only our existing assets, but those that we will buy in the future,” concluded Gillard.
Recently, as the vendor of the commercial tower in Surfers Paradise, 50 Cavill Avenue, GDI Property Group has more than doubled on the Gold Coast asset since completing its $48.75 million purchase of the tower five years ago, with Elanor Commercial Property Fund launching an $85 million fully underwritten equity raising to partially fund its $113.5 million acquisition.
