SCOTT Langford has been appointed as CEO of Housing Australia, as the independent national housing authority embarks on a critical five years for a country in the throes of a housing crisis.
Langford has over 20 years’ experience spanning the private sector and community housing industry, and is currently group CEO of St George Community Housing, a tier one community housing provider managing more than 7,000 dwellings providing homes for 11,500 people.
His previous roles include general manager of housing and urban development for Junction Australia and executive director of Habitat for Humanity Australia, where he led programs to support home ownership for lower income households.
Langford take the place of outgoing CEO Nathan Dal Bon.
Housing Australia Chair, Carol Austin said Langford “is a proven leader with the skills and experience necessary to take Housing Australia to the next stage of its development and to enable the organisation to play an even greater role in assisting vulnerable Australians to gain access to affordable, safe and secure housing”.
Langford said, “I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead Housing Australia as it steps up its roles of supporting pathways to home ownership and to providing investment flows to increase the supply of social and affordable housing”.
“I look forward to partnering with the private sector, community housing providers and all levels of government to deliver on Housing Australia’s mandate so that more Australians have a place to call home.”
This month marked the beginning of a crucial five years for Housing Australia, as it administers the Housing Australia Future Fund, Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator, National Housing Infrastructure Facility and the National Housing Accord Facility.
The Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) welcomed the appointment.
“Scott Langford is a talented, highly capable executive who will lead Housing Australia with purpose and intelligence,” said CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst.
“Scott has successfully steered St George Community Housing over the past eight years, with responsibility for 12,000 people in more than 7,000 homes and a property portfolio worth almost $4 billion.
“In addition to this very demanding leadership role, he has provided insight and quality decision-making on numerous sector and industry boards, as well as CHIA’s ESG standard steering committee.
“Scott is an excellent choice to lead Housing Australia as it works to deliver the federal government’s social and affordable rental housing programs and grapple with Australia’s significant housing challenge.”
The Property Council of Australia also welcomed the appointment.
Property Council group executive policy and advocacy, Matthew Kandelaars said Housing Australia will play an important role in Australia’s housing landscape over the next five years.
“Housing Australia plays a crucial role in facilitating home ownership opportunities and channelling investments to boost the supply of social and affordable housing, in addition to conducting valuable research,” Kandelaars said.
On Dal Bon, Kandelaars said, “Nathan’s leadership has been instrumental in transitioning the organisation and contributing significantly to the implementation of some of the most impactful national housing policies in decades”.
Hayhurst noted that under Dal Bon’s leadership, $4.1 billion in long-term loans to 41 community housing providers were approved, supporting over 18,800 new and existing homes.
“Nathan has been a superb leader who has always been highly responsive and supportive,” she said.