Head Start Homes welcomes our new Chair, Vanessa Chan and thanks Director, Airlie Fox

Following an extensive search, the Board are delighted to announce that Vanessa Chan has been appointed as the new Chair of Head Start Homes.

Vanessa is a contemporary public sector CEO and Management Consultant with expertise in community development and social impact who has successfully led large and complex organisations. Focused on strategy, culture, governance, business excellence and transformation, Vanessa is recognised as an expert in corporate governance, leadership, business excellence and strategy. Vanessa has a proven track record in delivering innovative, community focused programs and is passionate about local democracy and citizen engagement.

Vanessa currently works as a Senior Associate  at Spencer Maurice  and previously worked as the CEO at Ashfield and Inner West Councils and successfully led the merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville Councils.

Head Start Homes Founder and Managing Director, Stephen Woodlands, said:

“We are very excited to have Vanessa join our team. Not only does Vanessa bring a passion for creating meaningful change she also has the knowledge and expertise to help Head Start Homes progress into our new stage of scaling up our operations”

“We’re looking forward to working together with Vanessa to succeed in our vision of helping even more mums and their families get access to safe and stable homes”.

Vanessa said about her appointment:

“I am delighted to have joined this dynamic organisation. We are ideally positioned to make transformative change, in both the lives of those we work with and policy approaches to housing security and affordability.

 With the announcement of our new Chair, we’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Airlie Fox who stepped in as our acting Chair. Throughout this period, we’ve proudly hit some truly amazing milestones working together with Airlie – specifically helping Charlene with the purchase of her new home, whilst navigating through the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re pleased that Airlie will continue on as a Director at Head Start Homes and we are so very grateful for Airlie’s ongoing support.

Stephen said:

“ A special thanks to Airlie for playing such a pivotal role in helping to prove that our home ownership model works. Working alongside Airlie has been a real pleasure and we are excited that Airlie will continue to help lead the organisation as a Director on our Board”

Please join us in thanking Airlie for her remarkable support and welcoming Vanessa as the new Chair of Head Start Homes!

Airlie Fox, Director

Vanessa Chan, Chair