Metro Housing - Our Board

Eanna O'Ceallachain (Chairperson)

Eanna has a long history of voluntary service and involvement in community development and social justice issues. He has previous experience on boards, including a statutory local government body responsible for public education. He recently co-founded a self-help film co-op in Marrickville and works in the area of media access for people with disabilities. Eanna was recently admitted as a solicitor to practice law in NSW.

David Abelló

David was co-opted to Metro's Board of Directors in July 2008 and appointed as Treasurer in September. He is a social scientist by training and works as a social policy researcher. His work has included the evaluation of a number of social housing programs - particularly those involving partnerships with other providers (such as mental health services). David is involved in disability and gay pride activism and works with, and gives leadership to, a number of disability advocacy organisations. He has previous governance experience in the youth housing sector.

In other parts of David's life he is a parent, an artist, a musician and a stand-up comedian. His star sign is Pisces and he was born in the Year of the Monkey.

Mark Gell

Mark has worked for over 25 years in areas including strategy, policy and issues management functions for the NSW government and for a number of large publicly listed corporations (including property, banking, steel and metal products manufacturing, transport, logistics, distribution, minerals, environment, energy, equipment hire, building materials, telecommunications and airlines).

He has demonstrated leadership expertise across a wide range of industries and geographies with a comprehensive understanding of the strategic approach to work combined with results delivery.

Elizabeth Sharaq

Elizabeth is a Social Science student at the University of Sydney and has been a sole parent for many years. "For these reasons, and more, I wish to pursue practical ways to overcome disadvantage. Secure and affordable housing has the capacity to achieve this end and I am passionate about housing because it can impact positively on many areas of people's lives."

Elizabeth has served on the board of Metro (and its predecessor MACH) since 2002 and has been Secretary for the past 2 years. "The time I have spent on the board has been a valuable learning experience and I have the energy and enthusiasm to use the knowledge gained to continue to address inequity."

Elizabeth brings pragmatism, empathy and a working awareness of the broader theoretical issues underpinning disadvantage.

Nigel Head

Nigel is an independent management consultant with twenty years' experience in property development and construction throughout Australia. Nigel has extensive experience in affordable housing, student accommodation and seniors' living, he has delivered major projects for clients such as Housing NSW and RSL LifeCare.

Nigel joined the Board in 2009. His experience is being applied to improve and expand Metro's property portfolio

Susan Taylor

Susan has lived and worked in the Marrickville area since 1987. She has many years experience in the housing sector with a particular focus on community housing, co-operatives and supported accommodation – particularly in working with young people aged 16-25.

Susan has served as a Director on the MACH and Metro Boards for over a decade and has held the positions of Secretary and Deputy Chairperson during that time. Her focus over the next twelve months will be on developing and improving our support partnerships.

Malcolm Pollard

Malcolm grew up in Ashfield so is familiar with the inner west area where the majority of Metro properties are located.

After leaving school he worked as a horticulturist, until health problems took him out of the workforce. "In 1998 Resamen Men's Housing provided me with stable housing and in 2006 I joined the Resamen board. This was shortly before the amalgamation with MACH and in early 2007 I was accepted as a Metro Board member."

Malcolm's board experience is fairly recent but he brings enthusiasm and a strong commitment to representing tenants. Malcolm sees his major contribution to the board as the Metro tenants' representative on the Tenant Network Association.

James Kennedy

James has twenty five years' experience in operational management and advisory work across the property spectrum. He led the Defence Housing Authority's group responsible for delivering housing solutions to over 17,000 members of the Australian Defence Force and their families and was Program Director for the Social Housing Initiative at the NSW Nation Building and Jobs Plan Taskforce – overseeing the delivery of 6,300 new homes.

James' professional focus is on improving the operational and financial performance of large property portfolios and their management. James is committed to the further development of Metro Housing as a critical element in growing the availability of affordable homes.