Power Holders

Accident or design? Strategic or organic? Planned or inevitable? Whatever the case, the stars have aligned, and for the first time in history, affordable housing reform is in the hands (and hearts) of an all-woman band of leaders.

Whilst some would argue that we shouldn’t even be talking about gender, I think it is time to celebrate and look towards the future with optimism.

Women have been managing the tsunami of impact of poor affordable and public housing decisions for at least fifty years. For the past twenty years, those leading community organisations, not-for-profit community housing provision and peak advocacy agencies know and understand “what is wrong”. Perhaps even more important than that is that they also know “what is strong”. This knowledge, skill and deep commitment are poised to make a difference to people, families and communities across NSW.

Minister Rose Jackson was elected, and before she knew it, was the new Labor leader put her in charge of not one, but six portfolios: Housing, Homelessness, Mental Health, Youth, Water, and the North Coast. Having listened to Minister Jackson in a number of public meetings I get the sense that she does not like to work alone. She sees the value in collaboration, and she knows the importance of listening to people with lived experience. She also speaks about her deeply held values and unwavering commitment to social justice.

Member for Newtown Jenny Leong is the NSW Greens’ spokesperson for Housing. Leong knows that the voices of those with lived experience of housing stress must be brought to decision makers. The Member for Newtown’s call for a massive investment in NSW public housing is underpinned by the principles of housing as a human right, a housing-first approach, renters’ rights, and zero-emission housing.

Will the Minister and the Greens’ spokesperson for Housing be able to work together in ways that deliver real outcomes for people in NSW? Will they push party politics aside and focus on working together? Can they do politics differently? I believe they can. I know they must.

Debbie Georgopoulos was recently appointed Chief of Staff to Minister Jackson. As the immediate past CEO of the Women’s Housing Company, Debbie brings nearly three decades of public policy and program experience from government and non-government organisations in Australia. She knows and understands the impacts of a housing crisis on individuals, families and communities. She gets it. Now she gets the chance to set it.

The 2021 Census showed over two million people rent in New South Wales. That means more than 30% of the population are renters, and they are the fastest-growing tenure in the state.

Trina Jones, NSW’s first-ever Rental Commissioner, says her mission is to “amplify the voice of renters, working with renters and landlords to improve renting in NSW.”

Trina has more than 15 years’ experience leading responses to complex social issues including housing affordability, homelessness, community safety, food insecurity and drug and alcohol use in Australia, the UK and Ireland. She has held leadership positions as CEO of Homelessness NSW, Deputy Chair of Homelessness Australia, and in local government. Her experience and skill in community engagement and development will need to float to the top as she moves to focus law and public policy on a fairer rental landscape.

Rebecca Pinkstone is the inaugural CEO of the newly formed government department, Homes NSW. Rebecca is a known and respected community leader with almost two decades of experience in the housing sector, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of community housing provider, Bridge Housing. Prior to that, she held senior policy and strategy roles with the NSW Government.

She is heading up this new government department that consolidates the housing and homelessness functions of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) and the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO).

Rebecca and her team have also been tasked with turbocharging the construction, maintenance and repair of social and affordable homes across our state.

These five women are the power holders. They face incredible challenges from competing interests that cannot be managed in isolation. They need to stay true to their strengths and the way they have always worked.

Deep collaboration must underpin the new way to ‘get things done around here.’ While their leadership styles may differ, their publicly held values are shared, and their focus on ‘housing first’ to solve some of our most wicked social problems will be their legacy.