JOBS NEWS: The Property Council of Australia has announced that chief executive Ken Morrison will leave the organisation in December after eight years in the role, to pursue other career opportunities. And the role is open for a replacement to those who may be interested.
Mr Morrison has been in the role since 2014, and it looks like a career break is on the table for him since he says he has no immediate plans except to take a holiday with his family and take the INSEAD Advanced Management Program.
He will also be resigning from the boards of the Green Building Council of Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, his role with the National Affordable Housing Alliance, and the Property Champions of Change.
It’s a well-deserved rest, as Mr Morrison spent 25 years with the organisation, having previously served as chief operating officer and NSW executive director. In a former role he was also previously the chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum.
National president David Harrison said Mr Morrison has helped guide the industry’s focus on gender, diversity, and sustainability, and helped steer the organisation through the pandemic.
“He has helped the industry see itself differently, led our advocacy efforts across a host of issues and navigated the organisation through the pandemic.
“In particular, the Property Council’s leadership through the depths of the pandemic was outstanding and highly appreciated by members.”
At the top end, Michael Gunner has announced he will join billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest-owned renewable energy company Fortescue Future Industries, six months after his shock resignation as the Northern Territory’s chief minister in May.
At the time he said he was stepping down to spend more time with his family, saying that he had not lined up any future work.
“My head and my heart are no longer here, they are at home,” he said in May.
As the head of a new arm of the company in NT, he will be responsible for setting up a new office in Darwin, leading a team of staff exploring “job creating project opportunities” in the NT and northern Western Australia. He said the job would allow him to “make a meaningful contribution to the world”.
He cannot commence the role until next month, due to the NT ministerial code of conduct which prohibits former ministers from taking up work within six months of leaving office if that work relates to any of their former ministerial portfolios.
Humfrey Whitaker, program director at Infrastructure NSW has been appointed to the role of project head for the Bays West Stage One project – a redevelopment of the historic White Bay Power Station and the Bays Metro Station.
It’s about time something was done about this site – as one of the most recognised landmarks in the Rozelle precinct, the 105-year-old heritage listed former coal-fired power station in Sydney’s Inner West has sat abandoned since 1983.
The site is set to become a world class arts district, after the state government this year committed $49 million towards conservation works in the NSW government’s 2022-23 Budget despite then NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet two years ago saying it is a “shocking building” that should be demolished.
Mr Whitaker previously worked for Infrastructure NSW and was responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Blackwattle Bay urban renewal project and the new Sydney Fish Market.
Alongside Mr Whitaker will be Sally Hamilton who has taken up the role of director of sustainability, planning and environment on secondment from Sydney Olympic Park Authority.
Meanwhile, Paul Stanley has left Arup to start a new chapter at urban infrastructure company Movissian.
Working at Arup for 17 years, Stanley has worked on projects like the Wynyard Walk, Barangaroo Precinct, Optus Stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, and Melbourne Metro.
In other jobs news, Amy Child has been made director of transport and planning in the inner metro at the Victorian Department of Transport after working at AECOM, Arup, and the City of Perth.
And Helise Ho has started as a transport planner at Arup, leaving Veitch Lister Consulting. She previously worked at Brisbane City Council and the University of Queensland.