UDIA Victoria leadership changes

3 Dec 2020

, News

Important update from UDIA Victoria President, Ashley Williams.

Dear Members, 

UDIA Victoria’s members are the heart and soul of our industry.  2020 has been a year like no other, and UDIA Victoria’s members have shown up for our industry more than ever before.

Together, we have achieved major advocacy wins with the Victorian Government – including the life-changing Big Housing Build program, industry recovery stimulus including HomeBuilder and stamp duty cuts, and the major planning system reform agenda announced in the State Budget last week.

We successfully kept our industry open and operating safely through the COVID-19 pandemic by working in partnership with other employer associations and unions across our sector. We have connected our industry through new member initiatives, and we have supported each other and made a difference in each other’s lives.

It sure has been a year we won’t forget. The team and Board at UDIA Victoria are so incredibly proud of what we have managed to achieve in 2020 with you – UDIA Victoria’s members.

It is against this unique backdrop that Danni Hunter has made the difficult decision to finish her time at UDIA Victoria after six years as Chief Executive.  Danni commenced with UDIA Victoria at the beginning of 2015 and has led the organisation through a period of significant change and modernisation.  She has played an important leadership role in the urban development industry and in advancing our relationships and partnerships with government at all levels.

Here’s a short note from Danni about her decision….

It has been a privilege to lead UDIA Victoria and to represent the urban development industry in my role as CEO. I’m extremely passionate about this industry, its people and the incredible places and spaces it creates.  With issues like housing affordability, the liveability of our cities and regions and important planning system-reform at the top of the agenda, my role at UDIA Victoria has been extremely rewarding.

I am so extremely grateful for the opportunities and learnings I have gained at UDIA Victoria and will always remember my time with the organisation as a period full of incredible people, amazing achievements and a phenomenally important industry.  Thank you for every opportunity you have given me, and I look forward to continuing to work with the industry in the future.

Danni will finish up with UDIA Victoria on 15 December 2020 and Angela Gaedke will take up the position of Acting CEO while an executive recruitment process is undertaken by the Board.  You can contact Angela directly at angela@udiavic.com.au.

UDIA Victoria’s team will take a break over the Christmas and New Year period and UDIA Victoria’s office will be closed from midday on Friday 18 December, reopening on Monday 11 January 2021.  We will be kicking off a solid events program in February 2021 and look forward to bringing you more information about our exciting events including our in-person Gala Awards event in March 2021!

On behalf of the Board, we wish Danni all the best for her new role and thank her for her hard work and dedication to the members of UDIA Victoria over the past six years.

Best wishes,

Ashley Williams

President, UDIA Victoria