After 40 years steering JLL in Australia, Stephen Conry AM is stepping down. Meanwhile, several built environment leaders were recognised in the 2022 Australia Day honours.
After 40 years with JLL – and 13 years as CEO – Stephen Conry AM has announced his plans to retire. Conry helped navigate the property industry through the challenges of COVID-19 in his role as national president of the Property Council from 2019 to 2021. Conry joined the firm in 1982 as a trainee. He was appointed managing director for Queensland in 1996 and has served in various national leadership roles before being named Australia CEO and joining JLL’s Asia Pacific executive board in 2009. He added New Zealand to his responsibilities in 2018. Conry’s service to the industry was recognised in 2019 when he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). His successor has not yet been named.
Several built environment leaders were recognised in the 2022 Australia Day honours, notably Professor Roslynne Hansen, who was awarded an AM for significant service to urban planning. Hansen was made an honorary life member of the Property Council’s Victorian division in 2019 for her sustained contribution, including nearly a decade as divisional councillor. Thomas Fricke AM, a long-time leader with GHD, was recognised for his significant service to engineering. Peter Airey AM, Hugh Bateman AM, George El Khouri OAM, Anthony McDonald OAM and Henk Van Den Heuvel OAM were also acknowledged for their contributions to the industry through professional associations.
Colliers has welcomed Jon Barnes as its new managing director for project leaders across Australia and New Zealand. Barnes will oversee the delivery of around $1.5 billion worth of projects annually across all major asset classes. Barnes has held leadership roles within Leightons Contractors, Babcock and Brown, Thiess, GHD and, more recently, within the public infrastructure arms of the NSW and ACT governments.
In other Colliers’ news, Sheree Griff joins the agency as Queensland retail director for real estate management services. Griff transfers from Mica Properties, where she was head of asset management. She was portfolio director at JLL for eight years, with major clients LaSalle Investment Management, Frasers Property and Lendlease.
Law firm Piper Alderman has appointed Marcus Andrews as a real estate partner in Sydney. Andrews has more than 15 years’ experience in complex property acquisitions and sales, as well as specialist retail, commercial and industrial leasing. He joins the national real estate team in Sydney with partners Richard Abbott and Margot King. The national team, led by Mark Askin and Adam Rinaldi, now boasts 11 partners across the firm.
Hames Sharley has a new director and cross-portfolio design lead, Gavin Kain, who is tasked with facilitating inter-portfolio opportunities and strengthening Hames Sharley’s East Coast presence. Kain has been involved in large projects including the Adelaide Convention Centre, New Zealand International Convention Centre, CoEx Dubai, and was a government advisor for ICC Sydney.
Taylor is expanding its capacity deliver large scale industrial projects after hiring Jerry Fanos as general manager industrial. With experience working for Hansen Yuncken and Walker Corporation, Fanos has worked with a diverse client base, including Goodman, Dexus, ESR, Frasers, AMP, Stockland, Wesfarmers and Mirvac.
After more than 16 years managing and directing sustainability for the City of Sydney, Chris Derksema has moved home to Queensland to take up the role of CEO of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority. Derksema was most recently seconded to the Greater Sydney Commission to advise on sustainability. He will be joined at the GCWA by new chair Greg Vann, director of Ethos Urban, who steps into the shoes of Mara Bún, who spent many years as CEO of Green Cross Australia.
Steve Lennon has taken up a new role as Australian digital leader for GHD. Lennon spent the last two years as principle for digital and design at Nous Group.