Michael Lennon
Interim CEO
Michael Lennon is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Housing Choices Australia, one of the largest community and affordable housing providers in the country. The organisation manages more than 7,700 properties, supports over 13,000 tenants and employs more than 330 staff across five states. In this role, he provides executive leadership and strategic direction to support organisational performance, growth, and impact.
Michael’s career spans more than three decades across the urban planning, housing, and development sectors, with senior executive, governance, and policy roles in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom across both public and private sectors.
In Australia, he has been a long-standing advocate for the growth and development of the not-for-profit community housing sector, which now plays a critical role in delivering housing for people on low incomes. The sector manages a national property portfolio of almost AU$40 billion and provides more than 100,000 homes across the country.
Michael has provided high-level counsel to local, state, and federal governments and has contributed extensively to policy development through participation in advisory bodies, committees, and inquiries.
He previously served as Chair of the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) from 2016 to 2019, where he led the formation of a national federation of 170 registered housing associations and state peak bodies, and spearheaded the development of CHIA’s first National Plan for Affordable Housing (2018).
From 2017 to 2021, he was Chair of the South Australian Planning Commission, overseeing a major reform of the state’s planning system, including the development of a single Planning and Design Code and the digitisation of planning processes.
Earlier, as Chair and Executive Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), he led its restructure to establish it as Australia’s leading housing and urban policy research organisation.
Michael’s international experience includes senior leadership roles across major housing and urban renewal organisations in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. As Chief Executive of the Glasgow Housing Association (2003–2007), he oversaw the largest transfer of public housing stock in Europe, secured £725 million in private funding, and established a 10-year urban renewal program.
Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Housing New Zealand Corporation (2000–2003), where he led the integration and establishment of the organisation, managing the New Zealand Government’s then-largest public asset base.
Michael is currently Industry Chair in Regional Housing and Planning at Adelaide University and a member of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council within the Commonwealth Treasury.
He also has a modest presence in the wine industry, and Hon Treasurer of Biodiversity McLaren Vale.
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