Our Board

Our Board of Directors brings considerable and varied experience to Unison. Together they provide stewardship and strategic direction, governing the organisation on behalf of members.

The Board has up to nine Directors at any one time. Eight directors are nominated and elected by Unison’s members, with one Director able to be appointed by the Board. This allows the Board to recruit specialist expertise when required.

Portrait of Ian McHutchison

Ian McHutchison OAM

Appointed Chair 2018

B. Juris. LLB

Ian has a legal background and has held leadership positions in the for profit and not for profit sectors. He is Chair of Eva Tilley Memorial Home and Chair of mecwacare. In 2009 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the community. Ian was appointed as a director in November 2015

Portrait of Barry Shepherd

Barry Shepherd

Deputy Chair, Appointed Director May 2016

Licensed Real Estate Agent, Project Marketing Diploma - American Home Builders Association, Previous Lecturer Melbourne University

Barry has been in the property industry for more than 40 years and is critical in guiding Unison's asset management and developments. Barry was appointed as a director of Urban Communities Ltd in September 2009.

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Lou Panaccio

Appointed Director April 2013

Bachelor of Economics, Chartered Accountant, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Lou is a chartered accountant with strong management experience in business and healthcare services. Lou was appointed as a director of Urban Communities Ltd in November 2015.

Portrait of Yvonne Turner

Yvonne Turner

Appointed Director December 2014

Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Marketing, Graduate Diploma Australian Institute of Company Directors

Yvonne shares her board experience in healthcare and NFPs. Her expertise includes business management, strategic planning, strategic marketing in public sector, commercial and NFPs.

Portrait of Daniel Carter

Daniel Carter

Appointed Director December 2018

Bachelor of Geomatic Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Geography), Master of Business Administration

Daniel offers contemporary strategic planning and IT skills tailored to the social services sector. 

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Peter Weatherby

Appointed Director May 2021

Bachelor of Science (Urban Land Economics), Licensed Estate Agent, Associate of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Peter is passionate about the community housing sector and brings a solid real estate skillset, commercial acumen and a strong strategic focus to Unison.

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Anita Chow

Appointed Director August 2021

Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and Bachelor of Science, FCPA, GAICD

Anita has over 18 years of corporate finance experience working with private and public companies across a number of industries in Melbourne, London and Hong Kong. Anita is passionate about helping the disadvantaged, particularly in the area of housing and support services. She was previously on the board of VincentCare Victoria and VincentCare Community Housing.

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Alison McLeod

Appointed Director September 2019

Graduate Diploma of Agricultural Economics, Bachelor of Business (Property)

Alison is an expert property valuer and brings property expertise and a passion about housing affordability.

Bettina Sheeran SQUARE 2022

Bettina Sheeran

Appointed Director February 2023

Bachelor of Law with Criminology

Bettina is a Partner and Head of Innovation at Maddocks Law Firm where she provides property development legal advice to a variety of public and private, listed and unlisted clients. She has been a Board Member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Victorian Division, for over eight years. Bettina sits on the Board of Advisors for the Property Industry Foundation and is a member of the Property Council of Australia’s Precincts Committee (Victoria) 2023-2024.