WHO WE ARE
Partner Housing Australasia works with families, volunteers and donors to provide building services, financial assistance and nurture for the provision of affordable housing and village infrastructure to those in need in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
We are an entirely volunteer organisation, providing pro-bono professional engineering, architectural and building services and funding to other organisations involved in village housing, clinics, schools, water supply, sanitation and infrastructure in developing countries.
Meet Our Board and Managers
Partner Housing elects directors who have a proven record of volunteering their considerable professional and administrative skills in a range of disciplines needed to achieve the organisation’s objectives.
Rod Johnston - President / Public Officer
B Tech, MEngSc, MICD, MIEAust
Rod Johnston is a civil/structural engineer and builder with 55+ years’ experience in design and construction in Australia and overseas. He has served and led not-for-profit international NGOs for over 35 years, with Masters Degrees in International & Community Development and Structural Engineering, and lectured in Humanitarian Engineering.
Arthur Gray - Secretary
ME, MAIP, MACS, MIEAust, MIEEE, JP
Arthur Gray spent his working career at the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) as an electronics technician and development engineer. He is experienced in leading not-for-profit organisations and has for many years provided the requisite administrative strength to Partner Housing.
Jenny Turner - Treasury
B.E. (Chem), B. Bus (Accounting), C.P.A.
Jenny is a Certified Practising Accountant working in public practice. She has worked as a Chemical Engineer in sales for a multi-national organisation in purchasing, and has been an Accountant for several years as well as Treasurer for a church, managing their accounts.
Robyn Johnston - Director / HR
Robyn Johnston is an experienced building construction administrator and purchasing officer, with over 30 years’ experience in the administration of firms involved in consulting and building design and construction. Robyn also has many years of experience in the provision of affordable housing, micro-finance and other services to the poor in developing countries.
Ian Volke - Director /PNG
Ian has a great track record in providing on-site training for development of villages and is known for his hands-on approach. With over 30 years experience on supervising constructions including developments at South Pacific nations, Ian frequently provides input in relation to governance to ensure compliance with local and international requirements.
David Kaunitz - Director / South Pacific Development
B. Arch, Reg Arch: 8564 NSW, 2862 WA, 070045B UK
David Kaunitz is an award-winning architect who lived four years in Solomon Islands, leading community development and post disaster responses across the Pacific and South East Asia. Kaunitz Yeung Architecture focuses on health, childcare, agedcare, public buildings, residential, remote and post disaster building.
Alison Scotland - Director / Code-of-Conduct & Training
B.Sc, B.Comm, MBA
Alison Scotland is the CEO of Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), and previously the Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager for building and construction at Standards Australia. Her work has taken her across a range of public and private sector organisations in the Australian building and construction.
Nicola Smart - Director / Communications
B.IGS, MDVST
Nicola is a a corporate foundation Partnerships Manager, supporting the implementation of community investment initiatives and relationships with charitable organisations at a national private health insurance provider. She has 9 years' experience in community development program coordination, administration and communications.
Evy Anwar - Chief Executive Officer
B Arch, MUDD (Urban Development and Design)
Evy Anwar has more than twenty years of experience in private and public sector architecture and urban design. Skilled in producing context-sensitive designs and masterplans for new and existing communities, she works for an international award-winning multi-disciplinary design practice in Sydney.
Peter Cheers - Regional Manager – PNG
BCM
Peter Cheers has a degree in construction management, is a licensed builder and carpenter, working in Australia, Solomon Islands and Antarctica. He managed the preparation of the Australian National Plumbing Code, technical standards and provided tertiary training in Australia and trade training Solomon Islands.
Tatiana Skwarko - Humanitarian Engineering Manager
BE B Arch
Tatiana Skwarko has degrees in Civil Engineering and Architecture, majoring in Humanitarian Engineering. She has worked with NGO projects in India, indigenous housing in Australia, and managed liaison between PHA and UNICEF in Solomon Islands. Tatiana in currently employed by a major building and development firm.
Ian Warren - Regional Manager – Solomon Islands
BE, CPEng, MIEAust, NER
Ian Warren is an independent consulting structural engineer with extensive design, construction and management experience. He is the principal of a consulting firm specialising in civil engineering including civil, storm water, drainage and sanitation design. Ian takes responsibility for managing the Solomon Islands program.
Simon Canning - Communication Manager
Simon is a communications manager with over 30 years of experience managing internal media operations and external media delivery. He has a strong track record in social media development and management, crisis communication and content creation. A former journalist, he enjoys a successful career in media in Australia and the UK.