Following its annual general meeting in Canberra earlier this week, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA National) has announced its new President for a two-year term, Mr Simon Basheer.
Mr Basheer has served on UDIA National’s Board for 10 years. He also served as a member of the UDIA NSW Council for 8 years and was the NSW President in 2012-14.
Simon Basheer has more than 30 years’ experience in the development industry, holding several senior Marketing and General Management positions across several states since he first joined the industry in 1987. He is currently General Manager, Sales for the Australian Residential business at Lendlease.
“I am very much looking forward to my term as President of UDIA National and I thank the Board for entrusting me with the important role of leading the implementation of our strategy on behalf of our members,” says Mr Basheer.
“With a lifelong career in this space, I’m passionate about the development industry and the responsibility that developers have in their profession, to their customers and the contribution our industry makes to the economic prosperity of our nation.
“Australia’s urban development industry is at a critical juncture, with dwelling approvals and commencements continuing to trend lower and moving towards levels not seen for the best part of a decade. If this continues, the lack of approvals in the development pipeline will ultimately create a dwelling supply issue, fuelling another round of housing affordability pressure in Australia,” he says.
As part of its National Policy Priorities for 2020, a key strategic document launched in Canberra on Monday, UDIA National will continue to advocate for measures that will re-balance the supply equation for the development industry and focus on the impediments that create supply blockages, working to remove the barriers to efficient housing delivery in Australia.
“With new housing and construction contributing close to 7.5% of Australia’s GDP and employing 750,000 people directly and indirectly, the role of urban development has never been more important to our economy,” says Simon Basheer.
“Our National Policy Priorities for 2020 include five key recommendations. These goals are within reach and will help ensure Australia stays ahead of the curve on fixing housing affordability, and ultimately, building a better Australia.”
A key immediate focus for UDIA National is to actively contribute to the Federal Government’s review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which is currently impeding development.
It will also work closely with the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) in the implementation of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and support its mandate to deliver research and housing forecasts.
UDIA National will also continue to advocate in relation to simplifying the complex and burdensome approval and taxation regimes at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, which impact housing supply and affordability.
“Our National Board has just spent two days in Canberra meeting with several politicians and Departments on our key policy priorities and we look forward to active dialogue with all sides of government moving forward.”