New Podcast: Putting Community into Community Housing

On Sunday 4 May 2025, in the wake of the Labor Party’s stunning victory in the Australian general election, Australian community housing leaders Jesse Taylor and Wendy Hayhurst spoke to LHG about advancing best practices and amplifying tenant voices in social and affordable housing.

 

Jesse Taylor is a recognised leader in community development and social housing, with over 20 years of experience across Australia and the USA. Passionate about building inclusive, thriving communities, Jesse specialises in sector-wide collaboration, tenant engagement and place-based social impact initiatives. As Community Development Manager and National Grants Manager at Mission Australia Housing, Jesse drives strategic funding, partnerships and capacity-building efforts to strengthen community housing and tenant-led initiatives. Jesse also leads Australia’s Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning (MIZ) campaign, advocating for fair housing policies that require new developments to contribute to affordable housing and reduce housing inequality. Jesse is the Founder of Community Development Australia – Community Housing Provider Network, a national platform dedicated to advancing best practices, strengthening sector leadership and amplifying tenant voices to ensure housing policy and development prioritise social value and community needs. 

Wendy Hayhurst was appointed in March 2019 as CEO at the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) the peak body representing not for profit community housing organisations across Australia. Previously she led CHIA NSW – the state peak – for four years. Wendy has spent almost her entire career in social and affordable housing – working her way from the front line to a non-executive
directorship and senior managerial roles in a wide range of housing provider organisations, regulatory bodies, specialist consultancies and performance benchmarking organisations. She has in-depth knowledge and experience of the NSW, national and international community housing sector through her work with the NSW Regulator, in shaping and administering the National Regulatory System and her work in the United Kingdom. Wendy has an Executive Masters in Public Administration taught through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. She also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Housing awarded by the Chartered Institute of Housing in the UK.