New AHURI Chair sets eyes on property market future

Property veteran Jennifer Cunich has claimed top spot at the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) on the back of more than 30 years’ experience in the business and homebuying sectors.

Her appointment follows the departure of former Board Chair Adrian Harrington, who left earlier this year to govern the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.

Ms Cunich has developed a well-rounded working portfolio in housing and planning, spending roughly two decades working for the Property Council of Australia to develop policy and review regulations with state and local governments.

She worked an executive director stint with the council and has also held a non-executive director role at Victorian Planning Agency.

She was CEO of Australian Institute of Architects before leaving in 2018 and joined AHURI as an independent director the following year.

The New South Wales native said she was pleased to have joined AHURI and was excited to help the institute execute its research and strategic goals.

“I am thrilled to be working with such a professional board and team at AHURI,” Ms Cunich said. “The research we undertake provides policy makers and regulators with independent evidence to help them make decisions on policy and regulation on housing and urban matters.”

Ms Cunich’s appointment has coincided with Alexandra Waldren joining AHURI as a new independent director.

Ms Waldren has 20 years of experience advising government on public policy, is current Chair of Livable Housing Australia and National Director of Industry Policy at Master Builders Australia.

Already, the two fresh appointments have overseen a range of studies pumped out by the institute in the later half of 2021, including the September 2 release of research that explores Australia’s private rental sector, technological influence, informal tenancies and discrimination.

AHURI has found it necessary for government to axe ‘no-grounds’ eviction justifications and develop professional standards criteria for real estate agents and property managers, as well as increase public and social housing supply.

The institute’s latest research also indicates a need to grow the number of cheap private rentals and create enforceable standards for all rental properties.