The City Renewal Authority board was first appointed on 1 July 2017. As a governing board it includes highly experienced members with expertise in urban design, architecture, planning, sustainable development, affordable housing and community engagement.
Marcia Doheny is an experienced lawyer with specialist skills in governance, environment, planning and development, organisational development, audit, risk, and compliance.
Ms Doheny has held executive roles including Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Local Government, Director of Legal & Governance for City of Sydney Council and Director of Legal and Governance with the New South Wales Department of Finance and Services. Marcia’s most recent legal role was as special counsel in the environment and planning team at leading international law firm, Allens.
Ms Doheny is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney. She is a graduate of the leadership program at Harvard Business School.
In addition to being the City Renewal's Board Chair, Ms Doheny has chaired planning panels and a number of audit and risk committees, including for the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and NSW Aboriginal Lands Council. Marcia is also a non-executive director of Sydney’s City West Housing Pty Limited.
Elizabeth Dibbs brings extensive experience in placemaking, litigation, development, and governance to her role as the City Renewal’s Deputy Chair.
As the former District Commissioner for the Western Parkland City with the Greater Cities Commission, Elizabeth was responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans for Greater Sydney spanning Penrith, Liverpool, and Campbelltown.
Ms Dibbs is the Deputy Chancellor, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, and Board Member at the University of Western Sydney. She is a Board Member of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia and United Way Australia. She has previously held Board positions at Chief Executive Women, and the YWCA.
Elizabeth was also a General Counsel and Partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers, and a Senior Associate for Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
Alison has more than 10 years’ experience as a non-executive director and has extensive expertise in finance, strategy, governance, risk management and change leadership.
She has a background in international banking and capital markets, including leading the State Bank of South Australia’s international borrowing program, as part of more than 30 years’ experience in finance, government and the not-for-profit sector.
In 2009 Alison joined Housing SA to lead the coordination of their $434 million Nation Building and Economic Stimulus (Housing) Program. Between 2010-2015 she led significant reform of the not-for-profit community housing sector in South Australia, increasing the size and capability of the sector.
Her board and committee positions have included the South Australian Superannuation Board; the Advisory Panel, Review of National Regulatory System for Community Housing; and the SA/NT Divisional Council, Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peter is an architect with more than 40 years’ experience in Australia and overseas in both the private sector and government on a wide spectrum of urban and architectural services.
He was NSW Government Architect from 2006 to 2012.
He contributes to design excellence as a member of Design Advisory Panels in four states as well as the Sydney Opera House, the City of Sydney, and Transport for NSW. He has adjudicated over fifty design competitions in Australia and overseas.
He has served on NSW Heritage Council, the Central Sydney Planning Committee, and the NSW Architects Registration Board.
He is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and was awarded the NSW President’s Prize for his contribution to architecture. He was a Councillor for the International Union of Architects 2014-17.
Maria Sykes is a company director and senior executive with broad experience in tourism, major events, arts, and property, with a focus on cultural transformation, customer experience and commercial growth.
Ms Sykes’ career has included Non-Executive Director, CEO and Senior Executive roles in Australia, the USA, and the UK.
Maria leads Australia and New Zealand for Visit Britain, and is non-executive director of Billard Leece Partnership Architects, and Capstone Pty Ltd.
She is a former executive director of Sydney Opera House and the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Maria has also contributed to the success of marquee sites including Empire State Building and Madison Square Gardens, as well as numerous Fortune 500 clients.
Mr Stephen Bull has extensive experience in the property, transport infrastructure, human services, and construction sectors, acquired over a career spanning more than 30 years.
Mr Bull has held a range of non-executive, committee, and senior executive roles in both public and private sectors, most notably as a Non-Executive Director of Summerset Group Holdings, a listed retirement village and age care company engaged in the development, construction and operation of retirement and aged care communities, and the Board Chair of Bridge Housing Limited, a community housing provider delivering long-term accommodation for people on low to moderate incomes in Sydney.
James Willson has over two decades of business leadership in Canberra, including as Managing Director and founder of local marketing agency, CRE8IVE.
Mr Willson is lifelong Canberran and is committed to the Canberra region.
James also serves as a board member of the National Capital Authority, CIT Solutions, the Canberra Grammar School, and RSPCA ACT.
As part of its Open Government strategy, the ACT Government is committed to:
Being an open government means the ACT Government values collaboration across government and with the community. Open government initiatives enhance democracy and place the community at the centre of the governance process.
In the spirit of open government and with the full support of the board, City Renewal Authority management will publish an overview of the outcomes of the City Renewal’s board meetings as soon as practicable after each meeting. Matters which will not be included in the meeting outcomes are those of commercial or personal sensitivity and internal operational issues.
View the publishable outcomes of the board meetings on our documents page.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.