Rebecca Oelkers is the Chief Executive Officer of BHC, one of the largest Community Housing Providers in Queensland, with over 2,000 homes developed and under management. Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in the community and affordable housing sector. Having previously held executive roles with BHC in business development and as Chief Operations Officer, Rebecca has a deep understanding of the company and a strong vision for its strategic growth and service enhancement. Rebecca is committed to ensuring that BHC’s affordable housing provides not only safe and secure homes for tenants, but also supports tenants to achieve increased wellbeing and inclusion.
During her career, Rebecca has led several high-proflle projects including the establishment of the Gold Coast Housing Company and Gladstone Affordable Housing which secured contributions of almost $20m from three Gladstone LNG proponents. Most recently, she lead BHC’s involvement in the Queensland Government’s Housing Investment Fund, securing partnerships with the private sector with the intent of growing the supply of social and affordable housing by up to 1,200 homes in South East Queensland.
Rebecca is the Deputy Chair of the national Community Housing Industry Association, Director of UDIA Queensland, a former Board member of Queensland Shelter, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and recipient of the 2018 UDIA Women in Leadership Award. A passionate advocate for the sector, she has presented at national, state and local housing forums on a range of affordable housing issues.
Rebecca continues to lead BHC into a new era of evolution and innovation with her ambitious growth plans. As the scale of need for affordable housing continues to increase in Queensland, the BHC team are focused on achieving lasting change and delivering better outcomes for the many Australians who still do not have a safe, affordable place to call home.
Rebecca is an engaging and passionate speaker, with expert insight across a range of topics including:
- Supply of social and affordable housing in Brisbane and nationally
- Build to rent and institutional investment solutions for housing
- Housing older women over 55+
- NDIS and the provision of housing for people living with a disability
- Benefits of inclusive and accessible design
- Homelessness
- Organisational culture, strategy and performance
- Women in leadership
Previous presentation experience
Following are some recent examples of Rebecca Oelkers, BHC’s CEO, latest online presentations and opinion pieces.
External features
- “Investing in change: The charitable property management revolution” – Your Investment Magazine – Dec 2023
- “Housing Investment Fund paves the way for more social, affordable homes in inner-Brisbane” – Ministerial Statement – Oct 2023
- “Qld HIF funds Chermside social housing” – Australian Property Journal – September 2023
- “Housing Investment Fund to deliver another 92 homes” – Ministerial Statement – Sept 2023
- “Fees waived for 82 new homes” – Moreton Daily – August 2023
- “Elevate Residential joins fight against over-55 women’s homelessness” – Elite Agent – August 2023
- “Works start on 34-home, Housing Investment Fund project” – Ministerial Statement – July 2023
- “Land locked in to deliver more social and affordable housing in SEQ” – Ministerial Statement – July 2023
- “Brisbane Social Housing Projects Greenlit” – The Urban Developer – Nov 2022
- “New social and affordable housing plans announced for Toowoomba” – Council Magazine – Sept 2022
- “Toowoomba Council approves land sale to Brisbane Housing Company land sale to Brisbane Housing Company ahead of 75 unit social and affordable housing project” – The Chronicle – Sept 2022
- “Not-for-Profit Files Redcliffe Affordable Tower Plan” – The Urban Developer – Sept 2022
- “Australian Retirement Trust and QIC invest in social and affordable housing” – Property Council of Australia – August 2022
- “Doors to open on new, 32 unit complex” – Ministerial Statement – May 2022
- “Super funds have a role to play in housing stress” – Industry Moves – July 2022
- “ART of the deal: Super giant throws $150 million at solving social housing crisis” – InQueensland – July 2022
- “Brisbane 2032 needs to deliver social housing legacy” – Australian Property Journal – July 2022
- “Australian Retirement Trust and QIC to partner to deliver social and affordable housing in Queensland” – Australian Retirement Trust – July 2022
- “Australian Retirement Trust, QIC back $500m affordable housing” – AFR – July 2022
- “Land locked in to deliver more social and affordable housing in SEQ” – Ministerial Statement – May 2022
- “Affordable Housing Provider Doubles Down on Brisbane Projects” – The Urban Developer – May 2022
Industry presentations
Community Housing Industry Alliance (CHIA) – 2024 Affordable Housing Development and Investment Summit, panellist “Developing and operating affordable BTR – what does it look like?”National Housing Conference (NHC) – 2023 National Housing Conference, panellist “Financing and investing in new housing supply.”
Youth Development Australia – 2023 National Children & Youth Homelessness Conference, panellist “The role of the Community Housing sector in responding to youth homelessness.”
CHIA – 2022 Affordable Housing Development & Investment Summit, panellist “What are available models for best leveraging the Housing Australia Future Fund money for new housing delivery.”
CHIA – 2021Affordable Housing Development & Investment Summit, panellist “How could the community housing sector be disruptors in a changing world.”
CEDA National Livestream 2020, keynote speaker – “Prioritising social and affordable housing.”
Australasian Housing and Urban Research (AHURI) – 2019 National Housing Conference, keynote presenter “Can CHPs deliver our social housing future.”
Community Housing Industry Alliance (CHIA) – 2018 Affordable Housing Conference, workshop presenter “Emerging Leaders Caucus.”
Community Housing Industry Alliance (CHIA) – 2018 Affordable Housing Conference, international expert panellist “Can Build to Rent fly in Australia?”
Australasian Housing and Urban Research (AHURI) – 2017 Homelessness and Housing Solutions Conference, panellist “Stable Housing and Sustainable Tenancies.”
Queensland Shelter (QShelter), panellist, The Future of Australian Housing 2017 Conference, panellist “How are we to deliver more affordable housing across Queensland.”
Ministerial Housing Consultative Committee member, Qld State Government 2016
Housing Affordability Expert Reference Panel member, Qld State Government 2016
Opinion pieces
- Federal budget 2021 fails to address Australia’s growing housing crisis
- The health crisis must be galvanising opportunity to change our housing system
- Jingeri exemplifies what can be achieved as calls grow for a social housing-led post COVID-19 recovery
- A city where everyone feels like belong
- Elevate Residential – changing Brisbane real estate for good
- What will happen to my child when I’m gone
- Cracking the affordable ‘Build to Rent’ nut
BHC videos
