The Albanese Government has appointed Dr Anthony Richards and Ms Jennifer Samms as part‑time Independent Directors to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) each for a four‑year period.
AHURI is a national not‑for‑profit independent organisation focused on high quality research on housing, homelessness, cities and urban policy.
Dr Richards brings extensive economic research expertise and experience from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the International Monetary Fund.
He is currently the Chair of the Central Bank Digital Currency Steering Committee at the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre that seeks to pioneer research and commercialisation for the emerging digital finance sector.
At the RBA, he held positions of Head of Economic Research, Head of Economic Analysis and Head of Payments Policy.
Ms Samms brings a strong understanding and grounding in public policy combined with specialist expertise in social housing, First Nations housing and homelessness.
She has previously been the CEO of Aboriginal Housing Victoria and has held roles at the Victorian Department of Education, Labour, Aboriginal Affairs, Premier and Cabinet and Planning and Community Development.
These appointments will continue the high level of skills and experience available to the AHURI.