This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
FORMER NSW cabinet minister Stuart Ayres, who was reportedly canvassed to head up the state Liberal Party earlier this year, has been appointed as CEO of development industry body the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW.
Ayres was a member of the NSW Legislative for nearly 13 years until March 2023, representing the electorate of Penrith upon his sensational grab of the seat out of Labor’s hands with a 25% swing in the 2010 by-election.
He held various ministerial portfolios, including Western Sydney, WestConnex, Police and Emergency Services, Tourism and Sport, and Enterprise, Investment and Trade, and was elected as Deputy Leader of the NSW on the same ticket as Dominic Perrottet, who became Premier on the success of the vote following Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation.
Ayres was tangled up in the controversial appointment of fellow former Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s appointment to a plump New York trade job before a report found he had not breached the NSW ministerial code of conduct. He lost his seat in Parliament in the 2023 NSW state election.
Sky News had reported at the end of January that he was being sounded out to become the president of the NSW Liberal Party.
Ayres will commence his new role as CEO of the UDIA NSW in June.
“UDIA NSW is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Ayres as our new CEO at a critical time for the housing and development industry in NSW,” the UDIA NSW board said.
“As a prominent member and advocate of Australia’s fastest-growing region in Western Sydney, Stuart has a great understanding of both the economic opportunities and inherent challenges involved in the delivery of major projects that will create jobs and additional housing supply for NSW.
“He also understands the power of collaboration between industry and government, and what can be achieved when there is alignment of policy, investment and resourcing between the public and private sector.”
Ayres said, “I’m enthusiastic about leading an organisation that is deeply committed to shaping cities and creating great communities.
“For a NSW government that has building homes as its top priority, there are no more important partners than those businesses and organisations that are UDIA members.
“I look forward to building on UDIA’s rich history of policy leadership and collaboration to ensure as a state we build more homes for people to live in and dynamic places to work.”
Gavin Melvin had been acting CEO since January and will continue with UDIA NSW in an expanded capacity, leading the organisation’s policy, research and business operations.
