Our management team

HomeGround has more than 150 staff working across six locations in Melbourne.

Every member of staff, regardless of their role, contributes their expertise and passion towards our vision to end homelessness in Melbourne. This is what makes us a dynamic, effective and innovative organisation.

Our Executive carries out strategic management of the organisation.

Executive

Heather Holst, CEO

Heather joined HomeGround in 2009 as General Manager Client Services and leads the client services teams across all sites and programs.

Heather's experience spans tenancy advocacy, homelessness policy, program development, research, rural homelessness service coordination in both the non-profit sector and government.

She co-authored the Opening Doors initiative and has contributed to key Victorian Government innovations including transitional housing, standards/accreditation, data collection, rights based approaches and sector training.

Heather has a PhD earned for historical research into the origins of Australian housing systems.

Zoe Vale, General Manager Client Services

Zoe joined Argyle Street Housing Service in 2000 as a Housing Information and Referral Worker. She became the HIR Coordinator in the new Yarra office when Argyle Street Housing and Outreach Victoria merged to become HomeGround in 2002.

She became the Northern Housing manager in 2007, and took a secondment to the Elizabeth Street Common Ground Project Coordinator role in 2009-2010.

Zoe has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Social Work.

Ernst Ferreira, General Manager Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer

Ernst joined HomeGround in 2011. He leads Finance, Information Technology, Administration and OH&S/Risk Management.

Ernst has previously worked in various senior roles in the private sector as Internal Audit Manager, Financial and Commercial Manager; and in government as Financial Manager and CFO of the Unemployment Insurance Fund in South Africa. Ernst was closely involved in the South African Reconstruction and Development Programme and schemes to integrate unemployed people back into the workplace.

Client service managers

• Emma Baxter, Northern Housing Manager
• Zoe Probyn, Northern Support Services Manager
• Andrew Darcy, Southern Manager
• Camille Heagney, Supportive Housing Manager
• George Hatvani, Service Development and Research Manager

CEO direct reports

• Melanie Hollows, Human Resources Manager
• Communications Manager

Corporate service managers

• Andrew Bunnage, IT Manager (KeyTrust)
• Sudharma Hiremath, Corporate Services Manager
• Ron Petersen, Finance Manager