About us

Our management team and volunteer consultants

A group of dedicated individuals working together

Who is Sharing with Friends?

Sharing With Friends is an incorporated association established in 2021 with a clear mission and purpose.

We are registered as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Our foundation was born out of the collective efforts and support of like-minded individuals who believe in making a positive impact on the lives of older women today.

Inspired by the values of Zonta International - a global service organisation of members working together to build a better world for women and girls - Sharing With Friends aims to transform the lives of older women through the power of co-housing.

Our Vision

Learn about the people behind the Sharing with Friends foundation.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Susan Davies

BA Dip Journ, Post Grad Dip CPNS

Foundation President

Susan Davies is the founding President of the Management Committee and a retired journalist, communications professional and community fund-raiser. She is a member of Zonta International and former President of the Zonta Club of Brisbane. Susan brings her vision, strategic planning skills and an extensive network of property professionals to the Foundation.

READ MORE

Sallyanne Atkinson AO

Key Advisor

Sallyanne Atkinson AO was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1985 to 1991 in Queensland, Australia. She is the only woman to have held the position.

Currently Sallyanne is chair of the Museum of Brisbane, Ambassador for the Committee for Brisbane, Member of the Queensland Government’s Treaty Advancement Committee, and of the Advisory Board of the Queensland Brain Institute, and former President of the Council of Women’s College at the University of Queensland

She has served the community in Queensland and Australia for many decades in many appointed and voluntary roles. As a founder member of Sharing with Friends Foundation, she brings her extensive knowledge of local government issues, especially Town Planning matters crucial to the future of Sharing with Friends. And as a Queensland Great, Sallyanne opens doors for Sharing with Friends throughout all levels of government.

As a member of Zonta Club of Brisbane and inspired by its goals of empowerment of women and girls, her motivation is to ensure a safe and dignified retirement for older women throughout the State.

READ MORE

Barrie Spring

Key Advisor

READ MORE

Adrienne Irvine

BSW, Grad Cert Health Management

General Secretary/Communications

Adrienne is a health professional with over 45 years' experience in team leadership and project management. She has initiated and successfully managed several start-up state-wide health programs of international recognition. With high level negotiation and facilitation skills she has significant experience in dealing with multi government departments and bringing together teams of professionals to deliver strategic goals. Adrienne is a former Director of the Zonta Club of Brisbane and is currently a member of the Advocacy and Communication Committees.

READ MORE

Fran Stowers

GCDispRes NMAS CertIVT&A

Key Advisor

Fran has over 20 years’ experience in the social services sector in Australia and internationally.

Working across both government and non-government organisations she has a depth of experience in relation to research and content writing, policy, training, and dispute resolution.

READ MORE

Ian Mackie

BA Grad Dip Valn.

Foundation Director and Property Specialist

Ian’s national and international real estate career spans 43 years in commercial sales and leasing, acquisition, disposition, fund management, commercial property management. He is the former national chair of the global not-for-profit industry body Urban Land Institute. Together with wife Susan he co-directs the Mackie Family Foundation, a philanthropic initiative.

READ MORE

David Purvis

Key Advisor

David Purvis is a semi-retired Queensland solicitor with decades as a law firm principal and latterly consulting to Woods Prince Lawyers. David is a generalist practice wise though main areas of interest are commercial law and property and is highly experienced in committee and board roles. He has a long-standing interest in finding solutions to the homelessness issues facing many Australians.

READ MORE

David Hamlyn-Harris

BE, MEngSc, FIE(Aust), RPEQ

Foundation Director and Co-ordinator of the Land and Construction Sub-Committee

David is a member of the Management Committee and co-ordinator of activities relating to the development of the site and construction of the residences. A former Director of consulting engineering firm Bligh Tanner, David brings over 40 years of professional engineering and project management experience to the project. Having specialised in water and wastewater engineering he has significant experience in the development and servicing of residential land.

READ MORE

Anne Landsberg

BA BSW MSW

Foundation Director and Coordinator of the Workshop Sub-committee

Anne has always been involved in the community and has chaired numerous organisations. She was a Queensland President and a National director of the Australian Association of Social Workers and is a former director of the Zonta Club of Brisbane. Anne held various senior positions in the AGPS and sat on State and Commonwealth tribunals over a period of 35 years and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. Anne also conducted an Emotional Intelligence consultancy with colleague Adrienne Irvine. She is a founding member of Sharing With Friends and created the workshop series that she co-presents with Adrienne.

READ MORE
Ross Landsberg
1951-2021

Ross Landsberg

1951-2021

SWF acknowledges the enormous contribution that Ross made to Sharing with Friends. He was a founding member and undertook all of the initial legal work (application to ACNC and Incorporation of the Association). He was formerly a senior partner at Minter Ellison and, as his illness progressed, he brought the firm to us as our ongoing pro bono solicitors. He was committed to finding the best legal structure for the organisation. He was our lawyer, first treasurer and champion advocate. Our organisation would not exist in its current form without his pioneering input.

Meet our Champions

We all need help from our friends

Interested in our co-housing model?

Learn the answers to common questions about living in a Sharing with Friends co-housing community.

Find the answers here
Donate