Travis Gilbert

Oversaw the day to day operations of a small incorporated association.

Drafted the organisational budget for approval by Directors.

Prepared monthly balance sheet, budgeted vs actual revenue and expenditure and profit and loss financial reports.

Presided over a threefold increase in annual revenue between the 2013/14 and 2023/24 financial years.

Developed operational plans and reported on the contribution of key activities, engagements, projects and sector development activities to the achievement of objectives in the strategic plan.

Met fiduciary obligations and audit requirements regulatory compliance & contractual reporting obligations to the ACNC and funding bodies.

Supervised a capable and fantastic staff team striking a balance between autonomy over job roles and strengths based management.

Represented the interests of the organisation, its members and stakeholders at conferences, forums, meetings, reference groups and task-forces.

Worked collaboratively with external partners and stakeholders to increase knowledge of housing and related funding, policy and programs.

Articulated the business case for systemic change to improve access to and outcomes from the housing system for people on fixed, low and moderate incomes in the ACT.

Prepared media releases and statements for public comment on housing and related matters affecting Canberra and the capital region.

Wrote reports and submissions to public consultation processes and Inquiries on behalf of the organisation and its members.

Developed and maintained mutually beneficial relationships with parliamentarians, senior executives and organisational members and stakeholders.

Cultivated strategic partnerships with housing, planning, property, and urban development industry bodies to enhance the value proposition and expand organisational reach.

Vested with sole responsibility as authorised spokesperson for the Association at conferences, inquiries and media engagements.

Developed and disseminated both proactive and reactive social and traditional media content to strengthen systemic advocacy on behalf of members and beneficiaries (housing consumers and providers).

Engaged effectively and sensitively with diverse communities and individuals.

Balanced competing interests and resolved differences and disputes discretely when they arose.

Cemented the association's reputation as a recognised expert voice on housing policy and related matters in the ACT.

This was achieved through undertaking due diligence prior to providing media commentary pr publishing position statements and being cognisant of the conduit role of a peak body - managing expectations and navigating stakeholder relations with tactful tenacity,

Worked on a capacity building project for the mental health sector to inform the sector about the National Disability Insurance Scheme, what it will mean for people living with psychosocial disability and the eligibility parameters of the scheme.

Worked with the policy team on a project with the National Mental Health Commission developing indicators and targets for outcomes based mental health reporting.

Sensitive, trauma aware engagement with consumers and carers to support depositions and evidence provision to sensitive inquiries.

Other areas of work included submissions related to: income support payments, housing and homelessness and welfare reform.

• Enhanced policy effectiveness by conducting comprehensive research and analysis on various social issues.
• Identified, researched and tracked legislative issues relevant to housing and homelessness funding, policy and programs and synthesised findings.
• Developed and maintained strong working relationships with elected officials, and departmental staff to advocate effectively for legislative and regulatory policy goals.
• Delivered political subject matter expertise to government representatives and civic officials.
• Reviewed legislative and regulatory documents, analyzed implications and shared findings.
• Prepared media alerts, backgrounders and releases in partnership with the Communications Coordinator.
• Provided public commentary on homelessness and related matters through media interviews, press conferences and provision of live streamed evidence to parliamentary inquiries.
• Written document preparation and dissemination to over 400 organisational members.
• Data analysis and distillation for sector briefings.
• Public speaking and meeting and workshop facilitation with service managers and people with lived experience of homelessness.
• Represented the peak body on advisory groups, at consultations.
• Ex-officio member of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Homelessness Definition, Enumeration and Statistics Working Group for the national peak body.
• Assessed abstracts for papers and presentations submitted for the 2010 and 2012 Australian Homelessness Conferences. Both events were attended by over 1000 delegates over three days.
• Worked autonomously and collaboratively with a small team of four staff to represent the interests of more than 1400 providers of homelessness and housing support services across Australia.
• Attended legislative and regulatory hearings to report information of significance to White Paper Implementation measures
• Analysed Australian Government and Federal Financial Relations Budget papers and extracted relevant data and funded measures to disseminate briefings to members.