Tuesday 21 February 2023
MEDIA RELEASE
TONY RANDELLO ELECTED NEW RETIREMENT LIVING COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TONY RANDELLO, the Chief Executive Officer of Aveo Group, was today elected President of the retirement village sector's peak national leadership group, the Retirement Living Council.
Retirement Living Council (RLC) Executive Director Daniel Gannon welcomed the news
"When it comes to three of Australia's biggest policy challenges - housing, our ageing population and climate change - Tony Randello is an industry standard bearer," Mr Gannon said.
Mr Randello has over 20 years' experience in senior roles in the property sector, including finance, operations and asset management. He has led world class seniors' residential development and re-development teams, working collaboratively with tens of thousands of older Australians, to top Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) rankings.
"Together with industry, Mr Randello will help show governments at every level how creating affordable and accessible age-friendly communities in the neighbourhoods people call home is key to providing housing solutions, unlocking household wealth and recycling older housing stock," Mr Gannon said.
Thanking the RLC for its vote of confidence, Mr Randello said the retirement living sector had experienced and grown through many challenges over the last few years and it was now time to re-set, prepare for growth and develop agile and innovative ways to respond to evolving customer expectations.
"I am passionate about creating environments in which residents can become part of a close-knit community where friendships are formed, active living is embraced and support is provided to help them remain independent for as long as possible," Mr Randello said.
"Nothing gives me more pleasure than someone telling me how their quality-of-life improved through the ongoing support and engagement they experience in a retirement village," he said.
Mr Randello said he would work closely with the RLC to quickly develop strong evidence-based arguments about why governments should actively support the development of more accessible and affordable age-friendly communities.
Revisiting longstanding concerns about the inequitable treatment of retirement village residents in qualifying for the Commonwealth Rental Assistance (CRA) scheme is high on his agenda, especially as a pragmatic response to the housing supply crisis.
Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the new President of the RLC was leading a new generation of property leaders who linked sustainable development with health and wellbeing, productivity and climate action.
"The key message is that we must show political decision-makers how getting the right housing mix is the best way to deliver the most affordable and sustainable housing solution, while simultaneously tackling other policy challenges," Mr Zorbas said.
Mr Randello was joined by Messrs Zorbas and Gannon in thanking and acknowledging the RLC's immediate past-president, Marie-Louise "M-L" MacDonald.
"In championing the 8-point plan and the Retirement Living Code of Conduct over her four years as President, M-L helped rebuild the reputation, professionalism, quality and standing of retirement villages," Mr Randello said.
"We are now better prepared, stronger and more resilient, which is a great tribute to how she has quietly and confidently steered our industry around the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and through COVID-19," he said.
A 10-year longitudinal study of Australian retirement village residents commissioned by DCM Group found 83 per cent of residents felt safer in their age-friendly community, with 94 per cent of residents confirming they were 'glad to be living in a retirement community during these uncertain COVID-19 times'.
Mr Randello was elected RLC President until February 2025 and will be supported by Dr Brett Robinson (Retire Australia) and Kim Teudt (Bolton Clarke), who were elected Vice-Presidents.
