The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of Dr Heather Holst as the inaugural Commissioner for Residential Tenancies.
Dr Holst has almost 30 years of experience working in the housing, tenancy and homelessness sectors and is a strong champion for the rights of Victorian tenants.
She has worked in Melbourne and regional Victoria in a wide range of roles, with community housing organisations, local councils and the Tenants Union of Victoria.
Dr Holst is currently the Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Launch Housing where she has worked since 2015.
During her time at Launch Housing, Dr Holst has worked to secure funding for a range of housing projects and rough sleeping solutions and appeared at the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
From 2009 to 2015 Dr Holst worked as a General Manager and CEO of HomeGround Services where she secured new multimillion-dollar contracts for support programs and oversaw a merger to form Launch Housing.
Dr Holst led a Department of Human Services Victoria team working on Victoria’s response to the Commonwealth Government’s White Paper on Homelessness as well as the development and implementation of the Opening Doors framework between 2005 and 2009.
As Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, Dr Holst, will work closely with stakeholders across the rental sector to identify systemic issues and make recommendations to government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz
“We said that we’d appoint a champion for the rights of Victorian tenants and that’s what we’re delivering.”
“Dr Heather Holst has long been an advocate for housing rights and I congratulate her on her appointment.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020