Aware Real Estate names CFO

Aware Super's property arm has welcomed Tracey Whitby as head of finance and operations.

Aware Real estate - the largest manager of Build-to-Rent in Australia - was launched by the $150 billion industry fund to grow its directly-owned Australian property portfolio.

In the inaugural role as CFO, Whitby will provide strategic and best practice finance and operational advice during the establishment and growth phase of the platform while also leading, mentoring and training a team of professionals.

She joined from Lincoln Place, an Australian real estate fund manager specialising in the creation, development, management and operation of land lease communities.

As the CFO, she was director of all financial reporting, budgeting, IT, tax, treasury, audit, legal and HR matters.

Before her four years at Lincoln, Whitby worked as a financial consultant at the Griffin Theatre Company.

Previous roles include financial controller at Knight Frank Valuations, Aust Equity Properties and Mirvac.

Aware Real Estate chief executive Michelle McNally said: "We are thrilled to have Tracey join our growing team, bringing a broad range of knowledge and experience as we embark on expanding our leadership in the Australian property market to host $7 billion in assets by 2027.

"Tracey's appointment supports our strategy for growth and solidifies our leadership in the affordable housing space through our Essential Worker Housing Program which currently provides 500 apartments across multiple capital cities with a pipeline of another 1,200 apartments."

Aware Real Estate will actively manage the super fund's directly-owned Australian living, industrial, office and mixed-use property portfolio. The portfolio currently consists of 11 operational assets and eight development sites in various stages of planning.