Executive team

Ross Du Vernet

Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Executive Director

BBus, MBA, AMP

Ross Du Vernet is Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Dexus and an Executive Director of Dexus Funds Management Limited.

Ross has more than 20 years of experience investing in real assets with a background in corporate transactions, strategy, and funds management in Australia and abroad.

Ross holds an MBA from MGSM and a Bachelor of Business (Finance, Banking) from the University of Technology Sydney. He has also completed the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.

Keir Barnes

Chief Financial Officer

BCom, MBA (Exec), CAANZ, GAICD

Keir Barnes is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Dexus and responsible for the finance function, including financial operations and performance, planning and analysis, transactions and reporting, treasury, taxation, valuations, business services and investor relations.

Keir has an extensive background in the property and funds management industry, with 20 years of experience gained in roles across finance, funds management, real estate corporate advisory and chartered accounting.

She is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Business Administration (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women.

Michael Bessell

Executive General Manager, Infrastructure

BEc, LLB (Hons), GradDipAppFin, GAICD

Michael Bessell is Executive General Manager, Infrastructure with responsibility for overseeing the Dexus group’s $10.8 billion infrastructure business.

Michael has more than 30 years of experience in investment management and investment banking, with a focus in acquisitions, fund raising and developing infrastructure projects as a sponsor or principal across all infrastructure subsectors. He has held senior management roles in infrastructure at AMP Capital, NM Rothschild & Sons and Schroders.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Melanie Bourke

Chief Operating Officer

BCom, MBA (Exec), CAANZ, GAICD

Melanie Bourke is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Dexus where she is responsible for supporting business activity and enhancing decision efficiency across the group. Melanie leads the Risk, Real Estate Services & Procurement, Legal, Compliance & Governance, Corporate Affairs & External Communications, Marketing, Technology and Sustainability functions, as well as leading the Strategic Delivery Office.

Melanie has more than 20 years of experience in the property industry, working across Finance, Investor Relations, Office of the CEO, Asset and Property Management in Dexus’s Office division and most recently led the people and culture function.

Melanie is an Executive Director of Dexus Asset Management Limited. She holds a Master of Business Administration (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women.

Andy Collins

Executive General Manager, Office

BCom, MBA

Andy Collins is Executive General Manager, Office with responsibility for the Dexus group’s $22.4 billion office portfolio. 

He has more than 25 years of experience in institutional real estate including 10 years at Dexus, where in prior roles leading the asset management teams and, the capital transactions team. Prior to joining Dexus, Andy held senior roles with Macquarie Capital Advisors, Grant Samuel Property and Knight Frank.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Property Economics) from University of Western Sydney, a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Marco Ettorre

Executive General Manager, Retail

BCom

Marco Ettorre is Executive General Manager, Retail with responsibility for the Dexus group’s $9.6 billion retail portfolio.

He has more than 25 years of experience in real estate across all aspects of retail management including fund management, leasing, investment, development and property management. He has held senior retail management roles at AMP Capital and Lendlease.

Marco holds a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Finance and Marketing) from the University of New South Wales and is a Board member of The Shopping Centre Council of Australia. Marco is also a Director of Dexus Shopping Centres Pty Limited and a licensed real estate agent in NSW, VIC, WA and New Zealand.

Jonathan Hedger

Chief Investment Officer

BCom (Hons, 1st Class)

Jonathan Hedger is Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Dexus with responsibility for strategy, corporate transactions, research and investment management of the Dexus balance sheet portfolio.

He has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate and investment banking industries across strategy, mergers and acquisition, investment management, equity and debt financing, as well as research. Prior to Dexus, he held roles with Deutsche Bank AG and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (1st Class, Hons) from the University of Auckland.

Chris Mackenzie

Executive General Manager, Industrial

BConstEc, BConst, GCertP&E

Chris Mackenzie is Executive General Manager, Industrial with responsibility for the Dexus group’s $11.0 billion Industrial portfolio.

He has more than 25 years of experience including 10 years at Dexus with extensive experience in transactions, development, leasing, portfolio management and investment strategy in organisations including Lendlease, Australand and BGC Group.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Construction Economics / Quantity Surveying from RMIT University, a Bachelor of Constructions from University of Melbourne and a Graduate Certificate in Planning and Environment.

Brenton McEwan

Executive General Manager, Alternative Investments & Healthcare

BPropEc

Brenton McEwan is Executive General Manager for Alternative Investments and Healthcare at Dexus, where he oversees the strategy, investment decisions and performance of a diverse portfolio of assets across various sectors. These assets include real estate, financial investments, and other capital strategies.

He has worked both domestically and internationally, with more than 20 years of experience in management and operational roles in real estate investment, transactions, development and asset management.

Brenton holds a Bachelor of Property Economics degree from the University of Technology, Sydney as well as several professional certifications including the Strategic Finance Program at Harvard Business School Executive Education.

Marjan van der Burg

Chief People Officer

BA, MSc, MA

Marjan van der Burg is Chief People Officer at Dexus, with responsibility for ensuring high quality people experiences, and an equitable and inclusive workplace.

Marjan has more than 15 years of experience in human resources and operations. Prior to joining Dexus, Marjan held a number of roles at Macquarie Group in Europe, the Americas and Australia.

Marjan holds a Bachelor of Arts from University College Utrecht, a Master of Science (Economics & Business) from the Erasmus University, and a Master of Arts (Human Resource Development) from London Metropolitan University.