MaxCap has appointed Kylie Robb as Chief Executive Officer to lead its next phase of growth and scale its institutional-grade real estate credit and equity funds management platform. Based in Sydney, her appointment is effective 1 July 2026.

Since joining the firm in 2024 as Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Ms Robb has been instrumental in delivering significant operational and structural enhancements, with a particular focus on MaxCap’s financial performance, governance and risk management. In her new role, she is responsible for executing the firm’s strategic growth agenda and scaling its investment platform to deliver sustainable value for investors.

With more than 25 years’ experience, Ms Robb has held senior executive roles at leading financial institutions. She was Executive General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the Business and Private Bank at NAB, having previously led Funding and Liquidity in Group Treasury at CBA. She began her career with a 15-year tenure at Goldman Sachs in New York and Sydney across banking, sales and trading roles. Her disciplined leadership and strong commercial judgement are evident in her track record of navigating complex market environments.

Ms Robb holds a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering from the University of New South Wales. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and Chief Executive Women (CEW).

Thomas Spencer has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 July 2026. Mr Spencer is an experienced ASX-listed Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary with an international background in funds management and financial services. He has held senior leadership roles in private equity and global investment management.

Mr Spencer is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Integrated construction and development group Hickory and commercial real estate fund manager MaxCap have commenced construction on a $300 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Melbourne’s CBD.

Unilodge, Australia’s largest student accommodation operator, has been appointed to operate and manage the property with students to be welcomed in Semester 1, 2028.

Located at 570 Little Bourke St, construction recently commenced on the 26-level building with completion expected late 2027. The development includes 892 student beds across 748 units with premium amenities such as a library, gymnasium, cinema, music room, group dining, lounges and games spaces.

Designer Nettletontribe has reinterpreted the site’s historic facade and surrounding bluestone, sandstone and red brick neighbourhood into a contemporary design that restores warmth and human scale to a long-neglected streetscape. The project will also revive the historic Great Western Hotel, bring new retail spaces, activate adjoining Brown Alley and improve pedestrian safety and access between Lonsdale and Little Bourke Streets.

The joint venture between MaxCap and Hickory demonstrates a shared commitment to investing in the creation of new living products to address Australia’s housing shortage as well as identifying pockets of CBD markets that are suitably poised for investment and activation.

The project is MaxCap’s second PBSA development in recent years, following the successful completion of the 736-bed UniLodge Perth Central asset in late 2025. It is also Hickory’s second major investment in Melbourne’s western CBD, having acquired the former Kilkenny Inn site at 580 Lonsdale Street. Hickory is currently revising the site’s scheme and working closely with authorities including the City of Melbourne.

Simon Hulett, Head of Equity Investment at MaxCap said, “We are continuing to invest into social infrastructure assets across the country, particularly those underpinned by the education and healthcare sectors where we see long term resilience. Activating new developments in the current environment is challenging so we are fortunate to have Hickory as a fully integrated partner to enable a clear pathway to delivery of the product. This asset will significantly reshape this precinct in Melbourne’s CBD and provide students with unparalleled access to transport and established amenity, including food, beverage and entertainment.”

Zoran Trimcevski, Head of Property at Hickory, said, “We are thrilled to commence construction and appoint an operator for this important project for Hickory and MaxCap,
which is one of Melbourne’s largest new PBSA developments. With works now underway, we are looking forward to welcoming students in collaboration with UniLodge at the start of the 2028 academic year.”

On appointment as operator, Peter Bates, Executive Chairman, UniLodge said, “We’re pleased to partner with Hickory and MaxCap on this significant CBD project to deliver critical social infrastructure that supports local universities and strengthens Melbourne’s global education reputation while easing pressure on the private rental market. The demand for high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation continues to outpace supply; this partnership reflects our shared strong confidence in this growing sector.”

570 Little Bourke will be the fourth PBSA project delivered by Hickory and the first delivered under its integrated builder-developer model, leveraging its in-house development capabilities to reduce planning and delivery risk while ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Michael Argyrou, Group CEO, Hickory, said, “Our integrated model allows us to take on more responsibility on suitable projects, reducing risk for investors and financiers while providing certainty that projects will be delivered to the highest standard.”

To further streamline delivery, SYNC prefabricated bathrooms will be installed. Manufactured offsite, the prefabricated units are fully finished, inspected and rigorously tested on the factory floor, significantly reducing on-site labour requirements and defects upon project completion.

The project is supported by Hickory’s investment manager, hCapital, which worked with MaxCap’s equity team to arrange and negotiate the preferred equity facility for the project.

Leading commercial real estate fund managers, April Group and MaxCap, have partnered to acquire the RPAH Medical Centre, located at 100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown NSW.

Located next to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) and the University of Sydney, the fully leased purpose-built medical facility is in one of Australia’s most significant healthcare and research precincts.

The 7,231 sqm medical facility with 214 car spaces has been acquired for $117 million and represents an initial passing yield equivalent to 6.75%.

A targeted capital expenditure program will upgrade the building into a modern medical facility and elevate tenant amenity.

MaxCap’s Head of Equity Investment, Simon Hulett said: “This partnership brings together two organisations with a proven track-record for investing in high-quality social infrastructure and healthcare assets. Opportunities like this are scarce – a fully leased asset of this calibre will deliver immediate yield to investors with further upside through clear strategic execution.”

“The investment thesis is underpinned by strong long-term macro drivers, including Australia’s ageing population, population growth and rising healthcare expenditure that is driving demand for modern healthcare and outpatient facilities.”

April Group’s Founder & Director, David Briscoe said: “The asset was highly attractive to us and our investors due to the asset’s history of full occupancy, chronic undersupply, and established ecosystem of leading medical professionals. There is already a waitlist of medical tenants seeking to secure space within the building.”

“The resilient and broad tenant profile of the asset enables us with the opportunity to enhance the identity of the building and offer elevated service levels that better suit this critical health precinct through a period of transformational change.”

The RPAH precinct has $2bn of investment underway, including the redevelopment of RPAH, the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator and The Healthcare and Life Sciences Hub.

University of Sydney research has found more than 22% of Australians will be aged 65 years and over in 2041, up from 17% in 2022. To meet demand, Australia’s health spending on older Australian’s is expected to double to $270 billion by 2035.

The sale was facilitated by Simon Quinn, Thomas Thorsen, Kate Low and James Barber of JLL and Adrian Bokolis of Savills.

Perth’s skyline welcomes a new addition as joint venture partners MaxCap Group, Australian Unity, and Sirona Urban mark the completion of UniLodge Perth Central, the 30-level student housing development in the city CBD, delivered three months ahead of schedule.

Construction started on the 736-bed UniLodge Perth Central at 325 Wellington Street in late-2023 and reached practical completion in October 2025.

Set to open for Semester 1, 2026, the completion of UniLodge Perth Central will open in time to welcome students attending the new 60,000sqm Edith Cowan University city campus. ECU will have capacity for up to 10,000 students,

UniLodge Perth Central features:

• A mix of 186 studio, 162 twin share, and 388 multi-bedroom cluster apartments
• Modern communal study hubs and social spaces
• Dedicated wellness facilities and gym
• Three ground floor retail tenancies
• A communal terrace on Level 2
• At a ceremony marking the project’s practical completion, attended by WA Housing Minister John Carey, Sirona Urban managing director Matthew McNeilly said UniLodge Perth Central addressed Perth’s housing challenges at a time when demand for rental properties exceeded supply.

“At this time of year, university students are looking at their options, with many seeking new accommodation for 2026. These additional 700-plus beds will help relieve pressure on Perth’s private rental market, freeing housing which would otherwise have been taken up by students,” Mr McNeilly said.

The need for specialised student accommodation in Perth is growing, particularly as more international and domestic students enroll in WA universities. Recent figures indicate more than 90,000 international student enrollments in the Perth metropolitan area in 2024, with each international student contributing about $40,000-$50,000 annually to the local economy through tuition and living expenses.

The WA Government and the City of Perth have sought to attract more city-living residents, and this project is a significant step in that direction.

The Hayball-designed building prioritises social connection and community integration, reflecting the joint venture’s combined commitment people-focused urban developments.

UniLodge Perth Central represents the eighth operating asset in Western Australia for UniLodge, Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider of student accommodation.

The project brought together the expertise of multiple partners:

• MaxCap Group, Australian Unity, and Sirona Urban as joint investors and owners
• Sirona Urban and Australian Unity as joint development managers
• Construction delivered by Built
• Operational management by UniLodge
• Financial backing from Wingate

Simon Hulett, Head of Direct Investment at MaxCap Group, highlighted the significance of the investment.

“We are confident in the resilience and growth of the purpose-built student accommodation sector nationally, particularly given it’s underpinned by Australia’s largest service export – education,” said Mr Hulett.

“Perth has a high-quality tertiary education sector but faces a significant study housing supply shortage to facilitate growth. Alongside our partners and stakeholders, we are excited to launch this asset and contribute to Perth’s education ecosystem.”

Ryan Banting, Executive General Manager Social Infrastructure, said the development is an example of what can be achieved when investors, developers, and operators partner to bring world-class infrastructure to communities.

“UniLodge Perth Central combines the respective strengths of purpose-aligned private capital and development expertise, working together to bring high quality student accommodation to the market,” Mr Banting said.

“At a time when Australia needs the private sector to bridge the supply-demand gap, assets like this are a vital part of our social infrastructure mix, reducing strain on the private rental market, contributing to economic growth, and improving community wellbeing.”

With practical completion and the recent activation of Ginza Nana Alley in the adjacent McLean Lane, students expected to move in at the beginning of 2026 adding to the evolution of Perth’s CBD.