MaxCap today announced two senior appointments reporting to Chief Executive Officer, Kylie Robb, marking a further step in the firm’s evolution as it deepens its focus on enhancing investor experience, governance and platform scalability.

Based in Melbourne, the new appointments are:

• Greg Wilkinson as Head of Investment Management
• Joan Perryman as Chief Operating Officer

Commenting on the news, Ms Robb said: “I am pleased to welcome two highly experienced executives to the leadership team. Greg and Joan each bring a distinct perspective and deep expertise that will play a critical role in strengthening our investment decision making and operations capabilities.”

“Underpinned by strong and consistent leadership in our origination teams, with an average tenure of 10 years, we have built a platform with strong commercial capabilities, institutional foundations and disciplined governance. Together with the appointment of Michael Herlihy as Chief Risk Officer earlier this year, the addition of this high-calibre talent enables us to continue to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns for our capital partners into Private Capital opportunities in Australian and New Zealand real estate.”

Mr Wilkinson will focus on MaxCap’s management and delivery of disciplined portfolio construction ensuring attractive risk-adjusted returns for fund and institutional investors. He brings 25 years of global institutional investment experience in real assets and credit, both public and private, from roles at AustralianSuper, Franklin Templeton Investments and Credit Suisse.

Ms Perryman steps into the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, focused on enhancing investor experience and further strengthening MaxCap’s operating platform. She brings 25 years of experience in investment operations, outsourcing and client service, and joins from Vanguard, where she most recently served as Head of Service Partnerships and Readiness. Prior to this, she was Head of Operations at Qualitas.

Both have commenced in their roles.

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).

MaxCap has appointed Michael Herlihy as Chief Risk Officer, reporting to Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Kylie Robb He will start in the role on 7 April 2026.

Responsible for the firm’s enterprise risk, compliance and governance frameworks, Mr Herlihy will ensure the platform maintains strong foundations to scale with discipline and continue to deliver sustainable investor returns.

Mr Herlihy brings more than 30 years’ global financial services and enterprise risk experience to the role. He was most recently Head of Institutional and Corporate Credit at Westpac. Prior to this, he spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs, including as Chief Risk Officer covering Australia and the Pacific, and has also held senior risk roles at PwC and Commonwealth Bank.

His appointment further strengthens MaxCap’s institutional-grade risk and governance capability as the firm continues to grow its funds management platform.

Based in Sydney, Mr Herlihy succeeds Manny Arabatsis, who remains an independent member of MaxCap’s Risk Committee.

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.