About Divanshu Verma

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So far Divanshu Verma has created 24 blog entries.

Dunstan De Souza
Managing Partner Colin Biggers & Paisley

I first met Matthew about ten years ago when I was a solicitor doing work for Australand and Matt came across to Sydney as the NSW General Manager for residential development. Over the years I have gotten to know Matthew through extensive and varied dealings from acquiring and developing property to doing some personal legal work for him and also having the opportunity to spend time with Matthew and his family socially.

Matthew’s word has always been his bond. He has been honest and consistent in his behaviour. In my extensive dealings with Matthew, his integrity is not something that I would ever place any doubt upon.

Matthew is a loving husband and father and a great asset to his family. He is also a loyal, trusting and trusted friend.

Dunstan De Souza
www.cbp.com.au

Dunstan De Souza
Managing Partner Colin Biggers & Paisley
2020-08-21T06:05:04+00:00

Karl Fender
Director Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects
President Australian Institute Of Architects, Victorian Chapter

Mathew has played senior and pivotal roles for major development companies throughout Australia and around the world. It has certainly been a privilege and a pleasure working with him towards great architectural and urban design outcomes. He leads by example and has that rare ability to command deep respect from peers at all levels of a corporate environment. Three particular experiences working with him come to mind…

The first was while Matthew worked at Australand. He managed a competition for a major project of urban renewal in Sydney called Second Ponds Creek. He implored the consultant group to focus on triple bottom line outcomes with particular emphasis on community and sustainability. This approach was embraced by the team and viewed favourably by the Government. The project was awarded to the team based on a strong platform created by Matthew from the outset. His focussed leadership and high commercial principles provided rare exemplar to the team.

Later Matthew invited us to Dubai to undertake a peer review of the new city plan for Nakheel at Dubai Waterfront. Interestingly, his challenge was not to import foreign design strategies on the Dubai landscape but to embrace local and traditional planning techniques and adopt these in the new master plan. He suggested we read about history and culture of Dubai before designing for it and avoid imposing Western ideology upon an ancient land and an ancient people. He was obviously deeply committed to respecting the local culture and it`s environmental expectations. His personal respect for the local community was obvious.

Matthew championed the notion of walkable neighbourhoods. He challenged the dominance of car dependent culture endemic in the developed and developing world. He supported our call to adopt these principles in a residential masterplan at Dubai waterfront in the face of sometimes callous commercial imperatives. The strategy proved highly successful with the project selling out in four days. This was one of the most locally appropriate and successful projects launched in Dubai.

Matthew’s quiet, determined and passionate respect for culture and environment is infectious. His ability to effect change by empowering others with high values is an outstanding attribute. I wish him well in his path to recovery in Dubai and look forward to seeing him retain his position as a highly respected professional and individual.

Karl Fender
www.fkmarchitects.com

Karl Fender
Director Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects
President Australian Institute Of Architects, Victorian Chapter
2020-08-21T05:57:06+00:00

Peter Dransfield
Company Director And Property Consultant
Former Multiplex Non Executive Director

I had the pleasure of working with Matthew for four years at Australand – where we were both Executive General Managers of our respective Divisions. Matthew was always capable, talented and hardworking and had a very good understanding of the markets in which he operated. He generated a high degree of loyalty from those who worked both for him and with him and many of us considered that he was a candidate for the position of CEO at a later time. He led his division into some very good projects and made significant gains in winning work from Government agencies.

When Matthew left Australand and joined St Hilliers, I worked with him again as a Non Executive member of several fund investment committees where Matthew showed a high degree of motivation to successfully establish the funds management activities of St Hilliers. In addition Matthew was helpful to me in linking up the Multiplex people in Dubai with projects that suited their skill base.

I do hope that Matthew is able to win his legal fight in Dubai and come back to Australia with his name and reputation restored to the position it was in prior to his overseas career.

Peter Dransfield

Peter Dransfield
Company Director And Property Consultant
Former Multiplex Non Executive Director
2020-08-21T05:57:39+00:00

Brendan Crotty
Former Managing Director Of Australand

I am pleased to provide testamentary support for Matthew Joyce based on my commercial and personal relationship with Matthew since 1997. I was Managing Director of the Australand Property Group and its predecessor organisations for a period of 17 years, until I retired in mid 2007 and now hold several private and public sector non-executive directorships.

Matthew was initially the General Manager of Australand’s Land Development operations in Perth and subsequently became Executive General Manager of the company’s Land Development Division in early 2000 and held that position until he resigned to pursue what he perceived to be a better career opportunity elsewhere.

I held a high opinion of Matthew as an executive and as a person to the extent that I acted as a referee for Matthew when the opportunity arose for him to take a senior role with Nakheel Corporation in Dubai. Matthew is a very competent executive with high personal standards and a very well developed sense of morality and ethics.

I shall always be happy to provide further testimony regarding Matthew if requested.

Brendan Crotty

Brendan Crotty
Former Managing Director Of Australand
2020-08-18T03:13:52+00:00