Our Executive Team
The Stevens Group is led by Chairman and Founder, John Stevens. John’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills, have enabled him to assemble a highly experienced team of qualified professionals, many of whom have been with the group for more than 20 years.
Our team of industry professionals include: Engineers, Project Managers, Architects, Town Planners, Property Sales, Asset Managers, Financial Controllers, Lawyers, Leasing and Marketing, Hoteliers, Residential Building Managers and Cost Estimators.
John Stevens
Founder and Chairman
John is the Founder and Chairman of the Stevens Group and the driving force behind the success of over 300 development projects to date. John’s passion to embrace the industry, has seen him grow the company to specialise in projects across the commercial, retail, residential, childcare and retirement living sectors. With over 42 years at the helm, his passion and natural intuition for this industry are still as focused today, as it was in the beginning. He unites an experienced senior level management team, to strategically drive the company’s objectives in design, delivery and quality standards, to not only meet expectations but exceed them. John is fully immersed in all of the Stevens Group projects. John’s proven track record of bringing concepts for developments to life, has resulted in a number of National and State Awards being delivered to his projects including the Vintage Residential Golf Course Project, Glengara Retirement Village, Forresters Beach Retirement Village, National AHA Award for Headlands Hotel at Austinmer, and the recent 2021 Urban Development Institute of NSW for Excellence in NSW Regional & ACT Development category for Foreshore Lake Macquarie at Toronto. John is a previous long standing board member of Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association in the Hunter Valley and is also the long term President of the Terrigal Trojan Rugby Club on the NSW Central Coast.
Brett Harrod
Managing Director
Brett, as the Managing Director, is responsible for the strategic direction, company performance and commercial outcomes of the property group’s development projects.
His focus is to continue to enhance business culture in the group through the continuous improvement of systems and ongoing development of our look, feel and act culture.
Brett is active in the entire development space from acquisition and management of new development projects, as well as overseeing his developments through to delivery.
Having been engaged in the property development industry for over 47 years, Brett brings a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge to each project. He has developed commercial, residential, (both subdivisions and apartment living projects), retail, childcare and industrial property projects.
Brett started his career in real estate agency practice owning and managing four real estate offices in Western Sydney. Brett’s industry knowledge, relationships with key industry leaders and experience is instrumental when it comes to delivering the best possible outcomes for both the Stevens Group and our corporate and joint venture clients.
Michael O'Brien
Chief Executive Officer
Michael leads the Stevens Group as CEO and is a qualified CPA accredited Accountant, having gained tertiary qualifications in Financial Administration, Accounting and Finance from the University of New England. He is responsible for overseeing all functions of the organisation, from marketing, development projects, financials and forecasting for the Stevens Group's diverse range of assets and brands. With a wealth of experience in the field of finance within the building, hospitality, real estate, construction and funeral services industries, Michael’s leadership combined with his considered approach, is credited to the group’s success.
Janine Jeffery
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Janine is responsible for providing a high level executive support to John Stevens, the Chairman and Founder of Stevens Group, as well as Michael O'Brien, the CEO. Her extensive experience, dedication and commitment enable her to adapt to a fast paced work environment with professionalism and accuracy. Having worked for the Stevens Group for over 20 years, Janine is highly regarded among her colleagues and clients and is the heart of the Stevens Group team.
Jason Capuano
Development Director
Jason has worked with the Stevens Group since 2011 and as a director and shareholder in the Stevens Property Group since 2021.
His key role as Development Director is managing the business operations, which includes project acquisition, sales and leasing and delivery of projects on budget and within program.
Jason has vast experience in all development sectors which the property group participates including convenience retail, large format retail, highway service centres, childcare centres and residential apartment buildings. A highlight being the successful award-winning Foreshore Lake Macquarie project at Toronto completed in 2021, among many other outstanding projects.
Jason manages our key client relationships with national and multi-national retail partners and our network of agents, consultants and builders that help us achieve our network growth and delivery plan.
Lin Armstrong
Planning Services Manager
Lin is a qualified town planner and holds the key position of Manager for Planning Services within the Group. Lin has over 25 years experience in both the public and private sectors having held senior positions in both Local and State Government. In her role with Stevens Group, she is responsible for taking projects from inception through to construction and negotiating the raft of approvals required in property development. Lin’s knowledge of the NSW planning approval process and legislation allows her to respond to the varying demands of regulatory authorities with expertise and professionalism. Lin is highly regarded within the planning industry and is a corporate member of the NSW UDIA.
Ben Johnson
Senior Development Manager
Ben Johnson is a qualified Civil Engineer with tertiary qualifications from the University of Queensland with over 20 years’ experience in the engineering and building industry. Ben is responsible for the management and delivery of projects including overseeing the Stevens Group hallmark site The Vintage in the Hunter Valley. Ben brings his technical understanding and experience, as well as his hardworking and meticulous approach to all aspects of his role with the Stevens Group.
Emma Sharp
Finance Manager
Emma works closely with the development team providing group cashflows and insightful reporting to enable business decisions. As a qualified ACCA Accredited Accountant with over a decade of team management experience, Emma is responsible for group consolidation of financials and supporting the Finance and Operations Director in overseeing the group’s finance teams. Having previously worked for two of Australia’s largest commercial real estate groups, Emma has gained a passion for continuous improvement taking the lead on information system and process improvements.
Mackenzie Stevens
Development Manager
Mackenzie is a key member of the Stevens Group development team, bringing nearly a decade of experience in property development. Since joining in 2016, he has played an integral role in the acquisition, management and delivery of a diverse range of projects. He has experience working across all asset classes, successfully managing projects in residential, commercial, industrial, and hospitality sectors. Mackenzie is committed to delivering high-quality projects that align with the company’s vision and contribute to long-term growth and market success of the Stevens Group.
Jason Crannage
Development Manager
With over 15 years in the property and construction industry, Jason’s knowledge and in-depth level of experience is widespread. His expertise spans high-end residential, mixed-use and greenfield subdivision projects.
Jason’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and Commerce - Property from the University of Western Sydney.
At Stevens Group, Jason’s day-to-day focus is maintaining strong and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of every development.
Morgan Petherbridge
Project Manager
Morgan is a Project Manager with a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. With nearly 10 years’ experience in the construction industry, she has worked closely with project stakeholders to successfully deliver projects across a range of construction sectors, including residential subdivisions, tourism, education, industrial, multi-residential and commercial developments. Managing numerous multi-residential projects contributes to her detail orientated management style. She takes pride in the full life cycle of projects with the Stevens Group.
Josh Harrod
Development Manager - Real Estate
Since joining the Stevens Group in 2015, Josh has been involved in a number of our landmark commercial, industrial and residential developments. His role as a Development Manager primarily focuses on site identification and acquisitions as well as managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Josh is a member of the Australian Property Institute and is passionate about continuing his professional development.
Corbin Bond
Senior Project Manager
Corbin’s role as a Senior Project Manager focuses on the delivery of many of our commercial projects including major fuel and fast-food retailers. Corbin provides a high-level of expertise in project management and client-side construction management to deliver exceptional results. His experience stems from a background in the QSR system delivering over 30 projects in this space as a Client-Side Project Manager and Superintendent in Sydney, Greater Sydney and regional NSW. Corbin’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Construction Management and a Masters of Project Management in the Build Environment from the University of Newcastle.
Eliza Giles
Junior Project Manager
Eliza joined the Stevens Group in 2021 as a Cadet, gaining experience in subdivision developments. In her current role as a Junior Project Manager, she assists the development team with the coordination and delivery of multiple projects including Childcare Centres, Industrial Units, Commercial and Residential developments. Eliza graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2023 with a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours). Eliza prides herself on attention to detail and maintaining a highly organised and professional approach in her work. She is dedicated to progressively expanding her knowledge and expertise across all aspects of Stevens Group developments.
Charlie Granger
Project Manager
Charlie’s role as a Project Manager focuses on helping with the delivery of jobs in many of our commercial projects. With a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) from the University of Newcastle and 5 years hands on experience in the construction industry, he is well equipped to be part of the Stevens Group team. Charlie takes pride in his work ethic and attention to detail, he is excited to expand his expertise in all areas of the development industry.
Henry Parker
Cadet Project Manager
Henry commenced with the Stevens Group as a Cadet Project Manager supporting our major projects team in the delivery of the Stevens Group’s subdivision developments. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Construction Management at the University of Newcastle and will be graduating in 2026. Henry is working alongside experienced industry professionals to help him develop his skills while continuing his studies and starting a career in the construction industry.
Kellie Batton
Assistant to Brett Harrod
Kellie Batton joined the Stevens Group in 2024 bringing with her over 20 years experience working in the professional services field supporting top level executives.
Kellie’s expertise includes comprehensive administrative management, effective communication, strategic planning, building strong teams to enhance executive efficiency and organisational success.
Kellie is looking forward to working with Stevens Group to make a positive impact with all stakeholders and her colleagues.
Darren Nichols
Finance Consultant
Darren comes with a history of banking experience and expertise. He started his career working with a major Bank and after 15 years working in the Banking sector, specialising in property finance, Darren joined Stevens Group. With Darren’s experience in the Banking sector comes an invaluable insight into funding arrangements and structuring when discussing projects with prospective financers.
Wendy Eschler
Residential Sales Manager
Wendy is an experienced Marketing and Sales Manager and specializes in residential land subdivisions. She is dedicated to assisting buyers when securing residential land by utilising her detailed knowledge and experience in assessing the slope, orientation, and aspect of each block to help take advantage of the best design solutions possible. Wendy offers her clients expert design advice for their new home, based on over 15 years’ experience working with quality residential subdivision designs.
Kim Waterhouse
Marketing and Communications Manager
Kim’s experience in the Marketing and Communications industry has spanned over 20 years. Primarily working in Hotels, Tourism and Brand Agencies both within Australia and Overseas, her specialty areas focus on Digital Marketing and Innovative Brand Identity. She has worked in senior management roles for some of the world's leading hotels; including Leading Hotels of the World, Mirvac Hotels, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Hayman Island Resort and the Golden Door Resorts and Spas. With a degree in Marketing and in Communications, Kim believes the key to success is that we must stay ahead of our client’s needs and discover what they want before they do.
