Our Team

Dan Donovan

Chairman

Richard (Dick) Lester

Dan Donovan

Chairman.

Dan was appointed Chairman of Lester Group in December 2023.  Dan has over 40 years’ experience in Corporate and Commercial Banking in Australia and overseas with a specific focus on property investment and development, oil and gas services, mining services, import and export finance and wholesale industries. Previous full time roles included Head of Property at National Australia Bank in Western Australia and Regional Executive for WA at Bank of New Zealand Australia. Dan was previously a Non–Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee of LandCorp.

Richard (Dick) Lester AM

Executive Director

Richard (Dick) Lester

Richard (Dick) Lester AM

Executive Director.

Dick resigned as Chairman  of Lester Group in December 2023, but remains on the Board as a Director.  He has been in the real estate development business for many years, following a career in real estate sales, market research and valuations.

Dick was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Growth Equities Mutual Limited, a market – leading unlisted property trust in Australia with $1.6 billion under management. Lend Lease Corporation purchased the company in 1994.

Dick was a Non-Executive Director of Wesfarmers Limited for over 12 years until 30 June 2008. He was Chairman of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, now the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, until his retirement in 2009 and is a member of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

On Australia Day 2010, Dick was appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Western Australia through contributions to education, health and medical research organisations, and to business.

Dick was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Murdoch University in March 2010 in recognition and appreciation for his work as Inaugural Chairman and Trustee of the Murdoch University Veterinary Trust and for two terms each of three years as Senator of Murdoch University.

Adrian Lester

Executive Director

Richard (Dick) Lester

Adrian Lester

Executive Director. Adrian Lester is an Executive Director of the Lester Group of companies. He has over 30 years’ direct property experience with a background in real estate investment, development, property sales and commercial leasing in Perth and regional areas. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Valuation and Land Administration) from the Western Australian Institute of Technology.

Stuart Lester

Executive Director

Richard (Dick) Lester

Stuart Lester

Executive Director.

Stuart Lester is an Executive Director of the Lester Group of companies. He has over 25 years’ direct property experience with a background in residential real estate development, property sales and commercial leasing in Perth and regional areas. He is a licensed real estate agent and holds a Bachelor of Commerce – Property from Curtin University and is a Member of the Real Estate Institute of WA and the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Russell Lester

Executive Director

Russell Lester

Russell Lester

Executive Director.

Russell has over 25 years’ experience in the Australian investment industry and global financial markets, building a broad range of investment management skills.

Russell holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Western Australia; a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (formerly Securities Institute of Australia); is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Member of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

Andrew Hull

Chief Financial Officer

Richard (Dick) Lester

Andrew Hull

Chief Financial Officer. Andrew has over 30 years’ experience in financial management, including roles as CEO, CFO and company director. Andrew has worked in various industries including mining, timber and property industries, and has extensive experience in the financial services industry as an AFSL responsible manager. He is currently the CFO of the Lester Group, a responsible manager for Hull Trading Pty Ltd and Growth Equities Pty Ltd. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia.

Brad Spargo

General Manager Commercial and Industrial

Richard (Dick) Lester

Brad Spargo

GM Commercial and Industrial. Brad has over 20 years’ direct property experience across commercial, residential and industrial investment and development around Australia. He is a qualified valuer and licensed real estate agent, an Associate of the Australian Property Institute and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Property) from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia.

Kerry Powell

Senior Development Manager

Richard (Dick) Lester

Kerry Powell

Senior Development Manager. Kerry is a senior finance professional and Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ property and property finance experience. Kerry’s previous role was with National Australia Bank Ltd as the Client Fulfillment Director of Corporate Property WA where he was responsible for a team of seven staff and managing the Bank’s commercial property exposure to complex and sophisticated corporate property borrowers. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Business Law) and a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting. Kerry is also on the Board for Telethon Community Cinemas, a not-for-profit organisation.

Morgan O’Shea

General Manager Commercial Development

Morgan O’Shea

General Manager - Commercial Development. Morgan has over 20 years’ direct property experience across commercial, residential and industrial development in Australia and Ireland. He played a key role, as Director of Property, in the rollout of ALDI supermarkets into the WA market. He has extensive knowledge and experience in site analysis, land acquisition, lease negotiation, planning approval processes, construction and asset management. He holds a B.A. Degree and M.A. from University of Limerick, Ireland and an M.B.A. from Curtin University Graduate School of Business, WA.

Arul Radakrishnan

Group Accountant

Richard (Dick) Lester

Arul Radakrishnan

Group Accountant. Arul has extensive experience in tax and corporate accounting which he has gained over the past 20 years. Prior to joining Lester Group in 2004, Arul was a senior accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers for six years (Malaysia and Australia). Arul holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting and Economics and attained his Master of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting, from Deakin University, Victoria.

Gary Allan

Systems/Management Accountant

Richard (Dick) Lester

Gary Allan

Systems/Management Accountant. Gary has over 20 years’ experience in accounting and systems IT management. He has held various roles as an accountant and a systems analyst predominantly in mining and lifestyle village industries, specialising in system improvements, automation and transitions. Gary holds a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Accounting and Information Systems from Edith Cowan University. He is currently studying towards a CPA post graduate certification.

Liz Carney

Office Finance Manager

Richard (Dick) Lester

Liz Carney

Office Finance Manager. Liz has been with the Lester Group since 2002 and has over 30 years experience in accounts and payroll. Liz’s experience is varied in all aspects of accounts, payroll, office management and contract management.

William Marshall

CEO Edenlife

Richard (Dick) Lester

William Marshall

CEO Edenlife

Williams extensive career began in the public and private Healthcare sector, and involved a variety of CEO roles throughout Australia. In 2001, William transitioned into the delivery of housing and support services for older Australians as CEO of SwanCare Group. William has played a major role in a number of retirement and aged care developments, taking his skills to Aspen Communities, Westridge Australia and National Lifestyle Villages. In 2018, William joined Lester Group as Edenlife CEO, with the opportunity to progress the development of affordable accommodation for active over 50s on scale.

William holds a Bachelor of Health Administration (UNSW), two Post Graduates Certs in Health Services Management (ECU) and is currently a practicing Justice of the Peace.

Emma Hughes

Executive Assistant

Richard (Dick) Lester

Emma Hughes

Office Secretary.

Joining Lester Group in February 2012, Emma is a Senior Executive Assistant with over 20 years’ experience, previously working for the Managing Director, CFO and Director of Business Development within the Defence Industry of multinational company L-3 Communications Nautronix Limited. Prior to this Emma was part of the successful team opening Harvey Norman Osborne Park store as PA to the Proprietors.

Samantha Thomas

Operations Manager Edenlife

Samantha Thomas

Edenlife Operations Manger

Sam has spent the past nine years working in the aged care industry, for operators of both lifestyle villages and retirement/nursing homes. From sales & pre-start administration, village administration & management to executive support, Sam is committed to providing positive experiences to everyone she meets.

Andrew Goodin

Development Director Edenlife

Andrew Goodin

Development Director Edenlife

Andrew has over 40 years’ experience in the building industry and currently holds a Builders Registration Ticket. Prior to joining Edenlife, Andrew was General Manager of Ecofit Homes where he built a streamlined transportable home manufacturing business that produced, at times, up to 180 homes per annum. He has built and maintained strong ties with key industry stakeholders.

Andrew joined the Edenlife team in 2018 and his role includes the management of new community planning, design, feasibility, and delivery. This including construction of a new community’s civil infrastructure, common facilities and new resident homes.

Darryl Marshall

Manager Projects & Acquisitions

Darryl Marshall

Manager Projects & Acquisitions 

Darryl is a Registered Builder with over 30 years of combined Operational and General Management experience in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Having held leadership roles within modular building, he has a continual improvement mindset, and a keen interest in the implementation of Lean/Six Sigma principles to optimize business processes and productivity.

Darryl joined Edenlife in 2023 to support Projects and Acquisitions, and is committed to developing sustainable, liveable, lifestyle communities.

Invest with Us

A passion for excellence, performance focused and a commitment to deliver.

The Lester Group has been sustainably growing the wealth of its investors since 1995. They are known for being diligent, disciplined and responsible for the consistent delivery of value with an objective of maximising returns for investors.