Founded in 2016 by Tim Russell and Mark Taylor, Aura Holdings was born out of a shared vision to redefine retirement living in Australia.
Backed by over 35 years of experience in the retirement industry, Tim and Mark, our founders, have a deep understanding of what matters to seniors. This expertise guides every aspect of Aura’s approach, ensuring that our communities focus on the needs and well-being of our residents.
At Aura, we pride ourselves on building high-quality apartments and state-of-the-art community facilities in highly sought-after locations across South East Queensland. Our developments are thoughtfully positioned in infill locations that are rich with established amenities, allowing our residents to remain in the communities they know and love. By addressing the shortage of age-appropriate accommodation, we provide the opportunity for retirees to stay close to family, friends, and familiar surroundings.
Each Aura community seamlessly blends sophisticated design with discreet, age-friendly features. Our beautifully appointed independent living apartments are complemented by inviting outdoor spaces and premium communal facilities, creating vibrant environments where residents can live independently while enjoying the comforts of a welcoming, connected community.
Aura Holdings is setting new standards in retirement living by creating thoughtfully designed spaces where residents can thrive and enjoy a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
The Aura difference
Best locations for our communities
We pride ourselves on building high quality apartments and community facilities in highly-sought locations in South East Queensland that lack age-appropriate accommodation. Being positioned in infill locations with established facilities allows our residents to stay in the community they have lived in and have grown to love.
Simple and transparent fees
We say “no” to complicated hidden fee structures. We believe fees should be both fair and transparent. That’s why we have a straightforward Deferred Management Fee on the exit sale price, so you benefit from the growth in value of your apartment over time. There is also no stamp duty on the purchase of your apartment.
Personally invested
Aura’s directors Tim Russell and Mark Taylor have established a “built for purpose” business. They personally own and manage our villages, with the intention to remain intimately involved in their operation for the long term. This means you will have peace of mind knowing that you’ll always be in good hands with direct access to the appropriate lines of management, who really do care.
Pet friendly villages
Our retirement villages welcome pets as we understand how important they are to you and your wellbeing.
Refundable deposit
When securing your apartment within an Aura village, your only commitment is a $5,000 fully refundable deposit until your settlement day. Have peace of mind knowing that in the unlikely event your circumstances change, your deposit will be refunded should you not proceed with settlement.
Values that sets us apart from the rest
Purpose
To create connected communities
Ethos
Treat each other as you would a friend
Vision
To be a leading residential retirement provider, offering age-appropriate communities that provides purchasers the opportunity to downsize in the area that they have lived in and love.
Our values
Trust
We prioritise meaningful relationships by being true to our word, communicate openly and honestly, and actively listen.
Connection
Fostering connected communities, enhancing residents’ enjoyment of their retirement years and overall wellbeing.
Respect
We value the dignity, rights and privacy of all individuals.
Integrity
Operating each day with honesty, whilst being upfront and transparent about our policies and fee structures.
Accountability
Taking ownership of our actions and always striving to make a positive impact on our residents, staff and communities by going above and beyond.
Our team
Executive Leadership
Leadership Team
Village Managers
Tim Russell
Director
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Tim has over 25 years experience in the Retirement village, Funds management and Finance sector both in Australia and the UK, with Ernst & Young, Bankers Trust, FKP and RetireAustralia.
Having created RetireAustralia in 2006 and built it into the fourth largest village operator in the country before being acquired in December 2014 by NZ Super and Infratil Ltd. Tim left the company in 2015 to establish Aura Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and Five Good Friends.
Mark Taylor
Director
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Mark Taylor commenced his career with KPMG Brisbane as a Senior Accountant. After spending nine years in the financial services industry managing a suite of finance and banking functions, Mark was appointed Financial Controller of FKP Stapled Trust (now Aveo). During this period, Mark successfully managed the acquisition and integration of 19 retirement villages into the portfolio. In 2005, Mark was appointed the State Finance Manager for Lend Lease Communities where he was directly involved with ten large scale developments.
Sean Graham
Chief Executive Officer
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Leveraging off his educational background in Engineering and Economics, Sean started his career in banking in London, working for Merrill Lynch in its emerging markets trading department. Through various roles, he gained exposure to trading, risk, legal, treasury and operations. The analysis skillset developed during this time was utilised when he moved back to Brisbane to undertake a role with Arrow Energy, a Shell owned Coal Seam Gas operator, where he worked in operations and was responsible for development planning, economic analysis and operational optimisation of their onshore assets.
Following the role at Arrow Energy, Sean joined Collins Foods in a strategy and planning capacity. Sean oversaw the planning process for Collins Foods, with 250+ fast food stores (KFC, Taco Bell, Sizzler) across multiple countries earning total revenue of $800M. During this time, he was also involved in a number of domestic and international acquisitions and the associated integration of each.
Sean Joined Aura Holdings as the senior analyst in 2018. Following the establishment of financial and operational processes, he took on more broader sales, development and operational responsibility and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2020 and then to Chief Executive Officer in 2021 where he is currently responsible for the day to day running of Aura.
Sean holds the following academic qualifications:
Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Business Management (Economics), Queensland University of Technology
Clint Tingey
Manager Operations and Partnerships
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Clint Tingey brings a wealth of expertise to his role as Manager of Operations and Partnerships at Aura Holdings, where he leads all operational functions across our portfolio of thriving retirement communities. Since stepping into this role in June 2022, Clint has been instrumental in streamlining operations, driving efficiencies, and ensuring that each of our communities provides an exceptional living experience for residents.
Clint’s journey with Aura Holdings began in November 2019, when he was appointed as the Village Manager of The Atrium at Lutwyche in inner-city Brisbane. He played a pivotal role in commissioning the new village, expertly guiding it through its initial phase of operations to achieve an impressive occupancy rate of over 95%. His success in this role laid the foundation for his expanded responsibilities across the broader Aura portfolio.
Originally hailing from London, Clint’s diverse background includes senior roles in operations, facilities management, financial oversight, compliance, and procurement. Before joining Aura, Clint spent over seven years at Suncorp, one of Australia’s largest insurance and banking institutions, where he was part of the team managing a vast portfolio of over 4,000 properties in collaboration with facilities management partner, Jones Lang Lasalle. This experience sparked his passion for commercial property management.
Clint’s strategic leadership and deep operational insight continue to elevate Aura Holdings’ commitment to creating exceptional retirement living environments.
Josie Favero
Finance Manager
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With over 16 years of experience in the retirement sector, including 14 years in retirement finance, Josie brings a wealth of expertise to Aura Holdings. She first joined Mark Taylor and Tim Russell at RetireAustralia in 2012 before becoming part of the Aura team in 2018.
As Finance Manager since 2021 and a key member of the leadership team, Josie plays a vital role in overseeing retirement village accounting and ensuring compliance with retirement village legislation. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge, supporting village managers, and engaging with residents at annual meetings to provide financial clarity and confidence.
Jon Dicks
Manager of Development
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Jon, a registered Architect with a special interest in Master Planning, joined Aura Holdings as Senior Development Manager in 2018. Maintaining accreditation on the Board of Architects Queensland, Jon has undertaken the full range of project scope for Aura developments to build its portfolio of high-end luxury retirement villages. The broad suite of tasks undertaken include project feasibility testing, formulation of brief, team selection and design management, contract negotiations / tender and contract superintendent duties culminating in project handover to the Village Manager and new residents.Overall, Jon maintains a level-headed approach to problem-solving, while leveraging a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide interactions and processes to successful outcomes, to the benefit of the full range of stakeholders.
Kirralee Couch
Sales and Marketing Manager
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With over a decade of experience selling residential property across Brisbane, including prestigious family homes, inner city apartments and off-the-plan developments, Kirralee is an established sales and marketing professional with a reputation for delivering results. Kirralee joined Aura Holdings in 2019 as lead sales for Somerset Indooroopilly, selling out over 85% of the development in just two years. Kirralee was also instrumental in the development of the floor plans, providing expert advice and orchestrating multiple apartment pricing structure reviews based on market conditions.
Meg
Village Manager
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John
Village Manager – The Atrium
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Kymn
Village Manager – Somerset
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Rebecca
Village Manager – The Avenue
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Suzy
Village Manager – The Pavilion
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Hope
Village Manager – The Ninth
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Brenda Topfer
Pre-Contracts Administrator – Civil
Join our team
At Aura Holdings, we’re driven by a shared passion for creating exceptional retirement communities where residents can truly thrive. Our success is built on the dedication and expertise of our team members, who bring our vision to life every day. We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who are committed to making a difference.
Why join us?
Make an Impact: Be part of a team that values your contributions and celebrates the positive impact you have on our residents’ lives.
Growth Opportunities: We’re committed to your personal and professional development with ongoing training and career advancement opportunities.
Innovative Environment: Work with a forward-thinking company dedicated to reimagining retirement living.
Interested in joining us? Submit your expression of interest here or stay updated on new opportunities by following us on LinkedIn.
We’d love to connect with you!
Our history
2016
Mark Taylor and Tim Russell established Aura Holdings on 22 September 2016 as Aura Australia Holdings.
In September 2016 Aura acquired the Kingsford Terrace site which includes the already constructed Litchfield building.
2017
The Kingsford Terrace Duporth building sod-turning ceremony took place on 12 July 2017.
2018
The Avenue Maroochydore stage 1 commences construction on 19 March 2018.
The Avenue sod-turning ceremony takes place on the 18th April 2018.
The Kingsford Terrace Duporth building was officially opened on the 4th July 2018 by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.
2019
The Avenue Maroochydore was officially opened by Mayor Mark Jamieson on 24 July 2019.
The Pavilion North Kirra stage 1 sod-turning ceremony is conducted on the 21st November 2019.
The Kingsford Terrace Mitchell building sod-turning ceremony occurs on the 4th December 2019.
Construction commences on The Avenue Maroochydore stage 2 in August 2019.
2020
The Ninth Middle Ridge sod-turning ceremony occurs on 28th May 2020.
Throughout 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic construction continues on all Aura communities including The Avenue, Somerset, The Pavilion, Kingsford Terrace and The Ninth.
The Avenue Maroochydore Stage 2 completed September 2020.
2021
Construction is completed at The Pavilion North Kirra in October and officially opens in November 2021.
On 11th November 2021, Tim Russell and Mark Taylor appoint Sean Graham as Chief Executive Officer as Aura Holdings prepares for future growth.
2022
Somerset Indooroopilly stage 1 was officially opened on the 8th April 2022 by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
In May 2022 the Kingsford Terrace Taylor building commenced construction.
The Pavilion North Kirra commenced construction October 2022
The construction of The Ninth Middle Ridge is completed in October 2022.
In November 2022 the stage 4 Francis and stage 5 Lingrove buildings are completed at Kingsford Terrace
2023
DA lodged for The Evelyn Mt Ommaney in December 2023.
2024
The Kingsford Terrace Taylor building completed construction in February 2024 whilst the seventh and final stage “Radcliffe” commences construction.
Somerset Indooroopilly stage 2 reached completion and was officially opened on 9 October 2024 by Deputy Mayor Councillor Krista Adams.
The Pavilion Stage 2 reaches practical completion on 30 October 2024 and officially opened on 14 November 2024.
