Our Team
Hugh Ellis, Managing Director
Hugh Ellis is the Managing Director of Churwell Family Office. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2000 when he established Pelican Childcare with a single centre in Heatherton, Victoria. Under his leadership, Pelican Childcare expanded to over 40 operational centres across the eastern seaboard of Australia. In 2006, Hugh partnered with his close friend and AFL great, Jim Stynes, to form Pacific Early Learning Group, which was later sold to ASX-listed entity G8 Education.
Throughout his career, Hugh has made strategic property investments, including childcare freeholds, office spaces, agricultural land, and industrial assets. To complement the property division, he established a construction arm focusing on new and existing projects. In 2014, Hugh founded Churwell Family Office to oversee the group's investments and growth strategies, including philanthropic and sustainable ventures. The family office has since expanded to include training organisations and co-working spaces, with Hugh serving as Managing Director across these companies.
In his private life, Hugh resides in Queensland, where the group's head office is located. He is the proud father of four adult daughters and has a passion for sailing. Hugh has successfully competed in several Sydney to Hobart yacht races, winning his division in 2018 with his maxi yacht Voodoo. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of circumnavigating the world over three years aboard a 60ft sailing catamaran. Although the group is operated by its senior managers, Hugh remains actively involved in shaping its strategic direction, ensuring that the goals and vision of Churwell Family Office are upheld.
Richard Ellis, General Manager
Richard Ellis serves as the General Manager of Churwell Family Office, where he leads operations across a diverse portfolio of investments. With a background in Project Management and extensive experience in the construction industry, Richard possesses the expertise to successfully execute projects of any size and complexity.
His passion for building high-performing teams is evident in his leadership style. Richard's adventurous spirit is demonstrated by his impressive feats of circumnavigating the globe by yacht and climbing the Himalayas. He brings this same determination and focus to his professional endeavors, driving excellence and achieving outstanding results.
Nick Kay, Agricultural Director
Nick Kay is the Farm Manager at Churwell Family Office’s Marylands Ridge property. With over twenty years of experience in farming, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Agriculture, graduating in 2003, and has since worked on a variety of livestock properties, including stud sheep breeding and traditional sheep and cattle farms. His extensive experience has provided him with a deep understanding of farming operations and the skills necessary to manage diverse agricultural enterprises.
Before joining Churwell Family Office, Nick managed his family farm as an equity partner. During this time, Nick implemented a comprehensive farm development plan that significantly improved pasture quality, livestock performance, and overall farm production.
Nick's proven success in farm management makes him an invaluable asset to the Churwell Family Office team.
Phil Jones, Head of Training
Phil serves as the Head of Training across our RTO, Saltera. He has worked with the organisation for 20+ years across multiple roles.
Phil Jones is a key figure at Saltera Training, where he has played a vital role in overseeing client management and ensuring exceptional satisfaction.
His dedication to fostering long-term partnerships and motivating the team to consistently exceed expectations has cemented Saltera Training's reputation as the preferred provider of comprehensive training solutions and unmatched client support.
Phil’s leadership continues to inspire excellence across the organisation, making him an invaluable asset to the team.
Oliver Wells , General Manager (Riva)
Oliver is the General Manager for Riva Offices and has been with the organisation since its inception in mid-2023.
Oliver’s background in real estate prior to Riva Offices is somewhat comprehensive, having started in residential sales in Sydney’s North and evolving into the commercial sector in 2019 managing serviced office and co-working assets across both Sydney and Melbourne. During this 4-year span he was responsible for ~11,000sqm of co-working/office leasing and asset management, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the industry which we now see today at Riva.
In July 2023, Oliver made the move to the Gold Coast to partner and collaborate on our Riva Offices vision which has seen amazing success in it’s first 12 months!
In his free time Oli enjoys almost any outdoor activity/sports, going to the beach, camping, socialising with friends, training at the gym and is an avid AFL fan.
Melva Jiang, Operations Manager
Melva is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience across procurement, logistics, property, and construction industries.
As Head of Operations, she is known for her client-centric approach, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to business growth.
Melva excels at optimising operational efficiencies, building strong vendor relationships, and implementing industry-leading best practices. Her expertise in managing complex projects, streamlining supply chains, and driving cost-effective solutions has consistently delivered measurable results.
Melva’s passion for fostering collaboration, combined with her focus on continuous improvement, has positioned her as a trusted leader and key contributor to the company's success.