Jacob Mckenna brings extensive experience working collaboratively across government and, with a strong passion for fostering home ownership outcomes for First Nations Queenslanders. After joining the Queensland Government as a graduate policy officer over 15 years ago, Jacob is now the Director for First Nations Home Ownership, Department of Housing and Public Works, Queensland Government. In this role, Jacob leads a statewide program of work to increase home ownership rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland by enhancing the home ownership pathways and products delivered and supported by the Queensland Government.

Since 2018 Jacob has led the resolution of Land Holding Act Leases and supporting new 99-Year Home Ownership Leases in discrete First Nations communities, and as of December 2025, these initiatives have contributed to 217 successful home ownership outcomes via the transfer of social housing dwellings into private ownership.

Since late 2024, the First Nations Home Ownership team has expanded its focus beyond discrete communities and increased support for current and aspiring homeowners in urban, regional and rural communities. A key factor in this shift, which has seen immediate positive outcomes, has been greater collaboration with the sector, including the delivery of First Nations Home Ownership Information Sessions, with seven of these sessions successfully delivered across the state in 2025[JM1.1][RK1.2]. These sessions have been a great success and are only possible through collaboration with key delivery partners, including Indigenous Business Australia, and Judith Enoch, CEO of and community housing organisations including Ngoonbi Community Services Indigenous Corporation.