Corporate Ladder: your weekly guide to executive appointments in South Australia
South Australia’s premier executive appointments column tracking the movements of those driving the state’s public and private sectors. Plus the latest executive recruitment opportunities.
Mike Rann (top left), Lan Snell (bottom left), Tamara Cavenett (centre), Frank Filosi (top right, left), Pippa Webb (top right, right) and Michael Lennon (bottom right) have all been appointed to new positions.
Former Premier takes on new role
Former South Australian Premier Mike Rann has been appointed as Board Chair of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).
Rann was South Australian Premier and Minister for Economic Development from 2002 to 2011, during this time establishing the SAFC’s Adelaide Studios and founding the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and AFF Investment Fund.
He was also an adviser to former Arts Ministers Don Dunstan and John Bannon.
The appointment takes immediate effect and will continue until March 15 of 2026.
New beginnings for Frank Filosi
Frank Filosi has been appointed General Manager of Adelaide-based LED supplier, Big Screen Video (BSV).
The appointment comes after Filosi departed Network 10 Adelaide after his position was dissolved amid a company restructure.
Filosi was employed at Network 10 for almost four decades, working as General Manager in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth throughout his career.
He is currently a member of the Media Advisory Board at the University of Adelaide.
A secure new position
Mamello Thinyane has been appointed the inaugural Optus Chair of Cyber Security Data Science at the University of South Australia (UniSA).
Thinyane joins UniSA and Optus from the United Nations University Institute in Macau where he was employed as Senior Research Advisor leading research into citizen cyber resilience and data.
He has also worked as an Associate Professor at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa and as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) campus in Canberra.
Maxima appoints new CEO
Pippa Webb has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of not-for-profit employment service, Maxima Training Group (Maxima).
Webb has been a member of Maxima’s Board for over two years in roles as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Risk and Compliance sub-committee.
She has previously been employed in government agencies including roles as State Manager for the South Australian Department of Employment and General Manager of Community Development at the City of Salisbury.
She has also worked as Executive Manager of Development and Quality for Lutheran Care.
Webb will replace current CEO David Cockram who has served in the role for more than a decade.
After a short break, Cockram will be taking on a HR consulting role outside of Maxima.
Employing working skills
Not-for-profit employment services provider Workskil Australia has appointed Wendy Hoad as General Counsel.
Hoad has previously been employed as General Counsel and General Manager of Commercial at defence company Saab Australia and as General Counsel and Company Secretary at shipbuilding company ASC Pty Ltd.
Prior to these roles, Hoad worked as a lawyer, partnering with Donaldson Walsh and Finlaysons.
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
The Australian Institute of Business (AIB) is looking to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer. The CFO will advise the CEO and the Board on key financial information, operational analytics and strategic insight. With emphasis on bottom line performance, working capital and shareholder value, the CFO will work to develop, monitor and evaluate AIB’s overall corporate strategy. An attractive renumeration package will be offered to secure a senior, high-calibre candidate capable of enhancing the leadership of the organisation.
Not-for-profit community legal service provider Community Justice Services SA Ltd (CJSSA) is looking to appoint a number of Board members after a cycle of Board renewals. Opportunities exist to contribute expertise in the areas of financial management, governance and compliance, commercial and corporate management, risk management, and government relations. Board members are expected to ensure the vision for the organisation and ongoing services are delivered within a framework of contemporary governance and leadership, financial oversight and strategic planning.
Food manufacturer Patties Food is looking to appoint a Senior Human Resources Advisor to work in Adelaide’s Salisbury South location and report to the Head of People in Melbourne. The role is responsible for the overall management and development of all aspects of human resources and talent management for the Adelaide site. Applications are sought from HR professionals with generalist experience and a focus on coaching, learning and development, reward and recognition, and innovative workplace practices.
Healthy appointments
The Adelaide Primary Health Network (Adelaide PHN) has announced the appointment of four new Board members.
Peter Del Fante, Tamara Cavenett and Olga Polikina have all been appointed as Board Directors, while Shane Mohor has been appointed as the Board’s First Nations Representative.
Del Fante has worked as a General Practitioner and Physician since 1990 in addition to roles as a Clinical Informatician and Advisor for companies including the National Electronic Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) and SA Health.
Currently the Director of Tamara Cavenett Clinical Psychologist, Cavenett has previous Board experience as President of the Australian Psychological Society and Chair of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Mental Health Australia.
Polikina is a General Practitioner Consultant with SA Virtual Care Services with previous experience as a General Practitioner Liason Officer for SA Health and the Department of Health and Wellbeing.
With previous experience as a Registered Nurse, Mohor is the current CEO of the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Ltd (AHCSA) as well as Chairperson for Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc. and Director of the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network Board.
Taking a seat at Country Arts SA
Michael Lennon has been appointed Chair of the Board of Country Arts SA.
Lennon was most recently employed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Housing Choices Australia, a role he stepped down from on January 31 of 2023.
He has previously held Board positions at the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Community Housing Industry Association, the Riverbank Precinct Advisory Committee (REPAC) and the State Planning Commission South Australia.
Lennon takes on the position as current Chair Michael Luchich steps down after seven years in the role.
UniSA appoints new Business Dean
Lan Snell has been appointed Business Dean of Postgraduate Programs at The University of South Australia.
Snell was most recently employed as Head of School and Dean at the University of Southern Queensland Business School (UniSQ).
She is currently a Member of Governing Council at the Canterbury Institute of Management and has previously been on the Board of The Centre for Volunteering and the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber.
Managing community services
Carla Leversedge has been appointed General Manager of Community Services at Vinnies SA.
Leversedge was previously employed as Manager of Community and Wellbeing at the City of Tea Tree Gully.
She has volunteered on numerous Boards including the Northern Area Youth and Children Services, Northern Domestic Violence Service, Southern Domestic Violence Service and the International Association of Public Participation.
Leversedge commenced the role on February 20 of 2023 replacing Tony Roach who will remain with Vinnies in a part-time volunteer recruitment role.
New managing director takes the keys
Adelaide-based manufacturing company Key Tubing & Electrical (KTE) has announced Henri Hugo as its new Managing Director.
Prior to joining the family business, Hugo worked in London as Industrial Designer for brand implementation company Harkess-Ord.
He joined KTE in 2012 as Product Manager before taking on the role of Sales and Marketing Manager in 2014 and being appointed Commercial Director in 2017.
Hugo takes the position from his father Gary Hugo who will remain with the company as Finance Director.
