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.
International honours for Adelaide lawyer
Tirana Hassan, a lawyer and veteran human rights investigator who has documented human rights abuses throughout crises and conflicts globally, has been named executive director of Human Rights Watch.
She attended high school at Scotch College and holds bachelor’s degrees with honors in social work from the University of South Australia and law from the University of Adelaide.
In Australia, Hassan is best known for uncovering and then campaigning against the deplorable conditions in which refugees were held during the early 2000s.
A new role supporting Aboriginal health
Tanya McGregor has been appointed to SA Health’s new role, Chief Aboriginal Health Officer.
McGregor has worked at SA Health for a decade, starting as Manager of Aboriginal Health before taking on a role as Director of Aboriginal Health.
Prior to her employment at SA Health, McGregor worked in the Northern Territory Government’s Health Department and as Principal Advisor for the Department of Health South Australia.
She is currently a Member of the Board of Directors for the Fay Fuller Foundation, a philanthropic group focused on supporting health and wellbeing in South Australian communities.
Returning to cityscapes
After eight years, Michael Sedgman has resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Rural City of Murray Bridge.
The resignation comes after he accepted a position as Chief Operating Officer at the City of Adelaide, where he was previously employed as General Manager.
“Significant projects delivered on Michael’s watch have included our town entrance statement signage, the Murray Bridge War Memorial, the Murray Bridge Regional Rowing Centre, the Sturt Reserve Masterplan implementation, the Lerwin Nursing Home expansion and the Murray Bridge Swimming Centre redevelopment,” said Murray Bridge Mayor, Wayne Thorley.
Sedgman is presently State President of Local Government Professionals Australia SA and Chair of the Local Government Finance Authority of South Australia.
In charge of developing a community
Not-for-profit community development organisation Community Centres SA has appointed Kerrie Akkermans as Chief Executive Officer beginning May 1.
Akkermans has an extensive history working in real estate as General Manager of TOOP + TOOP, Contract Trainer at the Real Estate Institute of South Australia and Director at On Demand Short Stays.
Prior to her new role, Akkermans was CEO of Girl Guides South Australia where she worked for half a decade.
She is currently a Partner at Mediation Adelaide and the host of FIVEaa’s Sunday Drive Business and Lifestyle program.
Healthy Harold’s new CEO
Life Ed Australia, the country’s largest preventative health provider educating children aged three to 13, has appointed Russell D’Costa as Chief Executive Officer.
D’Costa takes on the role having previously served as Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary on Life Ed Australia’s Board and as Deputy Chair and Company Secretary of Life Ed South Australia for five years.
His passion for health and wellbeing has seen D’Costa employed as Program Manager of the South Australian Sports Institute, President and Chair of Gymnastics South Australia and Senior Manager at the Centre for Cancer Biology.
Taking a seat at Cowell Clarke
Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers has appointed Megan Jongebloed as its new Chair.
Jongebloed is the current Staff Director of the law firm’s corporate commercial division.
She has worked at the Pirie Street company for 15 years, starting as an Associate in 2008 before being appointed as Partner in 2013 and Staff Director in 2019.
The appointment is effective as of May 1 when Jongebloed takes the position from Brett Cowell who has served in the role since 2002.
Cowell will remain with the company in his role as Director.
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
Adelaide Festival is looking to appoint a Head of Finance & Corporate Services to provide leadership across the business-enabling services of finance, governance, IT, legal and HR. The successful candidate will have a genuine affinity with the arts and alignment with the organisation’s values of reconciliation, equity, sustainability and wellbeing. Adelaide Festival welcomes applications from First Nations people, those who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who are LGBTQIA+, people who have a disability and/or who are deaf.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) is looking to appoint to two senior roles. AGIG manages critical gas infrastructure across Australia through businesses including Australian Gas Networks, Dampier Bunbury Pipeline and Multinet Gas Networks and has delivered projects such as to Hydrogen Park South Australia. The Senior Regulatory Advisor will report to the Head of Regulation to focus on the preparation of Access Arrangement submissions (Final Plans) and regulatory strategy across a national and diverse asset base. The Senior Tax Professional will manage day-to-day tax operations for the Group. Reporting to the Melbourne-based Head of Group Tax, this role works closely with the tax and accounting functions and various business units across the country. Both positions may be based in either Adelaide, Melbourne or Perth and all candidates will be subject to background checks such as police checks, employment and qualification verification checks.
Autism SA is looking to appoint an Operations Manager to manage the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the Community Support and Inclusion and Home Living and Lifestyle departments. Reporting to the Executive Manager of Operations, the role is responsible for developing, implementing and managing sustainable service within the organisation’s clinical and care framework, aligned with the organisation’s strategic plan. Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated to attract a high-calibre candidate.
Rowing into a new role
Bryn Coudraye has been appointed as Associate Director of Jaquillard Minns Chartered Accountants.
Coudraye was previously employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers as Senior Consultant before being promoted to Manager.
Prior to his career in finance, Coudraye was an Olympic rower, competing in the men’s eight at the London Games in 2012.
Directing the masters
Holly Gardner has been appointed as Director of Legal Services at Master Builders SA.
Gardner joins the association from Jones Harley Toole Lawyers where she was employed as Special Counsel.
She worked as Senior Associate at Donaldson Walsh (now DW Fox Tucker Lawyers) in 2001 before taking on roles at insurance company Avant Mutual Group, Grace Solicitors and Johnson Withers Lawyers.
Adding to the mix
Broadcasting company ARN has appointed Stephen Werner as Content Director of radio stations Mix102.3 and Cruise.
Prior to his appointment, Werner was employed by Primedia Broadcasting for 17 years, beginning as a Producer for CapeTalk Breakfast before making his way up to Station Manager of Kfm 94.5 in South Africa.
Head of KISS Network, Derek Bargwanna said “We look forward to both the station and The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show continuing to develop and grow under his guidance and his wealth of global knowledge.”
Paving the way as Managing Director
Cate Morgan has been promoted to Managing Director of AI marketing company Brick & Mortar from her role as Client Services Director.
Morgan’s history in marketing spans senior roles at oOh!media, BAMBOO. digital agency, Fox Sports, Fairfax Media, TheFARM Digital, Circul8, Haylo Media Group, BONDI BORN, The Social Cartel and Uniti Internet.
Brick & Mortar’s Founder, Grant Baker said appointing Morgan to Brick & Mortar’s Board is an imminent next step.
Taking a prime position
Tristian Kennedy has been promoted to Selling Principal at real estate company, Ray White Norwood.
Kennedy began his career with the company in 2016 as a Property Consultant at Ray White City Edge before moving on to Sales Executive at Ray White Norwood in 2017.
He was previously a Personal Assistant at LJ Hooker West Lakes.
More to come at kwpx
Marketing company kwpx has made two new to their senior team.
Brenton Bleechmore has been appointed as Associate Creative Director.
Bleechmore returns home to Adelaide after working in Sydney as an Art Director across several marketing companies including Spark Brand Communications and Wunderman.
He is also Founder and Art Director of Adelaide-based creative studio, PXXL.
Sam Talbot has been appointed Group Account Manager, also joining the team from Sydney.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Talbot moved to Sydney where he has worked as Account Manager for marketing companies including Savvy Marketing and VMLY&R.
