SACA VP joins Cricket Australia board

South Australian Cricket Association vice president James Orchard will join the board of Cricket Australia on July 24 after former SACA director John Harden stepped down in May.

James Orchard

Orchard has been a member of the SACA board since 2019 and its vice president since 2022.

He is a chartered accountant and is the managing director of accounting firm Accru-Harris.

He is also a fellow of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants) and the Institute of Company Directors.

Orchard played for Sturt Cricket Club for more than 20 years where he was captain for four seasons.

He was also a member of the SA state training squad and is involved in junior coaching and development.

Adelaide lawyer to chair HWL Ebsworth board of partners

Commercial law firm HWL Ebsworth has announced the election of Adelaide lawyer Clare Raimondo to its newly formed board of partners, while Jamie Restas has been appointed national chair.

Jamie Restas

The HWL Ebsworth partnership established the board following the recent passing of longstanding managing partner, Juan Martinez.

Raimondo has been a partner at HWL Ebsworth Layers since July 2014 and specialises in employment and workplace relations law.

Clare Raimondo

Restas has practised corporate law for nearly 30 years and joined HWL Ebsworth in 2014, having been a partner of Kelly & Co.

Before this, he spent nearly 12 years at the Port Adelaide Football Club, where he was deputy chair and director.

HWL Ebsworth said it is the largest legal partnership in Australia, with approximately 1800 employees across the country.

Adelaide Marriot general manager

Experienced hotelier Paul Gallop has been appointed general manager of Adelaide Marriot Hotel, which will open in August.

Paul Gallop

Marriot said Gallop is a specialist in leading successful hotel openings and driving complex renovation projects.

Gallop has been the pre-opening general manager of Adelaide Marriott since July 2023.

Before this, he spent 6 years as general manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, which Marriot International also owns.

The five-star Adelaide Marriot is located in the historic General Post Office building on King William Street and the newly-constructed 15-storey tower is at its rear.

The new hotel will include 285 guestrooms, two contemporary dining venues, a fitness studio, an 18-metre indoor swimming pool and more than 535 square metres of meeting and event space.

Board Director for a fulfilling governance role with Helping Hand Aged Care, a significant values-led aged care and support services provider.

The progressive, skills-based Board of this worthy entity seeks professionals with governance knowledge and strategic expertise in technology/digital & data development, business transformation and change, customer experience (CX), and/or strategic communications, stakeholder and community engagement.

New CEO at People First Bank following merger

People First Bank has announced that its deputy CEO Steve Laidlaw will succeed Peter Lock as CEO on July 1.

Steve Laidlaw

People’s First Bank was formed following a merger of People’s Choice and Heritage Bank in March 2023.

Lock had been managing director and CEO of People’s Choice since 2016 prior to the merger.

People’s First Bank said the new appointment “will allow for a smooth transition in line with merger commitments and coinciding with the start of the new financial year”.

Peter Lock

In addition, the bank announced it will reduce its board from 12 to eight directors, in accordance with the constitution that was approved as part of the merger.

Kerry Betros AM and Georgina Williams will retire at this year’s AGM on November 14, with two more directors retiring next year.

Whitebark appoints science professor to bolster hydrogen plans

ASX-listed company Whitebark Energy has appointed Professor Rosalind Archer as non-executive director.

Rosalind Archer

Whitebark Energy said Archer has 25 years of experience in a broad range of academic, technical and commercial roles across the renewable energy industry.

Archer holds a PhD in petroleum engineering from Stanford University, is dean of sciences of the Sciences Group at Griffith University and is non-executive director of New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd.

Whitebark said the appointment “strengthens the company’s internal expertise to deliver planned geothermal and hydrogen development projects”.

As reported in InDaily, Whitebark Energy is currently looking to develop a hydrogen energy production facility at its Cooper Basin site.

A promotion at Finlaysons

Corporate commercial law firm Finlaysons Lawyers has announced the promotion of Jane Welsh as partner.

Jane Welsh

Finlaysons said Welsh has significant experience and legal expertise across native title and Aboriginal heritage.

Welsh started as a law clerk at Finlaysons 13 years ago, moving up through the ranks as lawyer, associate, senior associate and most recently, special counsel.

Finlaysons said it has “built a strong reputation for providing exceptional services to a diverse range of clients, including ASX-listed, private and Government entities throughout Australia and internationally”.

Export Finance Australia appoints state director

James Gallagher has been appointed as SME State Director for SA and NT at Export Finance Australia, which he joined on May 29.

James Gallagher

The export credit agency said Gallagher has 12 years of corporate and commercial banking experience across a broad range of industries.

Before joining Export Finance Australia, Gallagher worked as head of corporate advisory and a consultant at financial services provider TIP Group.

He has also worked at St Kilda Football Club, Macquarie Group, Westpac and from January 2001 to October 2004 he played for the Adelaide Crows.

Export Finance Australia said it supports Australian businesses with finance to grow globally, including SMES and large corporates, foreign governments and infrastructure groups.

Movements at BDO

Ryan Wilton

BDO in Australia has announced the promotion of Ryan Wilton to partner of business services, Lisa Carlin to director of economics and Tenille Ireland to director of business services.

Ryan Wilton has been at BDO for over 20 years, firstly as associate director before being promoted to director in January 2020.

Lisa Carlin joined BDO in July 2017 before being promoted to senior economist and then manager in July 2022.

Lisa Carlin

Tenille Ireland has been senior manager of superannuation at BDO since June 2022.

Before this, she was manager of superannuation at HLB Mann Judd and a senior accountant of superannuation at Rawson Verco Chartered Accountants.

BDO in Australia was established in 1975 and said it “is one of the country’s largest associations of independently owned accounting practices”.