Corporate Ladder: your weekly guide to executive appointments
This week, in South Australia’s first executive appointments column, InDaily tracks the movements of those driving the state’s public and private sectors. Plus the latest executive recruitment opportunities.
Former Nova Entertainment Adelaide GM Neil O'Reilly will help lead Helping Hand Aged Care as the new CFO.
O’Reilly steps in to Helping Hand
Former Nova Entertainment Group GM Neil O’Reilly has been appointed CFO for not-for-profit Helping Hand Aged Care, following the retirement of Adrian Ware.
O’Reilly was with the Adelaide radio network for almost nine years but left in 2018 following a company restructure. His most recent role was as COO for building company Rivergum Homes.
He also previously served on the board of Brand SA and remains a board member for SIDS & Kids SA.
Also in the disability sector, SA accommodation and care service provider for people living with a complex disability, SACARE has appointed Chloe Kempe as the company’s new CEO.
Kempe is the daughter of founders Andrew and Sue Marshall.
She got her start working for SACARE before moving into marketing and public relations with the Hyatt Hotel Group.
In a statement, the company said it was restructuring the business to manage recent growth.
“As part of longer-term group management and operational planning, the Board has also given a lot of thought to implementing the inevitable ‘family’ successional changes within the business,” it said.
Top job goes at mega-mine
BHP has named Jennifer Purdie as Olympic Dam Asset President, effective February 22.
She replaces Justin Bauer who has been the Acting Asset President.
BHP said Bauer would return to his previous role as Olympic Dam General Manager Surface Development and Planning.
Purdie has more than 30 years of global management and leadership experience, most recently as the Executive General Manager Gas Distribution with energy company Jemena.
She has previously held senior leadership positions across energy, transport and mining companies Adani Renewables, Rio Tinto, Alcoa and Aurizon.
Legal appointments
Adelaide entrepreneur Francis Wong has been appointed as the Senior ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Advisor with international firm Minter Ellison.
Wong has more than 20 years of experience working across ASEAN economies, including as Chair of the ASEAN-Australia 40th Diplomatic Relationship Business Forum and 50th ASEAN Anniversary Business Forum.
He has sat on a number of boards for Tourism Australia, Adelaide United FC, Adelaide City Council and Football SA, and remains Senior Advisor for the Australia China Friendship and Development Association and on the international advisory board for Brunei Economic Development.
SA-based Cowell Clarke commercial lawyers has promoted Joshua Pascale and Anthony Basa to senior associates and Kate Lawson to Digital Solutions Manager.
Basa worked for the firm as an Associate for just over a year. He was previously a Legal Counsel for Commonwealth Bank.
Pascale has been a senior member of Cowell Clarke’s Tax & Revenue, Superannuation and Agribusiness teams while Lawson spent the past three years as Digital Product Coordinator for the company.
Meanwhile, Chris Floreani and Maggie Wong have been named as part of Adelaide based commercial law firm DMAW Lawyers transaction team.
Floreani has been appointed as a principal of the firm after almost five years with DMAW Lawyers. He previously spent eight years working for Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney and London.
Wong joined the firm in 2019 and has taken on a role as special counsel.
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
The Motor Trade Association of SA/NT is transforming to meet the changing needs of the automotive industry and seeks quality candidates to fulfil the following positions:
A key member of the Executive Team reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the General Manager, Automotive Skills Development primarily designs and delivers the strategic and operational outcomes of the MTA’s training functions. Strong leadership, financial acumen and innovation are required.
Reporting to the General Manager, Automotive Skills Development, the Automotive Training and Capability Manager leads the effective and efficient performance of the training teams. An ability to drive continuous improvement of skills delivery derived from industry feedback and required guidelines will be key to success in this role.
The Customer Services Manager also reports to the General Manager, Automotive Skills Development and ensures the delivery of an exceptional customer experience across all interactions for apprentices, hosts, industry and other key stakeholders. Touchpoints include enrolment, scheduling and the delivery of exceptional customer service.
Medical movement
Former SA Health CE Tony Sherbon has taken over as Chair of South Australia’s regional training organisation for general practitioners – GPEx.
He has replaced Kevin Forsyth.
Sherbon led SA Health between 2006 and 2011 before becoming CEO for the Federal Government’s Independent Hospital Pricing Authority for four years.
He was also a Partner in EY’s Health Advisory Practice until late 2019.
The health care leader remains a Consultant to EY and continues to run his own health policy consultancy.
In a statement, GPEx said Sherbon’s appointment followed an amalgamation of GPEx with its member company and health professions organisation ModMed.
It said the amalgamation would “create governance efficiencies and strengthen outcomes for GP training and health professions education”.
“GPEx has commenced a process of appointing a series of new independent Directors to the Board to bring a set of new skills that will build upon the work of the previous board directors and advance future strategies to strengthen general practice in South Australia and enhance registrar wellbeing,” it said.
FABAL Group’s new names
Marcia Frost and Lachlan Aird have joined the FABAL Group, which operates a range of SA agri-tourism businesses including Barossa Valley Chocolate Company and Vineyard Road wines.
Frost has been appointed Event and Tourism Manager for the group, as well as General Manager at Barossa Valley Chocolate Company.
She previously worked the Accor Group in Event Management and Business Development at the Novotel Barossa.
Aird comes to the group after nearly five years as Brand Manager for McLaren Vale’s Alpha Box & Dice winery.
In 2020, he was awarded the Wine Communicators of Australia Wine Media Cadetship.
Expanding digital health
Disability and aged care technology provider Lumary has appointed Craig Harris as COO.
The Adelaide-based digital health company said the newly created role was a move towards a future global expansion.
Harris has spent more than 15 years in the technology industry, including most recently as COO of platform management company Deputy.
He was also previously Managing Director of marketing company ReachLocal Europe in Amsterdam and COO for ReachLocal ANZ.
Adelaide University’s VC
The University of Adelaide last week appointed former UniSA Vice-Chancellor Peter Hoj as its new Vice-Chancellor and President for a five-year term, commencing today.
InDaily reported Hoj’s appointment followed an extensive global and domestic search following the resignation of former vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen, who was found to have committed “serious misconduct” by sexually harassing to female staff members.
Hoj is a Fellow of Academies in Australia, the USA and Denmark.
He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia for five years before moving University of Queensland as Vice-Chancellor.
Between 2004 and 2007 he was CEO of the Australian Research Council, following a role as Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute.
