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Corporate Ladder: your weekly guide to executive appointments

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.

Jan 24, 2022, updated Jan 24, 2022
Michael Baragwantha (left) has been appointed by Sydney-based investment firm JAGA Group to lead a new $90m fund management team in South Australia. Westpac Manager Matthew James (right) is among his first hires. (Photo: supplied)

Michael Baragwantha (left) has been appointed by Sydney-based investment firm JAGA Group to lead a new $90m fund management team in South Australia. Westpac Manager Matthew James (right) is among his first hires. (Photo: supplied)

Hamilton Calder

Tracey Fox

Former CEDA exec becomes a volunteer

Volunteering SA&NT has appointed former Committee for Economic Development State Director Hamilton Calder as CEO.

The state’s volunteering peak body announced earlier this month that Calder would lead the organisation into its 40th anniversary year, with Acting CEO Tracey Fox now working as Deputy CEO.

Calder’s new leadership role follows his long stint as CEDA’s SA/NT State Director from 2007 to 2020. His career in public affairs has included senior roles with the RAA and WorkCover SA.

Volunteering SA&NT Chair Anne-Marie Chamberlain said Calder’s “proven leadership experience within the not-for profit sector” would be an asset to the organisation.

“Throughout his career, Hamilton has passionately brought business, government, academia and community together to deliver better economic, social and environmental outcomes for all,” she said.

“I know I join the workforce in welcoming Hamilton, and we look forward to working with him to drive a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable volunteering sector.”

Erin Leggat

Lyndall Rowe

DFAT deputy lands McLaren Vale wine gig

Erin Leggat, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs South Australian State Office, has been appointed CEO of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association.

Leggat has been with DFAT since joining as a Canberra-based Policy Officer in 2012, later working as a Consul in Vietnam and Embassy Secretary in Chile.

In 2019, she moved to DFAT’s South Australian State Office where she has advised the local wine sector on export opportunities and international trade agreements.

MVGWTA Chair David Spear said Leggat’s close involvement with the wine industry during her 10 years at DFAT would be an asset to the McLaren Vale association.

“Her most recent role in South Australia enabled her to consult closely with SA government, industry associations and export businesses, conducting outreach and analysis to support informed national trade policy and facilitate new market opportunities,” Spear said.

“I believe Erin will bring significant experience to us in these key areas.”

Leggat, who will take over as CEO on February 15, said she was looking forward to further promoting McLaren Vale’s winemaking on an international stage.

“I am well across the challenges facing the SA wine industry and look forward to working with members to address their specific concerns and advocate for their businesses,” she said.

Elsewhere in the wine industry, former OzHarvest SA Director Lyndall Rowe has been appointed Executive Officer of Riverland Wine.

She joins the regional winemaking peak body after five years as Business Manager with mining consultancy AVMinerals and short stints with the Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance and the Willunga Farmers Market.

Riverland Wine Chair Darren Oemcke said the appointment would help the local industry navigate “troubled waters”.

“Lyndall has the experience in managing organisations, an adaptive approach and reputation for positive engagement that we need right now,” he said.

Michael Baragwantha

Matthew James

Venture capital high-flyer heads up new fund

Sydney private investment firm JAGA Group has appointed Adelaide-based Michael Baragwanath to manage a new $90 million alternative income fund in South Australia.

Baragwanath, leader of global consulting firm Bara Consulting Group and Chair of Enva Holdings, will head a team of up to 15 credit and asset management experts in the venture, according to JAGA Group, with the roles primarily in Adelaide and split across Melbourne and Sydney.

The global consultant has already recruited Westpac’s Senior Relationship Manager Matthew James to the fund’s management team.

Baragwanath said JAGA Group’s establishment of an Adelaide-based fund was a vote of confidence in SA.

“The traditional option of engaging a Victorian or NSW Asset Management company is long gone as we rightly claim our spot at the national table for managing these types of multi-million-dollar asset raising and investment activities,” he said.

Baragwanath’s career in financial services has included stints with ANZ, Aviva and BT Financial Group. Alongside his ongoing consulting and directorship responsibilities, he is currently a Responsible Manager at global equities licensee Australian Standfirst Asset Management and Sydney investment firm Spaceship.

Carolyn Mitchell

Matt Johnson

Duo added to ASO board

Credit Union SA Chair Carolyn Mitchell and Ditters Nuts Managing Director Matt Johnson have been appointed to the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra board for 2022.

Mitchell is a former Managing Partner of Cowell Clarke where she worked as a commercial lawyer and consultant for more than 30 years.

She has since moved into the world of business mentorship and taken on a range of non-executive director roles, most notably Chair of Credit Union SA and also with the Can:Do Group, Brink Productions and the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust.

Johnson, meanwhile, has spent the majority of his career within the public sector. He is South Australia’s former Deputy Agent General in London and has held senior policy roles with the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department for Environment and Water.

He moved into the private sector in 2019 to take the helm of heritage South Australian food brand Ditters Nuts. His new ASO appointment comes alongside his board roles with Walford and Badminton SA.

Mitchell and Johnson will work under the stewardship of recently promoted ASO Chair Andrew Daniels, who was elevated to the leadership position following the resignation of Kate Gould in August.

Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities

Burnside Hospital is looking for a Director People and Culture. Reporting to the CEO and as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role will be responsible for the leadership, management and delivery of Burnside Hospital’s human resources, organisational development, volunteer services, workplace health safety & welfare (WHS&W) and injury management.

Applications are invited from experienced HR executives with appropriate tertiary qualifications and superior communication, negotiation, management and strategic thinking skills. Leadership experience in developing the people, culture and human capital solutions for a diverse and customer-centric entity will be critical.

The Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) is an NGO delivering a comprehensive range of workforce support and services to medical, allied health and nursing professionals in rural South Australia.

The Director, Planning, will enhance the value offering to critical external stakeholders and provide a comprehensive range of workforce planning products that expands the inhouse business support function to include external resources that will support SA’s rural health workforce planning needs.

Applications are encouraged from appropriately qualified community engagement professionals, preferably with experience in workforce planning and service delivery.

Healthcare or human services sector experience will be an advantage but candidates from comparably human-centred domains will also be considered.

Bene Aged Care is a trusted provider of quality aged care and associated services. It is looking to fill two key positions – Chief Financial Officer and Manager People & Performance.

With revenue approaching $40m and over 400 staff, this not-for-profit entity has a strong focus on community and the provision of diverse lifestyle options for its clients.

The Chief Financial Officer opportunity follows the retirement of a long-serving incumbent and oversees a range of corporate functions including finance, ICT, corporate reporting, decision support, capex, asset management and governance. Applications are encouraged from experienced senior financial managers ideally with CA/CPA status.

Exposure to aged care, disability, health or community services will be an advantage, but applicants from a diverse range of industry settings are also welcome to apply.

The Manager People & Performance leads the development and delivery of contemporary strategic and operational HR services.

Key deliverables will include leading, motivating and developing established and specialised HR professionals; overseeing the full suite of human resource functions including attraction, recruitment, retention, development, workforce planning, WHS, return to work management and industrial relations; and championing and enhancing a constructive and people focussed culture.

Nature Foundation is a leading not-for-profit that invests in conserving, restoring and protecting South Australian landscapes, flora and fauna. It now protects more than 1.15 million hectares of South Australian terrestrial and wetland and is the third-largest non-government conservation land manager in Australia.

The Water for Nature Coordinator will help implement the Water For Nature Long-Term Watering Plan 2021 – 2026, working closely with farmers, irrigators, Traditional Owners and community organisations to deliver critical work.

Applications are encouraged from adaptable professionals with relevant qualifications and/or practical experience in project coordination in conservation-based or other related projects. A background in wetlands/ecology will be highly regarded.

A trusted human services provider is looking for a key clinical leader to help position it for further growth and success. With a complete focus on client service and care and a total package valued around $230k, the Executive Manager Service Delivery position has been created for an experienced executive with a clinical origin (nursing or allied health) to lead the service delivery function.

Reporting directly to the CEO as part of the Executive Leadership Group, this important Adelaide based role is primarily responsible for proactively contributing to the strategic direction and clinical governance of the business; leading, motivating, developing and managing the service delivery managers and teams, and; maintaining and enhancing important relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

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Nicole Chaplin

Wendy Malycha

New social services chief

Nicole Chaplin has been made permanent CEO of St John’s Youth Services after more than a decade with the organisation.

Chaplin, who was previously SJYS’s General Manager, had been acting in the CEO role for six months following the retirement of Wendy Malycha last year.

Malycha had led the homelessness services organisation for more than 28 years and has since moved into consulting.

SJYS Chair Brent Alexander said Chaplin demonstrated she was the “ideal candidate” for the role during her six months in the top job.

“Nicole has the full backing of the St John’s Youth Services Board, and we are confident she will build on the reputation for innovation and excellence St John’s Youth Services has earned over the past 40 years to achieve great outcomes for young South Australians,” he said.

Chaplin has worked in the community sector for more than 25 years and is also currently serving as the Deputy Chair of the South Australian Council of Social Service.

Sam Scammell

Cara adds lawyer to board

South Australian disability services provider Cara has appointed corporate lawyer Sam Scammell to its board of directors.

Scammell has more than 30 years’ experience as a private practice lawyer and business consultant and is the former CEO of Faulding Pharmaceuticals and Sphere Healthcare.

His new board appointment at Cara compliments his existing directorships with disability service providers Kudos Services and Mobo Group – the latter of which he is Chair – as well as TAFE SA.

Cara CEO Liz Cohen said Scammell was chosen from a strong field of candidates for his legal expertise and board experience.

Scammell will work under recently elected Board President Nick Smith and Vice President Lucy Davies, who were elevated to the leadership positions at Cara’s Annual General Meeting in October last year.

Lucy Simeoni

Nicholas McCann

Movements in the law

Boutique commercial law firm WRP Legal & Advisory has kicked off the new year with a string of promotions and appointments, while there has also been movement on the South Australian benches.

Lucy Simeoni has been promoted from Senior Associate to Director after nearly seven years with WRP.

A taxation and business law specialist, she joined the Victoria Square firm in 2015 after a short sting with Kain Lawyers and five years with Kelly & Co Lawyers.

Stepping up to Senior Associate in her place is Nicholas McCann, who has been with the firm since 2018 and also specialises in taxation advisory.

The law, commerce and accounting graduate has worked for a number of prominent law firms in Adelaide, including Hall Chadwick, Pitcher Partners and Cowell Clarke.

WRP also last week announced the appointments of Commercial Lawyer Kayla Costa and Litigation Associate Renee Hii.

Costa joins WRP after close to four years with Cowell Clarke, primarily as a law clerk, while Hii is moving over from Clarke Hemmerling Lawyers where she has been a Legal Associate and Solicitor for the last two years.

Meanwhile, long-time criminal lawyer Anthony Allen QC has been appointed to the South Australian District Court.

Allen, who has worked in criminal law for more than 20 years, has spent time as a Partner at Mangan Ey & Associate, Barrister at the Legal Services Commission and in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He replaces Judge Patrick O’Sullivan who has been appointed to the Federal Court of Australia.

Kym Davis

New CFO at Menz

Former KPMG Director Kym Davis has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at Menz Confectionary.

Davis joins the Glynde-based sweets manufacturers after a three-year stint with the RAA as Head of Group Financial Services and Acting CFO.

Prior to that, he spent eight years as Director at KPMG during which he worked closely with current Menz Chair Peter Siebels.

Davis is also a former Manager at chartered accounting firm Edwards Marshall and is touted for his commercial experience in risk management, business planning and project management across the retail, wine, tourism, financial services and property industries.

It comes as Menz, manufacturer of FruChocs, Violet Crumble and Crown Mints, embarks on its first year under a new name – Menz Confectionary – after ditching the Robern moniker which has served the family business for nearly a century.

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