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.
Former Accolade Wines Brand Manager Bronwyn Lindsay has been appointed Head of Marketing at Yumbah Aquaculture. Photo: supplied
Baptist Care looks interstate for new CEO
Victorian Salvation Army Manager Shane Austin has been appointed CEO of Baptist Care SA.
His appointment follows the departure of former Baptist Care SA CEO Graham Brown in December, who had spent four years in the top job and has now transitioned into the world of consultancy.
Austin’s move to South Australia comes after more than two and a half years as the Salvation Army’s State Manager for Homelessness Victoria.
The experienced community sector executive is a former CEO of St Kilda Community Housing and Research Director at the Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, focusing on homelessness and ageing initiatives.
Last year, he played a leading role in the establishment of the new Adelaide South homelessness services alliance – Toward Home – of which Baptist Care SA is a member.
Baptist Care SA Chair Julie Lawrie touted the “balance of skills” Austin brings to the new role.
“His corporate experience spanning organisational development, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement coupled with his faith and a passion for social change and public policy will be invaluable to Baptist Care SA,” Lawrie said.
Austin’s new employers work across various sectors including disability care, youth education, employment and homelessness. The not-for-profit’s workforce numbers just under 900 employees and 300 volunteers.
Investment chief joins biotech start-up
Thebarton biotech firm BiomeBank has elected former Ellerston Capital Chief Investment Officer Christopher Hall as its new Chair.
Hall has spent time with several high-profile investment funds, including BlackRock, Argo Investment, Goldman Sachs and National Asset Management.
He stepped aside as Ellerston Capital’s CIO in Sydney last month after three years with the investment firm.
His appointment as BiomeBank Chairman represents his third South Australian board commitment after joining Funds SA last October and Perks Private Wealth in March.
BiomeBank CEO Thomas Mitchell said he expects Hall’s “experience in global markets” to support the company’s ambitions to expand into Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
“He brings with him over 30 years’ experience and an impressive track record of investment management across both public and private markets within the APAC region,” Mitchell said.
BiomeBank, a clinical stage biotech start-up founded in 2018, specialises in the development of gut medicines which prevent disease by restoring gut microbial ecology.
The company was initially guided by Dr Stephen Rodda, who stepped down as Chair earlier this month after two years with the start-up.
Rodda continues as the University of Adelaide’s Executive Director, Innovation & Commercial Partners and Chair of the Hospital Research Foundation.
New executives at Yumbah
South Australian food processing company Yumbah Aquaculture has appointed former Elders executive Richard Davey as Chief Financial Officer and Bronwyn Lindsay as Head of Marketing.
Davey joins after 19 years with Elders including the last eight as CFO.
The Chartered Accountant is a long-time board member of agribusiness auction company AuctionsPlus and started his career as a graduate with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was eventually promoted to Senior Manager in the company’s business advisory service.
His move to Yumbah Aquaculture will see him responsible for the company’s supply chains, Yumbah CEO Dave Wood said.
“Richard brings a vast experience in systems, acquisitions and global operations which will assist in Yumbah’s growth trajectory and ambitions for 2022 and beyond,” Wood said.
“Growing up in the Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula region, Richard has strong connections to the aquaculture industry and will play a key role alongside our other executive team members.”
Meanwhile, Lindsay’s move to Yumbah follows four years with Accolade Wines as Brand Manager, most recently holding the title of Global Innovation and New Brands Manager.
Her career in marketing has included stints with beverage multinational Diageo, Haircare Australia, Saint Peter’s Girls and the Captain Courageous Foundation.
“Bronwyn will be integral to our marketing and consumer growth ambitions in addition to leading the group’s product development,” Yumbah’s CEO said.
“We’re thrilled to have Bronwyn on our team to bring her significant experience and help us augment the experience for our customers with abalone, mussels and oysters.”
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
Saint Ignatius’ College is a leading Catholic, co-educational day school on the Jesuit tradition with about 1500 students across an Early Learning Centre (3 and 4-year-olds) and Junior Campus (R-6) at Norwood and a Senior Campus (7-12) at Athelstone.
The college is looking for a passionate and committed human resources generalist as its People and Culture Manager. The role will lead strategic and operational initiatives including as a trusted advisor to the Principal and Senior Leadership Team; facilitating talent management services including recruitment, induction, performance
management and career development; and, undertaking special human resources projects as required.
The successful candidate will need to have an affinity with and preparedness to support the Catholic ethos of the College.
The National Wine Centre of Australia is looking for a General Manager to deliver best practice products and services at the world class event and conference venue and educational facility.
Located alongside the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, The NWC is an entity of the University of Adelaide but operates as a standalone corporation.
Reporting to the NWC Board, the role will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic annual plans within agreed budgets; fostering and maintaining productive relationships with key stakeholders, and; overseeing the day-to-day operations of the venue, including commercial, financial, compliance, people and risk.
Applications are encouraged from appropriately qualified professionals with a track record in executive management and a strong commercial focus. Proven hospitality sector experience would be a recommendation and wine industry knowledge will be well regarded.
The SACE Board shapes the education of young people in all education sectors across South Australia, the Northern Territory and in a range of schools in Asia.
The board is looking to fill two roles with multiple positions in each.
The Education Consultant is responsible for the strategic development, recognition and implementation of curriculum, assessment and quality assurance. They bring subject expertise and build strong partnerships with schools to ensure maximum positive impact on students’ ability to thrive.
The Education Innovation – Project Officer provides systems leadership to the education community in SA by driving innovation to meet emerging education demands, through a diverse range of projects that provide system-wide impact for students through the SACE. In doing so they build strategic relationships and collaboration with stakeholders to drive and support change that reflects the vision and direction of the SACE.
These exciting roles present an opportunity to be a key leader in managing transformational change, continuous improvement and innovation in education enabling students to thrive.
Legal high-flyer to lead public committee
Barrister Jane Abbey has been appointed Presiding Member of the South Australian Government’s Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee.
Specialising in criminal, workers compensation and coronial matters, Abbey has been practising law since 2001 and is currently Head of the Len King Chambers.
She began her career with Duncan Basheer Hannon and has since moved up to become a regular counsel at both state and federal level in trial and appellate matters.
Her appointment at the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee sees her leading a team of 11 in presenting an annual report to SA Parliament summarising their reviews into child deaths and recommendations for preventing them in future.
Abbey began her term as Presiding Member on January 24 following her appointment by Education Minister John Gardner.
Promotions on Pirie Street
Adelaide law firm Cowell Clarke has promoted lawyers Anna Young and Emily Anderson to Senior Associate.
Young’s promotion comes within Cowell Clarke’s commercial transaction team, where the firm says she has worked on a range of “complex legal projects” related to infrastructure and corporate transactions.
She has been an Associate with the Pirie Street firm since 2018 after moving over from a contracts manager role with international skills organisation Scope Global.
Meanwhile, Anderson has been promoted within Cowell Clarke’s private client, estate administration and dispute resolution division.
Anderson has been with the firm since joining as a clerk in 2014. She specialises in drafting and interpreting wills and powers of attorney.
Managing Director Rob Comazzetto said “Anna and Emily have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and excellence and we look forward to seeing their continual development in the coming years”.
Council movements
The Adelaide City Council has appointed City of Marion executive Ilia Houridis as Director, City Shaping.
A long-time public servant, Houridis has been with the City of Marion since September 2019 as General Manager, City Development – responsible for planning, development, urban renewal and economic growth.
Prior to that, he worked in a range of positions with the State Government, including heading up the feasibility study for Adelaide’s shelved 2026 Commonwealth Games bid.
He is also a former Infrastructure and Planning Director at the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and has worked in corporate HR for the Department for Education and Children’s Services.
He commences with the City of Adelaide on February 7 and replaces the council’s former Acting Director of City Shaping, Tom McCready, who has been promoted to Director of City Services.
McCready has been a property manager with city council for nearly 20 years and is touted for his role in delivering the planned 88 O’Connell Street and Central Market Arcade redevelopments.
Jade O’Donohue was also made permanent as Executive Manager, Office of the CEO, this month, after acting in the role for a year.
