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.
CEO of Livestock SA Travis Tobin. Photo: supplied
Business SA boss on the way out
Business SA CEO Martin Haese is leaving his position in the middle of the year to get back into private enterprise.
The former Adelaide Lord Mayor told Business SA members last week that he was looking forward to “re-engaging with commercial life” and would be leaving the high-profile role when his contract is up in “mid-2022”.
Haese joined the chamber of commerce in May 2019 replacing Nigel McBride as CEO and was tasked with leading the state’s business lobbying throughout the worst of the pandemic.
He has also split his time in a number of advisory roles, including Chairman of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, Member of the Premier’s Industry Response and Recovery Council and Member of the Federal Government’s Australian Broadband Advisory Council.
“It has been an honour to support Business SA’s members over recent years as I have great respect for anyone who takes a risk to build a better future for themselves and their families,” he told members on Thursday.
“Now, I want to take a leaf out of your book and do the same.”
Haese – who was Founder and CEO of national fashion and footwear group Youthworks Retail Co from 1992 to 2005 – is yet to reveal any details about his new venture but said it would be in an “entirely new sector” to his previous work.
COO appointment at Shoal
Adelaide engineering consultancy firm Shoal Group has appointed Paul Greenhalf as Chief Operating Officer.
The move marks the end of more than seven years Greenhalf has spent at fellow engineering company Babcock Australia and New Zealand, most recently as Senior Commercial Manager of Major Bids and General Manager of Submarines.
His engineering career has taken him to London for construction management work in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. He has also spent time with Clarke Energy and Tetra Tech Coffey in Adelaide.
His new role at Shoal puts him in charge of the finance, IT, supply chain, environment and health and safety aspects of the firm.
Shoal Group CEO Michael Waite said Greenhalf’s “experience in major defence and aviation programs complements our corporate leadership team and brings a new dynamic to the business”.
Greenhalf started in his new role on February 28.
It’s the second significant executive appointment at Shoal in six months after University of South Australia Adjunct Professor Claire Knight joined as Head of Defence and Space in September.
Livestock SA herds national appointment
Travis Tobin, a former Chief Executive of both the Cattle Council of Australia and Queensland Farmers’ Federation, has been appointed CEO of Livestock SA.
Originally from a sheep and cattle farm in western New South Wales, Tobin’s move to South Australia follows intermittent stints in Canberra with the Cattle Council and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
He worked in the public sector directing food export programs and implementing on-farm water efficiency projects under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. From 2015 to 2016, he was a Departmental Liaison Officer to the Deputy Prime Minister, before moving to Brisbane to head up the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
Tobin replaces Acting Livestock SA CEO Libby Tedstone, who only joined the lobby group in July last year.
Livestock SA President Joe Keynes spruiked Tobin’s “strong track record in advocacy and organisational reform”.
“I am confident he will bring a fresh and invigorating approach to our organisation and advocacy agenda,” he said.
Tobin said the role of advocating for South Australia’s livestock producers is a “significant responsibility” and he was focused on articulating “economic, environmental and food security imperatives”.
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
For over 30 years, Lighthouse Disability Ltd has been a leading provider of disability support in South Australia. With around 250 staff, revenue of approximately $30m and a very strong balance sheet, the organisation has successfully grown and consolidated in recent years. Following the successful tenure and retirement of outgoing incumbent, Tim Jackson, later this year, an opportunity has arisen for a new Chair to lead the highly experienced, skills-based Board of Directors with a particular focus on candidates who have the values, integrity, strategic credibility, commercial acumen, warmth, empathy and authentic affinity with the Lighthouse mission to make a lasting impact. Expressions of interest are most welcome from candidates from a broad range of professional disciplines and industry settings. GAICD status or preparedness to achieve this will be a strong preference, as will be the capacity to apply the appropriate focus and time to the position.
Ninti One Limited (Ninti) works with communities and relevant agencies to achieve social and economic development outcomes with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Since its establishment in 2003, Ninti has been building opportunities through research, innovation and engagement in Australia, and more recently in a range of sectors across the Indo-Pacific. Ninti has offices in Adelaide and Alice Springs and staff and associates based in other States and Territories. Based in Adelaide and reporting to the General Manager – Business Development, this fast- paced Business Development Manager role in a rapidly expanding market will focus on market facing activities to accelerate Ninti’s revenue growth and impact. Applications are encouraged from appropriately qualified business development/sales professional with demonstrated experience in winning tenders and contributing to business growth. A background in commercial consulting or a comparable NFP environment, involving multiple partners and other stakeholders will be highly regarded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.
Adelaide Uni looks to Oxford and Cambridge
Oxford University Professor Elaine Fox has been appointed Head of School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, while long-time Oxford and Cambridge Research Psychologist Dr Kevin Dutton has been appointed Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology.
Fox has been a Professor of Psychology and Affective Neuroscience at the University of Oxford for the last eight years, during which time she founded the Oxford Centre for Emotion and Affective Neuroscience and also coordinated the research of eight mental health networks examining mental health in diverse populations.
Her academic career has also included stints in Ireland and New Zealand.
Fox’s role at the University of Adelaide marks her second time as a Head of School, after holding the position at the University of Essex from 2007 to 2010.
Dutton, meanwhile, has made a career as a bestselling author – writing six books while holding senior psychology roles at both the University of Oxford and Cambridge.
His primary research interests are psychopathy, persuasion and social influence. The University of Essex graduate also co-hosts a psychology podcast, Psycho Schizo Espresso, with Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson.
Dutton’s appointment as Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology is a first for Australia, according to the University of Adelaide. He described the position as an “unparalleled opportunity to ‘get psychology out there’ [and] showcase the many facets of this fascinating science to the Australian public”.
Adelaide University Vice-Chancellor Peter Høj said Fox and Dutton’s move to SA marks “two exciting appointments for psychology in Australia”.
“Professors Fox and Dutton have made career-long contributions to psychology, carving out new research spaces in the field, leading research and teaching at some of the world’s most prestigious international institutions, and translating that research into practice and public understanding,” he said.
Property young guns head up new taskforce
The Real Estate Institute of South Australia has announced the appointment of eight young industry professionals to a “Future Leaders Taskforce”.
The new advisory body, tasked with increasing recruitment into real estate and promoting industry careers to university graduates, was launched by REISA at a city symposium last week.
The taskforce consists of former Adelaide Deputy Lord Mayor and In2 Real Estate Owner Mary Couros, City Realty Managing Director Cameron Garry, BDO Assistant Manager Georgia Palasis, Taplin Group Director Tom Taplin, Listed Real Estate Director John Warnock, Ouwens Casserly Team Leader Tara Stokes, Turner Real Estate Marketing Coordinator Nicole Flavel and NC Real Estate Director Nicholas Coulls.
REISA Chair Fairlie Delbridge said the peak body want the taskforce to improve the reputation of real estate professionals.
“We want our future leaders to empower the younger generation to embrace change in the industry, to attract new talent to it and significantly improve the reputation of the profession by harnessing the incredible diversity and versatility of the up-and-coming generations,” she said.
(L-R) Mary Couros, Tom Taplin, Nicole Flavel, Barry Money (REISA CEO), Cameron Garry, Nicholas Coulls, Fairlie Delbridge (REISA Chair), Georgia Palasis, John Warnock and Tara Stokes.
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Continuity for football’s governing body
The South Australian Football Commission has reappointed Peter Lindner and Bill Moody to serve another three years as commissioners.
Lindner, a former country footballer and administrator, has been a commissioner since 2016 while Moody, a Senior Lawyer at Andersons Solicitors, was elected to the commission in 2019.
The state’s football governing body said the duo were reappointed unopposed at a general meeting of SANFL League Directors on Tuesday, March 1.
Former Premier Rob Kerin is now entering his third year as SA Football Commission Chairman, leading a boardroom consisting of Deputy Chairman Philip Gallagher, Janet Finlay, Louise Small, Nicole Haack, Tom Zorich and Luke McCabe.
Elsewhere in football, the Adelaide Crows last week announced that long-time TV news anchor Graeme Goodings has been elected to the club’s board, while former premiership player Rod Jameson earned re-election to serve another year as director.
