Corporate Ladder: your weekly guide to executive appointments in South Australia
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.
Three new board members hit the Patch Theatre stage
Patch Theatre has announced the appointment of three new board members, marking an “exciting new chapter” for the organisation.
Reena Costello, Deb Hughes and Dearna Newchurch bring a “wealth of experience that spans multiple industries” to Patch according to the organisation’s chair Liz Hawkins.
Costello brings executive leadership experience in law and accounting, practicing in commercial litigation in South Australia and New York. Most recently she worked as head of operations and regulatory compliance for Premier Health Care.
Hughes is a Whyalla-based primary school arts teacher and artist and theatre maker. She was previously the arts and culture facilitator at Whyalla City Council.
Newchurch has extensive experience in producing and curating programs for cultural organisations including Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide Festival Centre, MOD., Adelaide Fringe, Australian Network for Art & Technology and Illuminate Adelaide. She currently works as a producer at design studio Sandpit.
The three board members replace long-term departing members Peter Campbell, Anne-Marie Shin and Jason Dunstone.
New CEO for Softball Australia
Sport industry heavyweight Sarah Loh has been named the new CEO of Softball Australia and will commence in the role on 28 August.
She joins with a wealth of senior management experience in the sporting industry, including at AFL Masters, Sport and Recreation Victoria, and Sports, Aquatics and Recreation Australia.
Loh was also the CEO for the South Metro Junior Football League – the largest independent junior sporting organisation in Australia – where she delivered the league’s first corporate partnership program.
Softball Australia chair Richard Lindell expressed the board’s approval with the process of the extensive search for a new CEO, with the Australian Institute of Sport working assisting to deliver a suite of high-quality candidates.
“It’s a credit to our sport that we’ve attracted a CEO of Sarah’s capability and track record,” Lindell said.
“Sarah has a deep understanding of the drivers of growth in sport – from grassroots to high performance environments.
“The board of Softball Australia is excited to have Sarah with us to accelerate our growth in participation, build on our success at the elite level, as well as develop new commercial revenue streams.”
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
Deputy Chief Executive for the SACE Board of South Australia which shapes the education of young people in all education sectors across SA, the NT and at centres across Asia.
Chief Operating Officer for Australia’s only philanthropic bank, LLL Australia encompassing leadership of banking operations, core banking, ICT and business transformation.
Executive Support Professional for market leading executive recruitment firm Hender Consulting supporting a highly experienced and respected consulting team.
JamFactory bolsters board with Rosemary Wanganeen
Proud and highly respected Kaurna and Wirringu woman Rosemary Wanganeen has been appointed to the JamFactory board of directors.
She is the first Aboriginal person appointed to the JamFactory board, with Arts Minister Andrea Michaels noting the appointment was “very timely and very well aligned to our aspiration for strong Aboriginal representation on boards and in senior roles across the wider arts and cultural sector”.
Wanganeen has been developing a newfound culturally appropriate framework called Griefology since 1993, and has been self-employed for nearly 30 years.
From 2017 to 2020, she was a cultural advisor to the University of Adelaide’s Wirltu Yarlu Indigenous Research and Education Strategy and says one of her proudest moments was being accepted into the University’s Master of Philosophy program.
“Rosemary’s wisdom and extraordinary lived experience will bring further valuable breadth and richness to what has been, for many years, a highly effective, governance-focussed Board,” JamFactory chair Jane Danvers said.
Sitzler expands SA team with two new hires
Australian construction company Sitzler has appointed David Focareta and Peter Chater to its South Australian business as project directors, further strengthening the firm’s technical capabilities to undertake multifaceted projects.
Focareta joins with more than 25 years of Tier 1 construction experience, and has worked on projects including the SkyCity expansion, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide Airport Terminal 1 and the SA Water House office project.
Sitzler says he is passionate about a positive project culture, and works collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver high-quality work.
Chater has more than 40 years’ experience in procurement, management and delivery of large-scale construction projects.
He has spent the past 21 years in senior roles, and has been responsible for procurement and delivery of projects across Australia and the Middle East.
New commissioner for Employment Tribunal
An experienced lawyer from Slater & Gordon’s personal injury practice has been named as a commissioner to SA’s Employment Tribunal.
Danny Connor will commence in the role in early September. He has been the manager of the Worker’s Compensation Service since 2015 and has extensive experience in workers compensation and alternative dispute resolution.
Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher congratulated Connor on the appointment.
“Mr Connor is widely respected by legal practitioners on both sides of the fence for being a practical and conscientious lawyer, who understand the interests of both injured workers and employers,” Maher said.
“His significant experience in workers compensation and industrial relations will be an asset to the SAET, and ensure it can continue to provide timely dispute resolution at the highest level of quality.”
Taylors Wines’ MD named Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association chair
Mitchell Taylor, managing director of the Clare Valley’s largest family-owned winery, will head the region’s grape association.
The Taylors Wines MD is the first chair appointee who is a member of the association since the amalgamation of the Clare Valley Winemakers Incorporated and Clare Region Winegrape Growers Association in 2018.
The new chair said he would assume the role with determination and optimism during a challenging time for the industry.
“I’m honoured to be taking on the role of Chairman for the Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association, and I thank the board for their trust in me during what is a noticeably difficult time for both the region and the greater wine industry,” he said.
“We’ve just come off our lowest vintage crush in over two decades, and global trade and financial pressures continue to stress the industry’s supply chain. But Clare has a long and celebrated history of resilience and innovation on its side to carry us through.
“I am eager to collaborate with my regional colleagues to promote the Clare Valley as one of Australia’s premier wine regions in the world – for both our wine and world-class experiences.”
He replaces outgoing chairman Martin Ferguson from 1 September.
Inaugural nuclear boss for Babcock Australasia
Fran Worthington has been named Babcock Australasia’s inaugural managing director for nuclear, as the company positions itself to support the AUKUS nuclear submarine program.
Worthington will move from the UK to Adelaide to head up the office, and take charge of the company’s contribution to the development of future military nuclear infrastructure and the acquisition of associated nuclear licensing.
The new MD has worked in a variety of roles at Cavendish Nuclear – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group.
“We are delighted to welcome Fran Worthington to the Babcock Australasia team as the company gears up to support arguably the most important Defence programme and partnership in Australia’s history,” Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said.
“Fran is a global leader in the nuclear field – his nuclear qualifications, operational experience, workforce upskilling and senior industrial leadership is invaluable.
“People like Fran are crucial to the development of the nation’s nuclear skills base and there is no doubt his expertise and knowledge will be invaluable in the coming months and years as the ambitious AUKUS agenda is rolled out.”
