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.
Grant Rigney (left), Glenise Coulthard AM (top), Brenton Cox (bottom) and Luke Gramola (right) have all been appointed to new positions.
Aboriginal governance changes
Grant Rigney has been appointed CEO of the Aboriginal Lands Trust.
A Ngarrindjeri man and prominent figure in Aboriginal governance, Rigney is Chair of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority, Ngarrindjeri Peoples Native Title Compensation Charitable Trust, Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations and the federal government’s Aboriginal Water Interests Committee.
“Mr Rigney is passionate about building sustainable communities through the application of contemporary but culturally appropriate governance practices,” ALT Presiding Member Dr Karen Sinclair said in a statement.
“He is committed to ensuring the ALT not only continues to deliver on its mandate to leverage the more than 500,000 hectares of Trust land for the benefit of Aboriginal South Australians, but that the ALT becomes an exemplar body nationally.”
Rigney replaces John Chester as ALT CEO. Chester had been in the role for more than five years.
Charitable movements
The St Vincent de Paul Society SA has appointed Luke Gramola as its new General Manager of Commercial.
Gramola joins the social services organisation after four years with Adelaide business management consultants Manera Group – owners of HaggleCo – as Business Operations Manager.
Prior to that, he was with national construction equipment manufacturer Parchem Construction Supplies for 11 years, managing 12 trade stores across South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.
His new role at Vinnies SA gives him oversight of the organisation’s 34 stores across South Australia.
“I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the position to make Vinnies a stronger and more profitable entity, so its considerable impact can be amplified further,” Gramola said in a statement.
Gramola joins Vinnies SA under the new leadership of CEO Evelyn O’Loughlin, who was appointed to the top job in September replacing former CEO and now Federal MP Louise Miller-Frost.
Elsewhere, AnglicareSA has new board leadership with Sarah Group Joint Managing Director Tim Sarah stepping up as Chair, replacing the retired Bruce Linn AM.
Sarah has been Chair of AnglicareSA’s Audit and Risk Committee since 2020 and also on the Believe Housing Australia board (formerly AnglicareSA Housing) since 2019.
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
The City of Adelaide is looking for a new Executive Manager, Office of the Lord Mayor. Working closely with the newly elected Lord Mayor, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM, Council Members and the CEO, this critical role takes responsibility for providing strategic advice and executive support while managing the Office of the Lord Mayor, enabling the Lord Mayor and Council Members to effectively fulfill their civic leadership responsibilities. Applications are encouraged from appropriately qualified and accomplished individuals who can demonstrate a successful track record in a comparably diverse and fast paced environment. Whilst an understanding of local, state or federal government may be an advantage, applications are still strongly encouraged from versatile leaders, with a record of achievement in people management, from similarly accountable entities.
Guide Dogs SA/NT is on the hunt for a new Chief Financial Officer. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this important role becomes the key internal financial leader, advisor and controller for the business. Primary responsibilities include: planning, directing, developing and activating the financial activities of the business; ensuring the provision of detailed analysis and information to inform key business decisions; leading, motivating, mentoring and developing the corporate services team; and overseeing compliance, reporting and corporate regulatory requirements. Applications are encouraged from ideally CA/CPA qualified candidates who may either be an experienced Chief Financial Officer or a Financial Controller ready to take the next step. Interest is most welcome from individuals from a diverse industry spectrum.
The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) is looking for a new Financial Planning and Reporting Analyst. Reporting to the Financial Planning and Reporting (FP&AR) Manager, the Analyst will prepare high quality and timely management reports to internal stakeholders to support a range of projects and research themes. Through your work you will be aligned to support specific research themes such as Aboriginal Health Equity, Australia’s largest dedicated indigenous health research unit, or Precision Cancer Medicine which supports research for more effective treatment options for cancer patients. The successful candidate will be CA/CPA qualified, with demonstrated experience assisting with the preparation of financial reports and the ability to transform complex financial information into suitable formats for a variety of audiences.
The City of Salisbury is currently looking for a Manager, Strategic Procurement. This key role reports to the General Manager Business Excellence and is responsible for leading a team of contract and procurement professionals. The key responsibilities of the role include: provision of high level strategic procurement, market and contract advice across the organisation; leading the formulation of contemporary category and sourcing strategies; negotiating effective and commercially sound contracts and strategic supplier arrangements; supporting the delivery of the annual capital budget to maximise delivery of key outcomes; and influencing and contributing to the procurement, design and implementation of a new ERP system. Applications are sought from senior procurement or contract management professionals with demonstrated experience in developing and managing procurement services in a comparably large and complex environment. Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline will be highly regarded.
Patties Foods is a significant, diversified and successful food manufacturer with sites across Australia and New Zealand. A new opportunity has emerged for a Manufacturing Manager within the South Australian site at Salisbury South, which employs around 130 staff and produces more than 100,000 chilled ready meals every week. Reporting directly to the Site Operations Manager, this important role is responsible for the management of all production activities to ensure relevant production, quality, safety and environmental standards are met, providing production of high quality, cost effective output and on time delivery of products. Applications are sought from both accomplished or aspiring professionals with transferable production supervision experience preferably from a manufacturing background or aligned food production environment relating to perishable foods.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) is looking for a new Senior Compliance Advisor. Working closely with members of the Executive Management Team and reporting to the Head of Compliance, this role has a national focus and is responsible for assisting in the implementation and embedding of compliance risk management (Compliance Management) practices within business processes and operations of AGIG. The position involves participating in Regulatory Information Notices (RIN), Access Arrangement (AA) review processes and responding to regulatory policy. Applications are welcome from appropriately qualified and experienced compliance professionals with a background in areas such as commerce, economics, law, policy or engineering. Experience in the energy industry or a similarly highly regulated environment will be an advantage. This position may be based in either Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne.
AGIG is also looking for a new People & Culture Systems and Services Business Partner. Based in Melbourne (Mount Waverley) and reporting to the Head of People and Culture, this newly created role is responsible for driving continuous improvement of the current people and culture (P&C) service deliveries, including engagement and output of systems, transformation of P&C processes through simplification/streamlining of work practices and championing innovative solutions. Demonstrated success contributing the transformation of the P&C function from a process and systems experience perspective is essential. Previous experience with SuccessFactors (or a comparable HRIS) will be nice to have but not essential. This position will be offered initially on a fixed term contract until 31 December 2023.
Airport exec’s new arts role
Adelaide Airport CEO Brenton Cox has been appointed to the board of the Adelaide Festival.
Cox, who has led Adelaide Airport since December 2021, sits on a number of South Australian boards, including as a Division Councillor with the SA Property Council and SA Freight Council.
He is also a member of the University of Adelaide Business School Advisory Board and Chair of Seymour College’s Finance, Risk and Compliance Committee.
Cox has been appointed to a three-year term on the Adelaide Festival board.
“Brenton’s keen interest in sustainable business aligns well with Adelaide Festival’s social, environmental and economic sustainability targets,” Adelaide Festival Chair Judy Potter said in a statement.
“We are confident Brenton will make a significant contribution to the Adelaide Festival.”
Housing Trust makes board move
The South Australian Housing Trust has appointed veteran public servant Glenise Coulthard AM to its board.
Coulthard, an Adnyamathanha woman from the Flinders Ranges, was a long time Aboriginal Health Manager at SA Health, overseeing Port Augusta Hospital and other regional health services during her career in the public service.
She also served on the board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service for more than 20 years.
Coulthard became a member of the Order of Australia in 2020 for services to Aboriginal health. Now retired, she currently sits on the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council.
Her appointment to the Housing Trust board is for a minimum three-year term.
Human Services Minister Nat Cook said she was “so pleased that Ms Coulthard has accepted this important board appointment”.
