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.
New faces at Masters Builders SA
Master Builders SA has announced the appointment of Rick Cairney to the newly created role of director of policy and public affairs.
Master Builders SA said Cairney brings to the role extensive experience as a policy consultant and as a government and media relations manager.
Cairney spent 11 years at Business SA, including as director of policy and manager of consulting services.
More recently, he has been a commissioner with the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
Meanwhile, Megan Cree has joined as general manager of operations.
Master Builders SA said Cree has extensive experience as a senior manager and business strategist, including at SAAB Australia, the Motor Accident Commission, SA Ambulance Service and SAPOL.
Cree joins from Sagle Constructions, where she spent the past year and a half as strategy and engagement manager.
“Master Builders SA prides ourselves on being the best in the business and is excited to have two dynamic, proven performers join our team,” said Master Builders SA CEO Will Frogley.
“Rick and Megan’s expertise, knowledge and advocacy will be pivotal to delivering strong results for the more than 90,000 South Australians directly employed in building and construction.”
A new position at Perks
Accounting and wealth advisory firm Perks has announced the appointment of Lisa Pritchard to the newly created role of general manager of operations.
Perks said Pritchard has more than two decades of experience in professional services, with a focus on leadership, client engagement and strategic business advisory.
Pritchard joins Perks from Next Workplace, where she spent the past year as general manager of Next Curated Workspace.
Before this, she spent five years as a partner at BDO in Adelaide and has also been a training manager at BDO in Sydney, a manager of corporate tax at KMPG and an accountant at Cleland McFarlane Selth.
In her new role, Pritchard will lead Perk’s accounting and private wealth operations, client experience, IT and cyber, marketing and communications, risk and compliance and special projects.
“As South Australia’s private business economy continues to thrive, Lisa’s leadership will help ensure Perks continues as a driving force, empowering our clients and team to grow with confidence,” said Perks CEO James Black.
“Her appointment reinforces our commitment to being the benchmark for performance and impact in the mid-tier market, with operations grounded in real client understanding.”
Moving on up at Holman Hodge
Accounting and advisory firm Holman Hodge has announced the promotion of Krista Fenix to associate director.
Fenix joined Holman Hodge as a graduate accountant in August 2015, climbing the ranks to accountant, senior accountant, assistant manager and prior to her most recent appointment, manager.
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“Krista is an exemplar in her personal approach, committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence,” said managing director Paul Holman.
“She will soon mark a decade with Holman Hodge and is truly deserving of this promotion.”
Meanwhile, Leanne Latz has joined as general manager of Holman Hodge and its affiliated coworking business, Next Workplace.
The newly created position will see Latz focus on internal operations and performance, as well as building community engagement across the Next Workspace.
Holman Hodge said Latz has extensive experience in the healthcare sector, having held senior roles in finance, operations and general management.
Latz previously spent 18 and a half years at Nexus Hospitals, including most recently as group finance manager and systems optimisation leader.
Violinist begins senior role at Australian Music Industry Network
Adelaide-based violinist Emily Tulloch has joined the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) as project manager.
In this role, Tulloch will be responsible for delivering AMIN’s two-year program of national initiatives with the aim of strengthening Australia’s music sector.
She will also focus on cross-border collaboration and the development of a National Regional Touring Network.
AMIN said Tulloch has two decades of experience as a performer, as well as in leadership and sector development.
Tulloch has been business development manager at Creative Original Music Adelaide for the past seven months, where she previously spent more than 17 years as a committee member.
Before this, she spent nearly three years as CEO and artistic director at Nexus Arts, having previously spent five years at the intercultural contemporary arts organisation as music programs manager and then artistic director.
She also spent 14 years from 2005 to 2019 as a member of the Zephyr Quartet.
“I’m delighted to join AMIN in a role that feels, for me, both timely and meaningful,” said Tulloch.
“The national grassroots music sector underpins our nation’s contemporary music landscape and is a vital and dynamic ecosystem that must be supported, fostered, and championed.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity to bring my skills and experience to this role supporting a sector I’ve dedicated my professional life to nurturing and strengthening.”
AMIN said it is “the national alliance of Australia’s peak contemporary music bodies”.
ECH appoints new head of people and culture
South Australian retirement living and aged care services provider ECH has appointed Richard Laidlaw as its head of people and culture.
ECH said Laidlaw will be responsible for driving the organisation’s workforce engagement strategy and its people-focused culture across its 800-strong employee base.
Laidlaw joins ECH from Uniting Communities, where he spent the past three and a half years as executive director of people and assurance.
Before this, he was global head of HR at fintech company Bravura Solutions and people and culture director at insurance and risk law firm Wotton + Kearney in Sydney.
He has also held management roles with Woolworths, Stockland and EY.
“Richard’s skills in leading large, diverse teams to deliver significant strategic programs will be an asset to the organisation as we continue to grow and adapt to developments in the aged care sector,” said ECH interim CEO Mark Watson.
“His ability to collaborate with all areas of the workforce and his strong thought leadership will shape programs that serve our customers and people equally, empowering them to get more out of life.”
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Climbing the ladder at Barry Nilsson
National law firm Barry Nilsson has announced 28 internal staff promotions, including Zoe Forrester to special counsel in the firm’s insurance division in Adelaide.
Forrester joined Barry Nilsson four years ago as a senior associate in its health and insurance team, with specialisation in compulsory third-party claims.
Before this, she spent nine years as a senior associate at commercial law firm Finlaysons.
“These promotions reflect the firm’s ongoing commitment to developing and investing in our people, and ensuring that we are fostering the next generation of leaders who will help to propel the firm forward,” said Barry Nilsson chair and principal partner Peter Murdoch.
Jumping on board at AGSA
The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) has announced the appointment of Prakash Rajah to its board.
AGSA said Rajah is a long-standing patron of the arts.
He is currently a managing director of alternative asset manager The Blackstone Group, where he focuses on private equity investments in the leisure and entertainment, technology and healthcare sectors.
Rajah is also currently on the board of the not-for-profit Advance Global Australians and a council member of the Atelier foundation group at Art Gallery NSW.
He was previously vice president at Brookfield Capital Partners in Sydney and New York and also covered mergers and acquisitions advisory at Goldman Sachs.
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Hold your horses
The South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) has announced the addition of Nicolle Rantanen-Reynolds and Matt Lloyde as directors on its board.
SAJC said Rantanen-Reynolds has experience in governance, finance and strategic oversight.
She is currently a council member of Adelaide University, a board member of LLL Australia, president of The Grange Golf Club and a board member and chair of the governance and nominations committee at Clayton Church Homes.
Rantanen-Reynolds previously spent six years as chief executive of the Public Trustee in the Attorney-General’s department and was chief operating officer in the Department of Treasury & Finance, as well as holding senior roles at Statewide Financial Management Services and Super SA.
SAJC said Lloyde is a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in national commercial leadership, digital innovation and stakeholder engagement.
Lloyde is currently the national sales, marketing and innovation manager at BlueScope, where he has been for the past 11 years.
He was a board member of Racing South Australia from October 2020 until October 2024 and previously spent 14 and a half years at steel manufacturer Fielders, including most recently as national sales, marketing and engineering manager.
“We’re thrilled to welcome two highly accomplished professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership and racing industry insight to the SAJC Board,” said SAJC chair Judith Jones.
Retirements from Orpheus Uranium board
Mick Billing and Richard Wilson have retired from the board of Orpheus Uranium Limited.
Wilson will continue at Orpheus in his role as company secretary.
Orpheus said Billing and Wilson played an instrumental role in guiding the company while it pursued a new strategy as an Australian-focused uranium exploration company.
Current board member Simon Mitchell has taken over from Billing as chair, while Orpheus CEO Clinton Dubieniecki will join the board as a managing director.
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Mick and Richard for their professional contribution to the Orpheus Board these last few years,” said Orpheus director Simon Mitchell.
“They leave the Company in a strong position with a significantly improved uranium asset base and capital position.”
ACH Group welcomes new members to board
Robina Bradley has joined the board of not-for-profit aged care provider ACH Group, where she is also a member of the clinical and customer care committee.
ACH Group said Bradley has more than a decade of board-level experience in the government and non-government sectors.
Bradley is currently on the board of Fundraising Institute Australia, and for the past two and a half years, she has also been an independent advisor at ACH Group.
She was previously chair of the Yarra Zero Executive Governance Group at Melbourne Zero Launch Housing, CEO and company secretary of St Mary’s House of Welcome, chair of Baptcare, and general manager and director of nursing at Northern Health’s Bundoora campus.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robina to the ACH Group Board, and we believe her skill and experience complement the existing expertise on the Board,” said ACH chair Imelda Lynch.
“Robina’s excellent contribution to ACH Group’s Customer Care and Clinical Committee, as well as her extensive knowledge and experience in the aged care sector, will make her an invaluable asset to the Board.
“As ACH Group prepares to implement significant national changes under the new Aged Care Act, Robina’s aged care and clinical experience will be invaluable.”
A new look on Kelsian board
Terry Sinclair will join the board of Kelsian Group Limited as a non-executive director, where he will be a member of the people, culture and remuneration committee and the safety, risk and sustainability committee.
Kelsian said Sinclair brings extensive board-level and executive experience to the role, including in logistics, infrastructure, industrials, consumer services and technology.
Sinclair has been chair of Silk Logistics Holdings Limited for the past 11 years and previously spent 12 years on the board of Cleanaway Waste Management.
He has also been executive chair and CEO of netGet Holdings, executive chair and CEO of Service Stream and executive chair and CEO of AUX Investments, as well as spending 23 years in various roles at BHP.
“Terry’s deep experience across a broad range of sectors, including in large ASX-listed organisations, will be valuable and complement the skills and experience mix of the Kelsian Board,” said Kelsian chair Fiona Hele.
Making a difference at Tutti Arts
Annemarie Kohn, Becci Love and Emma Kindred have joined the board of Tutti Arts.
Kohn is a philanthropy fundraising professional who is currently the head of philanthropy and development at the Environmental Defenders Office.
Throughout her career, Kohn has held roles ranging from senior manager of development at the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to manager of Carclew and co-chair of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia.
Love has more than 20 years of experience in the arts industry and is currently manager of events at the University of Adelaide, a board member of ACE Open and a committee member of the Arts Industry Council SA.
Kindred is a freelance art historian and curator who is currently a curator at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, an honorary research associate at the National Gallery of Australia and an honorary research fellow at the University of Sydney.
“From a field of highly skilled candidates, I am delighted to welcome three new members to the Tutti Arts Board,” said Tutti Arts chair Beth Neate.
“As we continue to advance Tutti’s ambitious goals for learning-disabled and neurodivergent artists, the perspectives, ideas, energy, collaboration and insights of our new Board members will be instrumental.
“Extending our Board will help Tutti Arts deepen our capacity, broaden our reach, and secure wider recognition while helping Tutti to remain well governed, financially sustainable, and committed to our purpose and vision.”
