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.
New leadership at Flinders University
Flinders University has announced two senior appointments, with Professor Tracy Humphrey joining as vice president and dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Jonathan Pheasant as vice-president of corporate services, following what the university said was a comprehensive recruitment process
Humphrey will join Flinders University on September 1 from the University of South Australia, where she is currently executive dean of clinical and health sciences and a professor of midwifery.
She has previously also been dean and a professor of midwifery at Edinburgh Napier University in her native Scotland.
Humphrey studied midwifery at the University of Stirling, followed by a master of science in midwifery at the University of Aberdeen in 2003 and her doctorate in 2007.
Flinders University said Humphrey is an accomplished academic leader who has a deep commitment to improving health outcomes through education, research and workforce transformation.
The university said she is a recognised clinical academic who has led national workforce development in maternal and child health, helped shape education standards in midwifery and pioneered innovative approaches to simulation-based and interprofessional learning.
“Professor Humphrey joins Flinders at a time of tremendous opportunity,” said Flinders University vice chancellor, professor Colin Stirling.
“Her deep expertise in nursing, midwifery and allied health education, coupled with her success in growing research performance and workforce development, makes her ideally suited to lead the College at this exciting time for Flinders University.”
Pheasant will join Flinders University on October 7 from the University of Canberra, where he has been chief operating officer since June 2023.
Before this, he spent two years as director of shared services at the Australian National University, five years as faculty executive director in UNSW’s medicine department and eight years as director of the Office of Services & Resources at the University of Adelaide.
Pheasant holds a master of business administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Flinders University said he is an experienced executive with a strong record of leading operational portfolios in organisations and has deep expertise in strategic planning, transformation and service delivery.
“Jonathan will lead the Corporate Services portfolio at Flinders and joins us at a significant time as we continue to invest in our people, systems and infrastructure to support our education and research activities, deliver our capital program, and ensure a strong, sustainable future,” said Stirling.
SACOME CEO steps down
Rebecca Knol has announced her decision to step down as CEO of The South Australian Council of the South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME).
Knol joined the role nearly nine years ago in November 2016, bringing extensive national and international experience in the mining, oil and gas sectors.
“Under Rebecca’s leadership, SACOME has strengthened its role as a respected industry voice,” said SACOME president Carl Kavina.
“Delivering tangible results over the last decade, which include the duplication of the Joy Baluch Bridge, establishment of a nationally recognised joint electricity purchasing group, successful advocacy for the Northern Water Project, and delivery of impactful multi-year public awareness campaigns.”
“SACOME extends its sincere thanks to Rebecca for her energy and dedication. Please join me in wishing her every success in her next chapter.”
Nicola McFarlane will step into the role of interim CEO while SACOME searches for Knol’s replacement.
McFarlane joins from the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia, where she has been chief operating officer for the past two years.
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Before this, she was a director of hydrogen and new energies in the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in Western Australia, principal engineer of low carbon lead at DNV and a senior engineer in oil and gas at DNV.
“Nicola is well placed to lead the organisation, to ensure a smooth transition and her immediate appointment ensures continuity as the Council commences a formal search for a permanent CEO,” said Kavina.
CEO slam dunks into new role
Women’s basketball team, Adelaide Lightning, has announced the appointment of Melanie MacGillivray as its CEO.
Adelaide Lightning said MacGillivray brings extensive executive experience in sports, media and digital fitness to the role.
MacGillivray joins from athleisure brand CSB, where she spent five months as senior partnerships manager.
Before this, she spent close to four years at fitness app Sweat, including in the roles of brand partnerships and brand and content partnerships senior manager.
She has also been head of Bundesliga Americas, director of international media at Major League Soccer, manager of league operations at Women’s Professional Soccer, and senior director of the W-League, as well as director of the Super Y-League and the Super-20 League in the United Soccer Leagues LLC (USL).
MacGillivray is a former basketballer herself, having played collegiate basketball and soccer while at Clearwater Christian College.
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Three Board Directors for SA’s peak thoroughbred racing body, Racing SA. Expertise is sought in any one or more of the following disciplines or skillsets – media rights negotiation and delivery, strategic planning and business development, government and public sector relations, thoroughbred race horse breeding, ownership and racing, and major membership-based club strategic planning and business development. Head of Marketing & Partnerships with iconic medical imaging services provider, Jones Radiology. Reporting to the CEO and as a key member of the Senior Management Team, this newly created position will play a transformative role in shaping the brand’s impact, championing innovation in service delivery, and advancing Jones Radiology’s position as the provider of choice for patients and referrers across its communities. |
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Moving up at Funds SA
Funds SA has announced a series of promotions across its investment team, which became effective on August 1.
Cameron Sinclair has been promoted to deputy chief investment officer in addition to his role as director of private markets and infrastructure.
Sinclair joined Funds SA in February 2019 as director of growth alternatives.
He previously spent nine years at Future Fund Management Agency as director of private equity and six and a half years at Macquarie Group as a senior analyst and then a senior manager.
Gavin Bowden has been promoted to director of investment strategy and risk following a period acting in the role.
Bowden joined Funds SA as a portfolio manager of quantitative in May 2019.
Throughout his varied career, Bowden has been chief scientific officer at Ailytic, artificial intelligence development specialist at LBT Innovations Ltd and portfolio manager and head of research at Global Commodities Limited.
Kelly Howlett has been elevated to the newly created role of head of portfolio implementation.
Howlett joined Funds SA in January 2013 as a senior fund accountant, working her way up to assistant manager of investment operations, manager of investment operations and most recently, head of investment operations.
She previously spent close to five years as a senior accountant at PKF Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers (Australia).
Simon Nguyen has been promoted to the newly created position of head of infrastructure.
Nguyen joined Funds SA in February 2011 as a graduate officer of funds management, working his way up to investment analyst, senior investment analyst, assistant portfolio manager and most recently, portfolio manager.
Rajani Khetan has been promoted to the role of acting head of equities.
Khetan joined Funds SA in July 2018 as an investment analyst before being promoted to assistant portfolio manager and then acting portfolio manager.
Before joining Funds SA, Khetan was a regional transport analyst at CLSA and an analyst of transport research at HSBC.
Domenic Chiuchiolo has been promoted to assistant portfolio manager of debt and liquid alternatives.
Chiuchiolo joined Funds SA in October 2023 as a senior investment analyst.
Before this, he spent eight years at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, having joined its graduate program before being promoted to investment analyst of diversified funds and then as a senior investment analyst.
Alex Oswald and Madeline Cool have both been promoted to senior investment analysts.
Oswald joined Funds SA as an investment analyst in October 2023.
He was previously cash and liquidity manager and an assistant treasury analyst at SAFA and a graduate at the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Cool joined Funds SA in January 2019 as a graduate analyst before being promoted to an investment analyst.
Kana Thorpe has been promoted to manager of responsible investment.
Thrope joined Funds SA in 2024 as an assistant portfolio manager of responsible investment.
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She has previously held roles ranging from a manager of program delivery (Strategy, Policy & Analytics Division) in the Department for Trade and Investment to a project manager of energy and environment policy at The GR Company in Tokyo, and a senior science writer and assistant of research commercialisation and programme at the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.
Olivia Magor has been promoted to head of investment operations.
Magor re-joined Funds SA as a manager of asset servicing solutions in September 2023 after previously spending more than eight years there as a senior fund accountant and then a senior project coordinator.
She has also been a fund operations controller at CCLA Investment Management in London, an asset maintenance and reporting team leader at the Australian Executor Trustees Limited and a financial data analyst, unit pricing officer and unit pricing assistant manager at J.P. Morgan.
Experienced industrial relations lawyer joins Lynch Meyer Lawyers
Lynch Meyer Lawyers has appointed Sue Porter as a senior associate in its workplace relations team.
The commercial law firm said Porter brings to the role a wealth of knowledge and experience in industrial relations and employment law.
Porter retrained as a lawyer after extensive experience in human resources and as a registered nurse.
She graduated from the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney and the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW with a Diploma in Law in 2020.
She then completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the College of Law and was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia in April 2021.
Porter joins Lynch Meyer Lawyers from EMA Legal, where she was an associate and then a senior associate.
Before this, she was principal industrial relations advisor at the South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance.
Porter previously held HR roles at Haigh’s Chocolates, Pulteney Grammar School, the City of Holdfast Bay and EMA Consulting.
Silentium Defence appoints head of marketing and communications
Justina Gardiner has joined Silentium Defence as head of marketing and communications.
Silentium Defence said Gardiner brings more than 20 years of executive experience driving brand strategy, marketing transformation and stakeholder engagement.
This includes experience in the professional services, fast-moving consumer goods, education and technology sectors.
Gardiner is currently a board member of LightSpeed Consulting, Meals on Wheels SA and Brink Productions, as well as chair of the National Conference Steering Committee at Meals on Wheels.
She previously spent five and a half years at Perks, firstly as head of marketing and communications and then as general manager of corporate services.
Throughout her varied career, she has also been head of marketing for Australia and New Zealand at Haircare, marketing manager at San Remo for Balfours Bakery and Nievole Distributors, head of marketing and sales at Torrens University Australia and a studio lecturer in photography at York University in Toronto, Canada.
She also spent nine years at L’Oréal Canada, including most recently as marketing director of Shu Uemura in North America.
“We are delighted to welcome Justina to the Leadership Team. Her proven track record in building high-performing teams, establishing marketing infrastructure and driving organisational growth will be instrumental as Silentium continues to innovate our product and service delivery model to meet the needs of our Government, Defence and Commercial partners, globally,” said Dr James Palmer, who is CEO of Silentium Defence.
SAUCE welcomes director of client services
SAUCE. The Creative Agency has announced the appointment of Ryan Dayrit as director of client services.
SAUCE said Dayrit has nearly two decades of global experience leading global product launches, crafting integrated brand platforms and delivering high-impact marketing solutions.
Dayrit joins from Nissan Motor Corporation, where he spent more than 10 years in various roles, including most recently as global communications creative and campaigns lead.
Before this, he was brand manager at Ford Motor Company, senior account manager and then account director at Oglivy & Mather and account manager at MullenLowe Group.
Ryan has a sharp strategic mind and a great creative instinct,” said Michael Gagliardi, who is co-creative director at SAUCE.
“He’s the kind of leader who makes everyone better – and that’s exactly what we want for our clients.”
A new face at JPE Design Studio
Jennifer Forbes has joined JPE Design Studio as a landscape associate after a six-month career break.
JPE Design Studio said Forbes has extensive experience across major infrastructure, education and public realm projects.
Forbes previously spent 2024 as an associate landscape architect at ASPECT Studios.
Before this, she was a senior landscape architect and then an associate landscape architect at DesignInc Sydney, a senior landscape architect and urban designer at Spackman Mossop Michaels, an urban designer at Jackson Teece and a landscape architect and urban designer at GHD.
She has also been a project manager at VICSERV, Nucleus Network, CMAX, NHSQIS and a stability trial scientist at CSL.
JPE Design Studio is an Adelaide-based practice offering architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and urban design services.
Jumping on board at the Leaders Institute
Peta St Clair has joined the board of The Leaders Institute of South Australia.
The Leaders Institute said she has extensive leadership experience in general management, events management, communications and marketing.
She has worked in sectors ranging from major events to information technology, professional services, government relations and not-for-profit.
St Clair is currently an advisory committee member of Sony Foundation, a marketing and guest experience director for Australia at sports and entertainment agency 54, and chair of St Andrew’s School in Walkerville.
She was previously deputy chair of the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and has held senior roles at the Committee for Adelaide, RAM Equipment, Callie Rose Communications, HLB Mann Judd, Loftus and DRGroup.
“We are looking forward to Peta’s contribution – particularly her broad expertise, leadership experience, and passion for South Australia – as we continue to enhance our programs and impact across the State,” said Leaders Institute chair Todd Roberts.
The Leaders Institute said it is a “not-for-profit organisation committed to developing a stronger, healthier and more prosperous South Australia by developing impactful leaders”.
