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.
Massive leadership change at SAFC
The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) has announced the appointment of eight new staff, which it said will address existing vacancies and support the delivery of its new Strategic Plan 2025-2028.
Mags Scholes has been appointed as production executive (SA led), Neil Rennison as acting game development executive, Jessica Giacco as talent development manager, Astrid Samuel as program systems manager and Gavin Heard as head of corporate.
SAFC has also created new roles, with Carmel Boffa joining as client services coordinator, Yanhui (James) Fu as cleaning and maintenance officer, and Brian Scarce as First Nations programs lead.
SAFC said Schols has more than 25 years of experience across agencies, production and international projects, including inclusive talent development and managing high-stakes content delivery.
She was previously based in the Sunshine Coast and was head of content at Screen Queensland.
Rennison has a 25-year career in games development and as a 3D environment artist.
He is also the founder of Tin Man Games, where he has led the development of more than 60 digital titles as creative director.
Giacco has more than a decade of experience in the creative development, production and industry programming sectors.
She was most recently the industry programs manager at Screen Producers Australia.
Samuel has more than a decade of experience in the film industry, including in change management and building flexible, structured systems.
She has previously held the business affairs role with sales agent Wild Bunch in Paris and later joined Odin’s Eye Entertainment in Sydney, where she oversaw sales, legal and end-to-end delivery operations from development to distribution.
SAFC said Boffa has experience in government and customer service roles and previously worked in the accounts team at the City of Adelaide, Jurlique and SA Health.
Fu has had a varied career and most recently worked for a contractor to clean Adelaide Studios since January 2024.
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Scarce is a Kokatha, Nukunu and Mirning man who has experience in government, industry and cultural experience, as well as working in the film industry as a producer, production manager and sound recordist on projects with a focus on First Nations stories and communities.
He has worked at the National Indigenous Australians Agency, National Disability Insurance Agency and CAAMA Productions in Alice Springs.
Heard is an experienced executive with more than 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors with organisations including the National Banking Corporation and the Office for the Commissioner of Public Sector Employment.
He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a strong focus on aligning strategy, governance and experience to drive corporate performance.
Shake-up at Prophecy
Brad Thomas has resigned as CEO of South Australian software developer Prophecy International Holdings Ltd.
Thomas joined Prophecy in 2016 and was appointed as its CEO in 2017.
Prophecy said he has played an important role over the last eight years in advancing both emite and Snare, as well as growing its international operations.
Current chair Ed Reynolds has been appointed acting CEO while a new leader is recruited.
Meanwhile, Matthew Michalewicz has resigned as a director of the board to “avoid a conflict of interest” while the board assesses the impact of its business update on the proposed merger with Complexica, where Michalewicz has been CEO for more than 11 years.
Michalewicz is a keynote speaker, author and executive who previously served as CEO of SolveIT Software and NuTech Solutions in North Carolina.
GPEx gets a new CEO
GPEx, which provides clinical, educational and technological capabilities for the primary care sector, has announced the appointment of Beth McKenzie as CEO.
McKenzie is a Chartered Accountant who has held senior leadership roles across the commercial and education sectors.
GPEx said she has experience in strategy and leadership, financial management, risk management, governance, organisational transformation, optimisation, and growth and micro-credentials.
McKenzie joined GPEx as general manager of corporate and chief financial officer in November 2024 and has been acting CEO since March 2025.
She has previously been chief financial officer at Murray Zircon, Mitsubishi Motors Australia, TAFE SA and Gryphon Minerals Limited, finance manager at Ram Equipment and Agriquip Machinery, and state finance manager of energy and mining west at Linfox.
She was also an associate director of corporate finance at the University of South Australia, WA chair of the Chartered Accountants in Business Panel at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, general manager of corporate and commercial services at Tronox, chair of the WA User Group Committee at Mincom and an accountant at EY Gooding Pervan Chartered Accountant.
“I’m excited at the breadth of opportunity for GPEx to enhance primary care supported by advanced digital capability and comprehensive expertise in care models, education, evaluation and workforce planning,” she said.
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Chief Executive Officer for Rembrandt Living, a highly regarded, not-for-profit, values-based organisation offering residential, respite, home care and home support to older people across Adelaide and regions. The organisation currently employs approximately 170 (FTE) staff and has a turnover circa $35 million. Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning for thriving IB school, Redeemer Lutheran School. Situated in the picturesque Barossa Valley, Redeemer is a co-ed primary school offering contemporary facilities and a world-class, innovative IB PYP program, supporting students to flourish academically, spiritually and socially. This is a wonderful opportunity for primary years educational leaders to join a connected Barossa Valley learning community. Financial Controller for Catcorp Pty Ltd, an award-winning and well-established leader in property design, construction and development. This is a hands-on financial leadership role managing all aspects of financial management and reporting, and providing commercial insights to support business decisions. Human Resources Business Partner (Farms) for Perfection Fresh, a significant fresh produce leader bringing quality produce to households across Australia. Based at the world-class Two Wells facility just 30 mins from Adelaide, the role partners with Leaders across the Farming division to advise on a range of HR generalist matters. With 2,000 staff nationally, this is an outstanding opportunity for experienced or emerging HRBP’s to grow their career in a dynamic organisation. |
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Regional council says bye to CEO
Barunga West Council CEO Maree Wauchope has announced her resignation to take up the role of executive director of property services at SA Housing Trust.
Barunga West Council said that during Wauchope’s time there, it had invested in record levels of infrastructure and community initiatives.
It said she launched a tourism campaign, developed community events and advocated for increased government funding in areas such as road upgrades.
Wauchope has been CEO of Barunga West Council since April 2020.
She has previously been a presiding member (chair) of CITB South Australia, managing partner of Rod Hook and Associates and Regions Matter and client services manager at TAFE SA.
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She also held various roles at the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for more than 10 years, including most recently as group executive director of strategic services.
Wauchope will have her last day on October 31, with recruitment for a new CEO to begin shortly.
New faces at public relations agency
Public relations agency Belinda Public Relations (BPR) has announced the addition of public relations professionals Kate Rosman and Chrissie Zikos to its team.
BPR said Rosman has experience in public relations, marketing and community engagement, including expertise in media relations, social media management, copywriting and event coordination.
She is a former elite athlete, having represented Australia as a springboard diver for seven years.
Rosman began as an intern at BPR in May 2025 and has worked on projects such as the annual SkyCity KickStart for Kids Against Period Poverty fundraiser.
She was previously a marketing and communications project support officer for the Brisbane City Council.
Zikos joined BPR as a public relations intern in July 2025 and has experience in the lifestyle, fashion, retail, events, sport and not-for-profit sectors.
BPR said her skills include social media strategy, content creation, influencer engagement, copywriting and event management.
Zikos was previously media manager at Adelaide City Football Club, a digital media coordinator at South Australia Police and a social media and marketing officer at the Australian Taxation Office.
She also plays soccer at an elite level in the Women’s National Premier League.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome Chrissie and Kate to the team,” said BPR’s director, Belinda Bocson.
“Their joint creativity, professionalism, and passion for storytelling align perfectly with BPR’s values, and we look forward to seeing them grow with the agency as we continue delivering impactful campaigns for our clients.”
Gifted school announces new leadership
Dara School has announced that Tania Allen and Dr Emma Goodall will take up the joint role of co-principals following a nationwide recruitment search.
Allen has been a teacher at Dara School since it was established in 2017 and has been serving as interim principal for most of this year.
She has also been an education professional at Flinders University since January 2020 and was previously a project officer with SAPOL from 2001 to 2009.
Dara School said Goodall is a nationally recognised leader in inclusive and gifted education, with extensive experience in teaching, research and system leadership.
She is currently a university associate at Curtin University, a director of strategic translational research at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and a director of Health Possibilities.
Other recent roles include being an autism consultant at Health Possibilities in Health and Education NZ, as well as a national manager of content and research and a national coordinator of content and resources at Positive Partnerships.
She was also a senior autism advisor and manager of disability and complex needs at the Department of Education and Children’s Services.
“The Dara community has worked collectively to create a strong foundation for gifted education in South Australia,” said the Dara School board in a statement.
“We are confident that Ms Allen and Dr Goodall will continue to build on that foundation. We are excited for the school’s very bright future.”
Dara School said it is Australia’s first school dedicated exclusively to gifted education.
Jumping on board at Spacetalk
Spacetalk has announced the appointment of John Bird to its board following the completion of its capital raise.
Bird fills a vacancy left by Marin Pretty and joins the board as an independent non-executive director and chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Spacetalk said that Bird has more than three decades of public company experience, including providing financial and strategic direction.
This includes mergers and acquisitions of ASX-listed companies in the biotech, technology and gaming industries.
Bird was most recently chief financial officer at Ai-Media and has previous public company experience at Regeneus Ltd, NSW TAB, iCash Payment Systems and AWA Limited.
Bird is a certified practising accountant who is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chartered Secretaries Australia, as well as holding a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University.
“I welcome John to the Spacetalk Board at an exciting time for the Company. John’s skills and experience at senior management and board level within technology and global companies will be an important addition to Spacetalk as the company continues to grow, particularly in overseas markets,” said Spacetalk’s chair, Georg Chmiel.
