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 leader for Diabetes SA
Catherine Hughes has been appointed as CEO of Diabetes SA.
Diabetes SA said Hughes is an accomplished health leader with more than 20 years of experience across South Australia’s health, aged care and not-for-profit sectors.
Hughes joins Diabetes SA from Western Hospital SA, where she has been director of transformation and interim CEO for the past 10 months.
Before this, she was director of strategic operations reform at Central Adelaide and chief operating officer at Life Care.
She also spent nearly 17 years at SA Health in a variety of senior roles, including most recently as state director of demand management for the Department of Health and Wellbeing.
“Catherine combines deep clinical insight with proven executive experience,” Diabetes SA president David Scotland said.
“She brings the skills and vision needed to strengthen Diabetes SA’s voice and grow our impact through strong advocacy, prevention programs and partnerships that deliver real benefits for South Australians.
“Catherine’s leadership will help us expand our partnerships, enhance health literacy across the state and ensure members’ voices remain central to everything we do.”
CEO starts at Port Pirie Regional Council
Port Pirie Regional Council has announced the appointment of Chris Davey as its CEO after he acted in the role for the past four months.
Davey takes the reins from former CEO Peter Ackland, who retired in July.
The council said that Davey has “deep knowledge” of its organisation and a strong connection to the Port Pirie community.
It added that he brings passion for service excellence and financial sustainability to the role.
Davey joined Port Pirie Regional Council 10 years ago as a construction and maintenance supervisor before being promoted to manager of development regulation and environmental services in 2016 and then director of development regulation in January 2022.
Before this, he spent nearly four years as general manager of the District Council of Elliston, as well as 11 years at the City of Charles Sturt, where he was coordinator of arboriculture, irrigation and landscape construction and then a team leader of engineering works.
“We are pleased to have offered the position to Chris, which will enable us to have a seamless transfer and continuous delivery of the Council’s Community Plan and Long Term Financial Plan,” said Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens.
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Group Head of Finance for one of Australia’s leading gas infrastructure companies, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG). Reporting to the CFO and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this newly created role has a national focus and will support AGIG’s transition through significant growth and expansion. The role provides strategic finance and commercial advice to the CFO and CEO, while leading a high-performing, values-driven national finance team committed to operational excellence and business partnership. Business Development and Regional Manager opportunities in various locations with MADEC Australia, a respected national not-for-profit organisation with over 50 years of service supporting communities through employment, education, labour mobility and Indigenous programs.
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Experienced lawyer joins Laity Morrow
Peter Kupniewski has been appointed as a director at transactional and advisory law firm Laity Morrow.
Kupniewski has joined Laity Morrow from DMAW Lawyers, where he was principal for nearly six years.
Before this, he was senior legal manager and company secretary at Beach Energy, as well as principal advisor of regulatory approvals for eastern Australia and then a corporate lawyer at Santos.
He previously spent nearly 13 years at DMAW Lawyers, where he began as a lawyer in January 2002 before being promoted to a senior associate and then a partner.
Laity Morrow said Kupniewski is well-known and respected by both private practice and in-house lawyers in Adelaide for his many years of legal, corporate, commercial and management experience across multiple industries and sectors.
“We are delighted to welcome Peter to the firm,” said Philip Laity, who is managing director at Laity Morrow.
“His deep industry knowledge and technical expertise, in particular in the Energy, Resources and Renewables sector, combined with his efficient and pragmatic approach, will be a valuable addition to our clients and will add further depth to our Energy, Resources and Renewables practice.”
New faces at Tea Tree Gully council
The City of Tea Tree Gully has announced the appointment of Theodore Hill as its manager of operations support services and Kylie Stam as manager of people and capability.
Hill is a former police officer and senior operations manager with the Australian Army’s Adelaide Universities Regiment.
He joins Tea Tree Gully from Logi-Tech, where he has been a senior client account manager for the past 10 months.
Hill also previously spent seven years in Australia’s Department of Defence, including most recently as a capability manager.
The council said Hill has experience in overseeing property maintenance, rapid response, workshop, signage and operations.
Hill said his army background, including deployments to the Middle East, has given him a sound understanding of people and operational workflows.
“Those skills have stood me in good stead because our department covers such a broad scope,” he said.
“I want to help build on the positive culture here.”
Stam joins the Tea Tree Gully Council from SAPOL, where she spent the past two years in senior human resources roles.
Before this, she spent some 26 and a half years at Australia Post, including most recently as national retail channel development manager.
“I’ve always worked in organisations that help the community. For me, it’s about customer centricity – supporting leaders and teams so they can deliver quality services to residents,” said Stam.
“That’s what really drove me to start at the council here – sharing the vision and treating everyone equally.”
Senior appointments and a promotion at William Buck
William Buck has announced the appointment of John Marsden as a partner and Matt Darling as a principal in its South Australian Corporate Finance team, while Samantha Nicholls has been promoted as its new head.
William Buck said Nicholls has experience in business advisory and corporate finance in areas such as mergers and acquisitions transactions, banking restructures and business turnarounds.
Nicholls joined William Buck as a graduate accountant in business advisory in 2007, working her way up to assistant manager of business advisory, manager of corporate advisory, principal of corporate advisory and, most recently, partner of corporate finance.
William Buck said Marsden has more than 20 years of experience in in-house and external corporate advisory in Australia and internationally.
He joins William Buck from GFG Alliance, where he was corporate finance principal for the past two and a half years.
Before this, he was a director at KMPG and Ferrier Hodgson, as well as a manager at Ernst & Young and an accountant at Ferrier Hodgson.
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Darling has experience as a corporate finance advisor specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
He has joined William Buck from Equity & Advisory, where he spent nearly four years as manager and then associate director.
Before this, he spent nearly five years in various roles at KPMG Australia, including most recently as an executive of corporate finance.
Shake-up at Sophie’s Legacy board
South Australian charity Sophie’s Legacy has announced the appointment of six new board members as it continues its mission to address mental health challenges in the veterinary profession.
Amelia Jarrett is a senior leader in mental health with experience as a clinician, service manager and policy co-designer for NSW Health and SA Health.
Jarrett has been executive director of people and corporate services at the Essential Services Commission of South Australia for the past three years.
Throughout her long and varied career, Jarrett has been executive director of mental health and wellbeing at Wellbeing SA, executive director of the SA Mental Health Commission, and manager of strategy and change and mental health strategy at SA Health.
As executive director of the mental health commission, Jarrett led the state’s first mental health plan in more than a decade.
Catherine Eddy has more than 20 years of experience in the advisory and data analytics industry, with an executive background in marketing strategy, consumer behaviour and data analytics.
She is currently a director with Guide Dogs SA/NT, Bendigo Community Bank Goodwood and Unley Football Club Inc, as well as chair of St Basil’s Inc.
Sophie’s Legacy said she brings expertise in stakeholder engagement, evidence-led strategy and community-focused governance to the role.
Jodi Ross has experience in government and fintech and is currently chief governance and engagement officer and company secretary at Tiimely, where she was previously chief risk and compliance officer and head of regulatory affairs and compliance.
She also has expertise in policy, compliance, corporate governance, risk management and innovation in digital financial services.
Karen Hunt GAICD is currently the director of higher and international education at the Department of State Development.
Sophie’s Legacy said she has extensive experience in the higher education, government and not-for-profit sectors, including in governance, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, communication and cultural transformation.
Dr Hamish Burns is a veterinarian who is the owner of Rose Park Vet, as well as a tutor at the University of Adelaide.
He was a colleague and friend of the charity’s namesake, Sophie, and is an advocate for veterinary workplaces that prioritise well-being, professional standards and sustainable practice.
Mark Gray is a chartered accountant who has held international roles at Price Waterhouse as well as senior positions at Australian firms.
He is currently the chair of the Salvation Army National Housing Board, as well as a director at Finpact Group.
Sophie’s Legacy was established in 2021 to honour the late Dr Sophie Putland, who died by suicide, and aims to address mental health challenges within the veterinary profession.
“Our Founder, Garry Putland, remains a guiding presence on the Board. At the same time, we are strengthening governance with new appointments that bring expertise in mental health, community partnerships, fundraising and finance,” said newly-appointed chair Mark Clayton.
“This blend of continuity and fresh perspective positions Sophie’s Legacy to expand its impact across Australia while staying true to Sophie’s purpose. On behalf of the Board, I thank Garry for his leadership and warmly welcome our new Directors.”
Jumping on board at Cancer Council SA
Cancer Council SA has announced the appointment of Karen Hayes AM DSJ to its board.
Hayes has more than 30 years of leadership and governance experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
She is currently a non-executive director at SAHMRI and the Adelaide Fringe Foundation.
Hayes previously spent 10 and a half years as CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria, as well as eight years as CEO of Planpower.
She is also a founding member of Breast Cancer Network Australia and has held senior roles with Multiple Sclerosis Limited, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the International Guide Dogs Federation.
Her professional and community contributions have been recognised with her appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and a Dame of the Order of St John (DSJ).
“Karen is an outstanding addition to the Board. Her leadership experience, combined with her deep commitment to community health, wellbeing and inclusion, will be invaluable as Cancer Council SA continues to deliver on its strategic priorities and support South Australians impacted by cancer,” said Cancer Council SA chair Karlene Maywald.
