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
Celsus appoints new leader
Celsus, the consortium that manages and maintains the daily operations of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, has appointed Amelia Pedersen as its new CEO.
Pedersen brings more than 20 years’ experience to the role and returns to SA after 12 years working in significant health and transport management roles in Victoria.
She most recently served as executive project director for the $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment project, where she oversaw commercial and legal practices.
In her role at Celsus — which was ranked 37th in this year’s South Australian Business Index — Pedersen would oversee significant Public Private Partnership infrastructure projects.
“Ms Pedersen has extensive commercial expertise and has demonstrated strong leadership experience in managing commercial, financial and contractual aspects of large, complex government health infrastructure,” Celsus chair Mark Balnaves said.
New CEO for Northpharm
Northpharm has announced the appointment of Pat Hodby as its CEO.
Hodby brings more than two decades of experience in the pharmacy sector to the role.
Hodby joins Northpharm from accounting firm Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers, where he spent more than 23 and a half years as a director and led was lead pharmacy specialist.
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He concurrently spent 12 years from March 2012 until February 2024 as director of finance at the North Adelaide Football Club.
SA’s Public Advocate reinstated
Anne Gale has been reappointed as South Australia’s Public Advocate for the next five years, after her first appointment in 2015 and second in 2020.
The Office of the Public Advocate is responsible for promoting the needs of people with a mental incapacity and their carers by identifying areas of unmet need.
In the role, Gale oversees the office that resolves disputes, investigates issues and promotes the rights of individuals who need decision-making assistance.
“As Public Advocate for nearly ten years now, Anne Gale has demonstrated time and time again that she is prepared to work tirelessly to support and act on behalf of people with a mental incapacity,” Deputy Premier Kyam Maher said.
“It is challenging work, that she has consistently done with compassion and with their best interests at heart.”
Mellor Olsson welcomes new manager
Adelaide law firm Mellor Olsson has announced the appointment of Lisa Hobden as the firm’s new people and culture manager.
Hobden has extensive experience working in human resources management and the legal sector.
She spent three years as human resources manager at the Legal Services Commission of SA, where she facilitated recruitment, performance development and workforce planning.
Her most recent role was as principal consultant of culture and capability at Helping Hand Aged Care.
Mellor Olsson said Hobden would bring a “wealth of experience” and “foster a positive workplace culture”.
“She will play a key role in further driving initiatives that strengthen leadership capability, support employee wellbeing, and enhance engagement across the firm,” Mellor Olsson CEO Cameron Thomson said.
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Chief Executive Officer for highly valued, NFP community development organisation Nganana Inc. which supports disadvantaged individuals and communities around Australia. Working closely with the accomplished Board and founder, the CEO will drive strategic growth, operational excellence and community impact. Principal for Cornerstone College, a leading co-ed Lutheran secondary school for Years 7–12, nestled in the thriving community of Mount Barker. This is a unique opportunity to lead a successful, inclusive school and provide spiritual, educational, operational and financial leadership to support a growing community of over 750 students through a world-class approach to learning and wellbeing. General Manager Residential Services for Barossa Village Inc., a highly regarded community owned NFP aged care services provider. This is a unique senior leadership opportunity to join an established, forward-thinking entity and provide impactful leadership capacity amongst the connected community of the stunning Barossa Valley. |
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FACCI SA president announced
The French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) has appointed Romain Bertin as president of its SA chapter.
FACCI is a national membership-based not-for-profit that assists its more than 470 French and Australian company members to network and promote their businesses.
Bertin currently serves as partner of management consulting firm CYLAD, where he supports the growth and performance of companies in the transportation, defence and health sectors.
Bertin has previously served as a thermal engineer at the European Space Agency before he started his role at CYLAD in France in 2013.
His contributions to CYLAD and French-Australian business networks have seen him nominated for the International Expansion and Value Creation award at the 2025 French Australian Excellence Awards.
State government announces new Country Arts SA chair
Shouwn Oosting has become the first First Nations person to oversee a South Australian statutory arts organisation after being appointed as the new chair of Country Arts SA.
Oosting has more than 25 years’ work experience in public service, stakeholder engagement, board governance and First Nations policy in sectors including the arts, employment and education.
As a descendant of the Waanyi and Garawa Nations, he has specialised in First Nations engagement strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan development and delivery.
He is a current board director of the SA Film Corporation and Uniting SA.
“As a proud First Nations person, I’m committed to ensuring our regional communities continue to thrive through culturally rich, inclusive, and sustainable arts practices,” Oosting said.
Director returns to KBR
Ilan Sagi has returned to science, technology and engineering company KBR after 14 years in a newly formed role as director, transport clients and growth.
Based in KBR’s Adelaide office, Sagi would focus on the delivery of sustainable, resilient and efficient transport solutions and lead national growth across the company’s Australian transport sector.
Sagi has more than two decades of experience in senior infrastructure and transport roles.
He served as senior design manager of the north-south corridor project and head of engineering and value creation at Inland Rail.
He has executive experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sector and has expertise in strategic planning, program delivery and organisational leadership.
