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 CEO to lead Burnside Hospital
Burnside Hospital has announced the appointment of experienced healthcare leader Rebecca Badcock as its new CEO.
Badcock most recently served as regional CEO of Southern NSW and ACT at Calvary Health Care and was previously the company’s national operations manager.
She also has worked as director of nursing at the Noarlunga Hospital and executive director of nursing and patient experience at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.
Badcock would now lead the hospital as it prepares for a $65 million development of its new Health Precinct, that was expected to deliver additional cancer treatment services and increased surgical capacity by 2028.
“She has extensive experience in both the public and private hospital sector, and we have every confidence that Rebecca will guide the organisation with strategic clarity and determination while bringing her own valuable perspective to the role,” Burnside Hospital chair Anne Hinton said.
A new head of Orana is announced
NDIS and supported independent living provider Orana has announced the appointment of Deborah Dutton as its new CEO.
Set to commence in January next year, Dutton brings extensive leadership experience to the role where she most recently spent 10 years as CEO of Rembrandt Living.
She also previously served as CEO for SAFKI Medicare Local and was a director at AG Partners SA for more than nine years.
Orana said Dutton’s strategic insight, governance expertise and commitment to positive outcomes for older Australians would align with the company’s mission to support people with a disability.
“Her deep understanding of human services, operational leadership, and values‐driven approach will ensure Orana continues to build on its legacy of purpose and inclusion,” Orana board chairman Linda Stark said.
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SAFECOM appoints new leader
The South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) has appointed senior executive leader Hannah Wandel as new chief executive.
Wandel was at the National Emergency Management Agency working as first assistant coordinator general where she partnered with volunteers and community leaders to strengthen climate resilience outcomes.
She has also served on the advisory panel to the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she provided social and environmental risk advice.
Following the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, Wandel delivered reforms to navigate complex legislative and governance frameworks to deliver a new national agency.
Wandel was also the founder and CEO of Country to Canberra, a national non-profit that aims to empower young rural women through leadership, education and advocacy.
“Hannah’s wealth of organisational and disaster management experience fits perfectly with this role, and I am looking forward to working with her to ensure our emergency services remain world class,” Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce said.
Jumping on board at Adelaide PHN
Adelaide PHN has announced the appointment of two new board members and a new chair.
Melanie Smith has taken over the role of chair after serving as deputy chair since 2024 and is serving her second term on the board after first being elected in October 2021.
Smith is a sole trader general practitioner (GP) at Chandlers Hill Surgery where she has a specialised interest in palliative care, paediatrics and mental health.
She is a council member and former deputy chair of the SA Faculty for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and deputy chair of the SA Health Performance Council.
Lorraine Sheppard and Mary Patetsos have officially started as non-GP directors.
Sheppard is a health economist and physiotherapist with more than 30 years of experience in Australia’s health and not-for-profit sectors.
She has held multiple executive healthcare and aged care roles, including chair of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and chair and non-executive director of Carer and Community Support.
As a chartered accountant, Sheppard has served on finance, risk, and clinical governance committees and has provided strategic contributions to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Patetsos has more than 15 years’ experience as non-executive director across national and SA boards where she has expertise in governance, strategy and stakeholder engagement.
She has been a board member for multiple health services including the Consumers Health Forum of Australia and the Glenelg Community Hospital Inc.
In 2023, Patetsos was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to aged care services and advancement of a multicultural nation.
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Experienced engineer joins FMG board
Adelaide headquartered engineering firm FMG Engineering has appointed its national civil manager to its board of directors.
Jordan Colbert has worked at FMG for 11 years after he first joined as an intern in 2014. He qualified as a civil engineer in 2015 and eventually worked his way up to national civil manager in 2022.
During his time at FMG, Colbert has been involved with several major civil projects including the King William Street and Magill Road upgrades.
Colbert also serves on the planning committee for non-profit representative body Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) SA, where he provides engineering experience and advocacy to the industry on behalf of UDIA SA members.
“Jordan has demonstrated a consistently high level of proficiency and leadership over the years which made our decision to appoint to him to the board a logical one,” FMG Chief Executive Adam Creek said.
Two new roles to support aba TRADES expansion
Stepney-based company aba TRADES has announced a new CEO and commercial business development manager following its recent expansion.
Ming Ma is set to take on the role as CEO where he would lead the company’s future expansion and interstate growth plans while driving operations and team development.
Ma is the co-founder and CEO of sushi chain Cherry Blossom and is founder and managing director of Bing Boy and IE Scope.
He has also received several accolades for his leadership including Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 by Hong Kong Australia Business Association – SA chapter.
Chris Brooks would assume the role of commercial business development manager where his focus would be on driving growth in the commercial sector with a particular focus on small to medium enterprises.
Brooks has more than 20 years’ experience in the building and construction industries including senior roles as SA business development manager at Egans Asset Management.
He was also operations manager and business development manager at Exiis Group where he provided budgeting skills, operations management and customer service.
“Their expertise, vision, and commitment will be instrumental in driving our growth, expanding our services, and strengthening our ability to deliver trusted, high-quality trade solutions to the South Australian community,” aba TRADES founder Paul Chaina said.
International medical expert to join new university
Professor Michelle Khine has been appointed as University of Adelaide’s inaugural Ian and Pamela Wall chair professor in electrical and electronic engineering.
Khine, who has been a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of California Irvine since 2016, is an experienced biomedical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur.
She has been honoured multiple times for her work including winning the TR35 Award by MIT Technology Review for young innovators shaping the future of technology.
“Professor Khine will make a significant contribution to future research and education offerings at Adelaide University and will strengthen the university’s reputation as a globally recognised centre of excellence in electrical and electronic engineering,” University of Adelaide vice-chancellor and president Peter Høj said.
Khine is set to take up her position in June 2026 when Adelaide University opens its doors following the ongoing university merger.
