New leader at Adelaide Fringe

Adelaide Fringe has appointed Tara MacLeod as acting CEO for its 2026 season following the departure of long-term CEO Heather Croall AM.

In her new role, MacLeod will provide organisation-wide leadership across strategy, governance, operations, finance, people, risk and stakeholder engagement, working closely with the board and executive team to ensure organisational stability, strong governance and sustainable delivery of the Adelaide Fringe.

MacLeod has been at the Adelaide Fringe for the past four and a half years, where she has held the roles of executive director of operations and finance and head of operations.

Before this, she spent a year at the Adelaide Film Festival as head of operations, development and events and 13 at Port Adelaide Football Club as general manager of strategic projects and general manager of game day and events.

“Tara MacLeod brings deep operational and leadership experience to the Acting CEO role, and she’s been central to planning and delivering recent Fringe seasons. The Board’s focus is continuity and momentum, and Tara is exactly the right person to lead the organisation through the 2026 season.” Adelaide Fringe chair Paul Hamra said.

SA’s largest company appoints new CFO

South Australian-based global energy company Santos has appointed Lachlan Harris as chief financial officer, with Harris having acted in the role since October 2025.

Harris has been with Santos in senior roles for the past 15 years, including most recently as treasurer and deputy chief financial officer.

Before this, he spent close to nine years at KPMG as a senior manager.

Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said he was pleased to confirm Harris’s appointment as chief financial officer.

“He has a deep knowledge of our business and the complex markets in which we operate,” Gallagher said.

“Throughout his career at Santos, he has built a reputation with the Board, management team, investors and capital markets for his financial acumen, analytical approach, strong risk mindset and leadership capability.”

Chief Executive Officer for the South Australian Produce Market Limited, to lead the State’s premier fresh produce market into its next growth phase. This is a rare opportunity for a commercially astute leader to drive growth, strengthen stakeholder partnerships and deliver sustainable impact across the sector. Workforce Planning & Business Partnership Manager for highly respected aged and community services provider, Resthaven. This key role is responsible for leading the provision of a high-quality business partnering model to establish contemporary workforce planning models and appropriate responses to emerging workforce changes. Workplace Health & Safety Business Partner for premium brand and national fresh produce leader, Perfection Fresh. This impactful role will shape and further enhance WH&S culture, primarily supporting South Australian operations.  Based at the significant and impressive Two Wells facility just 30 minutes from Adelaide, with a supportive and progressive culture and excellent employee benefits offered.

Leadership change at Maxima

National employment services not-for-profit Maxima has announced the appointment of Sarah Bartholomeusz as chair of its board and Kate Thiele as CEO, having led the board on an interim basis since April 2025.

Thiele is currently the chair of the Adelaide Crows Foundation and a non-executive director at the Australian Sports Foundation and Access 2 Place Housing, as well as a principal at Klarity.

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She previously served as chair of Skylight Mental Health and was CEO for seven and a half years at Guide Dogs SA/NT.

Bartholomeusz joined the Maxima board in 2023 and served as chair of its risk and governance committee.

She has more than 20 years of experience as a corporate lawyer and is the founder and principal of You Legal.

Bartholomeusz takes the reins from immediate past chair Stephen Tonkin and has experience in corporate governance, organisational transformation and guiding boards through periods of change.

Maxima said both appointees have decades of combined experience in governance, strategy, social impact and people-centred service delivery.

Experienced CEO joins Onkaparinga Council

Sharon Mason has been appointed as CEO of the City of Onkaparinga, bringing to the role extensive experience in local government leadership and health governance.

Mason joins Onkaparinga from Selwyn District Council, where she has been chief executive. Before this, she was the chief executive of Buller District Council.

She has also held senior executive roles in health governance across New Zealand and Tasmania, and began her career as a British Army officer in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps.

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“Sharon’s proven ability to lead complex organisations through change and her commitment to collaboration and innovation make her an outstanding choice for our community. We look forward to working with her to deliver on our strategic priorities and create a thriving future for the City of Onkaparinga,” deputy mayor Michael Fisher said.

“The council is confident that Sharon’s diverse experience and inclusive leadership style will help shape a strong, sustainable future for the region.”

A shake-up at the Civil Contractors Federation South Australia

The Civil Contractors Federation South Australia (CCF SA) has appointed Jessica Tucker as its CEO, while also appointing a new board.

CCF SA said Tucker has significant experience in strategic and operational delivery, and infrastructure and asset management. She is a former CCF SA board member who has held senior leadership roles in civil construction and local government.

Most recently, Tucker was fleet, civil and waste operations manager and acting director of operations at the City of Onkaparinga, where she was also a board member of the council-owned subsidiary Southern Regional Waste Resource Authority (SRWRA).

She was also a leader and general business manager of her family’s civil contracting business, Renfrey Plant Hire, for 14 years.

CCF SA has also welcomed Leed Engineering and Construction managing director and co-owner Craig Laslett and BMD Constructions (Southern Region) business development manager Joseph-Paul Rossi to its board.

“The CCF SA Board look forward to working alongside Jessica to expand the Federation’s services and strengthen workforce development and champion members’ needs in a rapidly evolving infrastructure setting,” said CCF SA president Charles Hatcher.

Senior promotion at Workskil Australia

Keri-Ann Usher has been appointed chief operating officer of Workskil Australia and will be based in its Adelaide head office.

In this role, Usher will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Workskil Australia’s 887-strong national workforce.

This includes leading its customer experience, national administration centre, performance support, projects and change, marketing, commercial and property and senior risk functions.

Usher joined Workskil Australia in 2018 as quality, audit and risk manager before being promoted to business performance manager.

Before this, she was a director and client manager at Deloitte Australia.

Lauren Howson has been appointed as state manager WA at Workskil Australia.

“Keri-Ann and Lauren’s appointments further strengthen our senior management team and ensure we have the high calibre of leaders in place to meet the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead,” Workskil Australia’s CEP Nicole Dwyer said.

Jumping on board at St Andrew’s Hospital

St Andrew’s Hospital has announced the appointment of Professor David Lloyd, Jani Baker, Dr Mark Lewis and Wayne Coutts to its board of governors.

Lloyd has been vice chancellor and president of the University of South Australia and co-vice chancellor of Adelaide University.

He has extensive experience leading large, complex institutions through major transformation, as well as in governance, national policy and strategic planning.

Baker is a senior executive with significant experience across public health, aged care and community services, including in strategy development, governance, stakeholder engagement and improving equity in health outcomes.

She is currently the director of community at the City of Onkaparinga and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, with board experience at Novita.

Lewis is a colorectal and general surgeon with extensive clinical experience in both Australia and the United Kingdom, including currently as a colorectal surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, while he also provides general surgical and endoscopy services at St Andrew’s Hospital.

Coutts has more than 25 years of leadership experience in facilities and asset management across major South Australian organisations

St Andrew’s Hospital said he brings strong capability in infrastructure governance, risk and compliance, capital planning and operational oversight.

Resolution Minerals appoints chief metallurgist

Dr Adam Roper has been appointed chief metallurgist for critical minerals extraction at Resolution Minerals.

He will lead the company’s antimony, tungsten and gold processing plans.

Dr Roper, who has a PhD in antimony geochemistry, said: “I am excited to join Resolution at a pivotal time and to contribute to building a technically robust and commercially compelling pathway to supply critical metals into the US market.”

Strategic advisor to Resolution Minerals, Brett Lynch, said that Roper’s “deep technical ability – particularly in antimony – strengthens our competitive position and accelerates our path toward establishing a North American supply solution for high-value strategic minerals”.

Young Carers SA marks a new chapter

Young Carers SA, a program dedicated to supporting young carers, has announced the appointment of Kylie Luciano as its new general manager following the departure of Brigid Koenig.

Luciano brings to the role more than 35 years of experience in human services, spanning the justice, disability and youth sectors.

She was most recently head of government and strategic relations at Bedford Group and has also been director and interim CEO of SCOSA, as well as a former executive director at SA Health. Luciano currently sits on the board of the community-based not-for-profit organisation, Youth Options.

As general manager, Luciano will oversee the continued development of services and programs for young carers, while building strategic partnerships to support Young Carers SA’s growth.

“Young carers contribute so much to their families and communities, and they deserve strong advocacy, meaningful support and genuine opportunities,” Luciano said.

I look forward to building strategic partnerships in the sector that strengthen our impact and ensure young carers are supported now and into the future.”

aba TRADES expands marketing team

aba TRADES has appointed two new members to its marketing team, with Adam Connell joining as marketing manager and Mackenzie Hussman as digital marketing specialist.

Connell brings extensive experience in brand strategy, digital marketing and communications, having previously held marketing leadership roles with My Budget, Polyaire Air Conditioning Products, Digital Guru, Medical Insurance Group Australia, Korvest Ltd.

He also served as marketing projects officer for Nuance Multimedia Australia.

In his new role, Connell will focus on building the company’s brand presence and communications as it expands its 24/7 trade services across plumbing, electrical, solar, air conditioning, roofing, and renovations.

Hussman brings more than 10 years of international marketing experience to aba TRADES, having previously held roles ranging from chair of social media and website at the Stonewall Democratic Club to creative developer at Sublime Boudoir in Los Angeles, as well as data analyst at Mindshare and assistant marketing manager at Vaultium in London.

At aba TRADES, Hussman will focus on strengthening the company’s digital presence through storytelling, video production, and trend-driven content.

aba TRADES owner and founder Paul Chaina said he is delighted to welcome Connell and Hussman to the team.

“Their creativity, experience, and strategic insight bring an exciting new dimension to our business,” he said.

“As aba TRADES continues to expand, their expertise will play a vital role in elevating our brand, enhancing communication, and connecting more South Australians and beyond with our trusted trade services.”

Adelaide law firm announces 10 promotions

Commercial law firm Piper Alderman has announced 10 new promotions, including two new partners, one special counsel, one senior associate and six associates.

Of the 10 promotions, five are based in Adelaide, including Sam Morphett, who has been with the company since 2020 and will take on the role of special counsel in the national private client services team, and Nicole Harford, who has been promoted to senior associate.

Both will work alongside each other in the company’s private client services team.

Ashleigh De Silva, Sarah Klimek, and Brielle Tilbrook have also been promoted to associates, to be based in Adelaide.

Managing partner Tony Britten-Jones commented that “over recent years, we have achieved significant growth through a balanced mix of organic expansion and strategic lateral hires.

“Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue to focus on sustainable growth while supporting our people to thrive and make a meaningful impact,” he said.