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 chair for Wine Grape Council
The Wine Grape Council of SA (WCGSA) has announced Rachel Triggs as its new independent chair.
Triggs has extensive experience across the wine sector, where she currently serves as chair of Australian Women in Wine and as a committee member for Australian Grape and Wine.
She has also worked as a corporate lawyer and is the current director of governance for the new Adelaide University.
WCGSA said Triggs’ winemaking, law, industry regulation, governance and advocacy experience strongly aligned with its commitment to credible, grower-focused representation.
“This is an excellent appointment for South Australian grape growers, and one that will strengthen the Council’s ability to deliver practical, grower-focused outcomes,” outgoing interim chair Lachlan Allen said.
KBR skills up
Two new appointments have joined science, technology and engineering company KBR’s Adelaide office.
Ben Champion has joined KBR as the new roads and highways discipline manager, where he will help grow KBR’s transport team and capabilities in SA.
Champion has more than 25 years’ experience in the transport sector, having held several roles during his 18-year tenure for the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).
He also worked as section leader of transport SA at the Adelaide-based office of engineering consultancy Jacobs.
Joanna Davies joins KBR as its principal roads engineer to bolster the growing SA transport team.
Davies has worked more than 19 years’ experience as a chartered engineer where she has developed a key understanding in road design and safety.
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She also worked for (DIT) as both a planning engineer and as principal road design engineer where she was involved in the formulation of SA’s Road Safety Strategy 2020.
O’Reilly goes live at SCA
Southern Cross Austereo has announced Matthew O’Reilly as head of broadcast content following a successful six-month interim tenure.
In the role, O’Reilly will be responsible for delivering broadcast content and leading high performing content teams across SCA’s Hit and Triple M Networks in metro and regional markets.
He has more than 15 years’ experience at SCA across New South Wales and SA, where he has worked as a content director and head of metro content at Triple M Adelaide.
O’Reilly is an experienced industry leader with skills in initiating, developing and implementing strategy for media, communication and digital brands.
“I’m proud and humbled to officially lead our broadcast content teams into the next exciting phase at SCA,” O’Reilly said.
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| Legal Counsel for Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI). To support ANI’s continued growth and increasing business complexity, the organisation is expanding its legal team. Based in the Adelaide CBD office, and offering a compressed 9‑day fortnight, this role offers a unique opportunity ideal for a Senior Associate moving in‑house or an in‑house counsel seeking broader exposure. Reporting to the General Counsel & Company Secretary, the position provides expert legal advice, supports compliance obligations, and drives effective contracting and legal risk management across the business.
A senior opportunity for a Human Resources Manager with the Central Land Council. Based in Alice Springs on a 14‑month contract with excellent rem & benefits incl. regular travel home, vehicle and accommodation provided and PBI, this is one of those rare opportunities to seize a uniquely enriching personal and professional growth chapter. Contribute to the aspirations of Central Australian Aboriginal communities while experiencing the beauty, culture and deep sense of community that define life in Central Australia. Business Director for world class university residential college St Mark’s in Adelaide. A pivotal role in a highly respected, progressive residential academic community. This diverse corporate services role will ensure effective delivery of core business operations including finance, ICT, HR, property and administration, proactively contributing to the overall strategy of the College. Executive Manager, Finance for SHINE SA, a highly respected not-for-profit provider of comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health services and programs. Reporting to the CEO, the role will commence on a 6-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension/permanency. Two pivotal roles with the progressive and expanding Mount Barker District Council, located just 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD:
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New numbers boss at city council
The City of Tea Tree Gully has appointed experienced financial executive Lisa Gilmartin as its new financial manager.
Gilmartin has more than 11 years’ experience working in senior roles at the City of West Torrens, having spent five years as finance manager and six as finance coordinator.
She has extensive experience across finance and asset management within various industries, having previously worked as a sales analyst for Origin Energy.
Gilmartin also spent seven years at GM Holden, where she was responsible for managing the annual asset inventory stocktake and site capital management.
She also served as a member of the executive committee for the SA Local Government Financial Management Group for five years.
Rivergum welcomes news leader
SA housing developer Rivergum has appointed experienced property executive Michael Buchan as its new CEO.
Buchan has more than 25 years’ experience across housing construction, land development and property management.
He has previously worked in executive roles, having previously served as CEO of the SA Housing Trust and chief operating officer at Renewal SA.
Buchan has led project teams responsible for award-winning developments, including Bowden, Tonsley Innovation District, Playford Alive, and Lightsview.
“We are pleased to have secured an experienced and strategic leader in Michael as we expand our focus on commercial relationship building, land acquisition and development while accelerating our next phase of growth,” Rivergum founder Victor Said said.
The right prescription for Pharmacy Guild
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced the appointment of Christine Cook as the new SA branch director.
Cook has more than 15 years’ experience leading member-based organisations where she has specialised in workforce development, education, governance and stakeholder engagement.
She was executive general manager of training partnerships at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, where she negotiated funding arrangements for a general practitioner training model with the Australian Government.
She was also CEO of GPEx, an SA organisation that delivers training for doctors specialising in general practice, and CEO of Sturt Fleurieu Education and Training.
“I am looking forward to working with members to support sustainable, successful community pharmacies while strengthening their role in delivering accessible, high-quality care to South Australians,” Cook said.
Three ambassadors named for CEO Sleepout
Three new SA ambassadors for St Vincent De Paul’s CEO Sleepout have been announced.
Fiona Endacott is the recently appointed CEO of the peak body for South Australian Network Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS).
She is an experienced leader in the mental health sector, with skills in policy writing, social services, program development and team leadership.
Endacott was previously the CEO of Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA Inc and was the manager of operations for Skylight Mental Health.
The CEO of Workspace Commercial Furniture Tom Clark has also joined as an ambassador for the Sleepout.
Clark is an experienced leader with extensive operational and strategic business development skills, with an expertise on commercial construction market strategy.
He has experience as a board and committee member, having served on the Move Yourself Trailer Hire advisory board and the Sammy D Foundation business development sub-committee.
Paul Kitching is the business development manager at brand strategy and creative communication agency Fuller.
Kitching has more than 30 years’ experience working across media, marketing, advertising and sales, having previously created freelance communications business PK Media Group.
As the national advertising sales representative at the Australian Traffic Network, he would sell integrated advertising messages on commercial radio stations.
The Ambassador Program was established to deliver the message about the work and impact of Vinnies on the issue of homelessness.
Vinnies CEO Sleepout is scheduled for 18 June at Adelaide Zoo.
Casino owner appoints financial officer
Adelaide casino owner SkyCity Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of Blair Woodbury as chief financial officer.
Woodbury, who is set to take the reins next month, has extensive experience in familiar roles and will join from telecommunications company Devoli.
He has previously worked as chief financial officer for Sky Network Television in New Zealand and as chief financial officer for New Zealand Post.
Woodbury is experienced at leading large-scale restructurings, cost-out programmes and asset optimisation initiatives.
“Blair brings deep experience as a custodian of shareholder capital in complex operating environments,” SkyCity CEO Jason Walbridge said.
