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.
Deputy chief psychiatrist appointed
Associate Professor Marshall Watson has been appointed as Department for Health and Wellbeing’s deputy chief psychiatrist.
Watson is an experienced psychiatrist that is dual trained in both child and adolescent, and forensic psychiatry and is a proud descendant of the Noongar people of south-west Western Australia.
He currently serves as a consultant psychiatrist with Queensland Forensic Child and Youth Mental Health Service and works in emergency psychiatry at Flinders Medical Centre where he provides extensive clinical, leadership and research experience across child and adolescent, forensic and Indigenous mental health.
Watson also works as a senior lecturer with the University of Queensland and sits on both the Youth Justice Board of WA and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group.
“I am delighted to welcome Marshall to the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and look forward to working with him as we continue our important work,” chief psychiatrist Melanie Turner said.
Regenerate Australia welcome former South Australian of the Year
Former SA Australian of the Year Tim Jarvis AM has been appointed as the inaugural patron of Regenerate Australia.
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Jarvis is an explorer, environmental scientist, author and filmmaker who was awarded the 2024 SA Australian of the Year for his environmental work, conservation leadership, and efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
He also serves as vice-president at Fauna and Flora, an ambassador to Koala Life, a board director of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife and a global ambassador and governor of World Wildlife Fund.
In the new role, Jarvis will serve as an honorary ambassador for Regenerate Australia to champion the charity’s purpose and encourage broader engagement in ecological restoration.
“Tim brings a rare combination of scientific expertise, hands-on restoration experience and a trusted public voice, grounded in a clear understanding that meaningful environmental progress requires practical action sustained over the long term,” Regenerate Australia CEO Joe Heffernan said.
Former senator joins Child Protection board
Natasha Stott Despoja AO has been appointed to chair the advisory board for the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) at Adelaide University.
Despoja is the former leader of the Australian Democrats and a senator for South Australia and is the founding chair of Our Watch, which is a leader in the prevention of violence against women.
After politics, she served as SA Royal Commissioner into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence and is currently Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, and a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
In the new role, Despoja will lead the board and guide the strategic direction of the ACCP, Australia’s premier research centre for the prevention and response to child abuse and neglect.
“The costs of our child protection systems are staggering, not only to Australia’s economy, but to the babies, children and young people, and future generations caught in cycles of disadvantage,” Stott Despoja said.
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Independent Non-Executive Director for HAMB Systems Limited (HAMBS), an Australian technology company owned by 15 private health insurance funds representing 25 brands. GAICD status together with credibility in technology and leading large or transformative programs in a highly regulated environment is preferred. Chief Financial Officer for Aboriginal Family Support Services, one of South Australia’s most significant Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Working alongside the new Chief Executive Shona Reid and a committed Board, this impactful role will help strengthen financial stewardship, strategic decision-making and organisational sustainability while supporting lasting outcomes for Aboriginal communities throughout SA. |
Senior communications appointment at Adelaide University
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Jessica Leo-Kelton has been appointed as an executive director of strategic communications at Adelaide University.
Leo-Kelton is an experienced media and communications leader and has served as the executive director of state promotion for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
She was previously a weekend editor at News Corp in Adelaide, where she was responsible for both the Saturday Advertiser and Sunday Mail newspapers.
Leo-Kelton was a journalist at The Advertiser for more than 15 years where she held several different roles including deputy editor, editor in chief of Messenger News and head of lifestyle.
Codan appoints new chief financial officer
SA tech company Codan has appointed Kayi Li as its new chief financial officer.
Li is an experienced finance executive and chartered accountant with a Program for Leadership Development qualification from Harvard Business School.
She has previously been a financial controller for Minetec and group services, a former subsidiary of Codan, which provided safety, productivity and communications solutions for surface and underground mining operations.
Prior to the new appointment, Li served as deputy CFO and held a range of senior finance roles at Codan including group financial controller and investor relations manager.
“Her appointment is a strong demonstration of our succession planning and development processes in place at Codan,” Codan CEO and managing director Alf Ianniello said.
New chair for Grain Producers SA
Grain Producers South Australia has appointed Riverton grain producer Steve Ball as new chair.
Ball is a grain grower from Riverton with extensive experience in the industry, including national roles with Grain Producers Australia and Grain Growers Limited.
He was previously chair of the SA No-Till Farmers Association and has served on the Grain Producers SA board since 2014.
In the new role, Ball will bring industry knowledge and a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing SA’s grain producers.
“Steve is a respected grain producer and industry leader who understands both the practical realities of running a farming business and the importance of strong, effective representation,” Grain Producers SA CEO Brad Perry said.
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