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.
Coopers Foundation welcomes new board members
Former South Australian Premier Steven Marshall and Bec Cooper, a sixth-generation member of the Cooper family, have joined the Coopers Foundation’s board of governors.
The new additions come following the retirement of Haydn Duffield and Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce as governors on the board.
Steven Marshall
Marshall was South Australia’s 46th Premier from 2018 to 2022, leading the state through the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was also the member for Dunstan from 2010 until his retirement from parliament in February 2024.
Marshall is currently chair of the Australian advisory council at MITRE, governor of AmCham Australia, a director of Portalink and a foundation board member of the Australian Ballet.
Bec Cooper
“Throughout his whole career, and most notably during his time as Premier and a member of Parliament, Steven has given tireless service to the community,” said Coopers Foundation Chair Mel Cooper.
“Steven also comes from a family business background and shares the high value our family places on philanthropy.”
Bec Cooper has worked in the advertising and fashion industries, alongside casual roles at Coopers Brewery.
She is currently brand marketing and e-commerce manager at Aston Studio and operates a veterinary practice for racehorses, which she co-founded.
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She is the first sixth-generation Cooper family member to join the Cooper Foundation board.
Established in 2006 by Coopers Brewery and the Cooper Family, the Coopers Foundation has donated more than $7.8 million to around 260 charities since its inception.
Zoos SA chief executive to step down
Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted has announced she will retire from her position after 12 years in the role.
Elaine Bensted
Bensted started as chief executive in 2012 and has overseen major changes at Zoos SA.
This includes the construction of Nature’s Playground and the Variety Children’s Zoo at Adelaide Zoo, Lions360 at Monarto Safari Park, the new Visitor Centre at Monarto Safari Park and fundraising efforts to enable the development of an Asian elephant habitat at Monarto Safari Park.
During her tenure, Zoos SA has more than doubled its annual member numbers and also saw the birth of many critically endangered species, including three Sumatran tiger cubs at Adelaide Zoo.
The Zoos SA board has started the recruitment process for a new chief executive to take the reins from Bensted when she finishes her role in late April 2025.
A newly created senior finance role for Australian Naval Infrastructure –Manager Planning and Treasury. A key member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the CFO.
Two new roles, General Manager Residential Services, and a Human Resources Manager for highly respected and rapidly expanding not-for-profit aged care provider Warrina Homes Inc.
A new head at Green Industries SA
Seasoned public servant Josh Wheeler has been named chief executive of Green Industries SA (GISA) – the state government’s circular economy agency.
Josh Wheeler
Wheeler has been GISA’s acting chief executive since March of this year following the departure of former head Professor Ian Overton, who took up the role of principal at Natural Economy.
Wheeler has been at GISA for eight and a half years in the roles of manager of government business and then associate director of governance and business.
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He led the development and passage of South Australia’s single-use plastics legislation during his time at GISA.
Before this, he spent just over four years at the Environmental Protection Authority South Australia in the role of executive and government business.
He also spent eight years working for the South Australian government in the roles of office administration and parliament and cabinet business.
Wheeler began his role on October 4.
Jumping on board at Wine Australia
Wine Australia has welcomed five new non-executive directors, including South Australian Andrew Kay.
Andrew Kay
Kay has over 25 years of marketing experience and is currently CEO of the South Australian Business Chamber.
He is also a member of SA Leaders for Gender Equity, a board member of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium and chairperson of the Botanic Gardens Foundation.
Kay was previously director of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, CEO and managing director at Wirra Wirra Vineyards, and held various roles at Orlando Wines.
Wine Australia said it is a co-funded partnership between the grape and wine sector and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry focused on research, innovation and adoption, market development and regulatory services.
Long-serving Santos director retires
Guy Cowan has retired as director of Santos after eight years in the role.
Guy Cowan
Cowan said he has had a 23-year career in the oil and gas sector, as well as significant exposure to the mining, property services, engineering, food processing and agricultural commodities sectors.
He is currently the director of Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd., as well as chairman of Queensland Sugar Limited, Winson Group, Stahmann Webster PTY Ltd and AFF Cotton Pty Ltd.
Santos Limited was recently listed as the state’s top company on InDaily’s South Australian Business Index, with a revenue of $8,442,740,400 in the 2023 financial year.
WRP Legal & Advisory expands team
WRP Legal & Advisory has announced the appointment of Peter Pedler as director of its legal and advisory team.
Peter Pedler
The boutique commercial law firm said Pedler is an experienced director with “extensive experience and a wealth of knowledge navigating commercial law issues, particularly in the hospitality industry”.
Pedler has operated his law firm Pedler Lawyers since 2021, which specialises in commercial agreements and property and business transactions.
The announcement comes following the appointment of insolvency lawyer Ray Mansueto as a consultant at WRP Legal & Advisory.
Founded in 2015, WRP Legal & Advisory is an Adelaide-based specialised corporate and commercial law firm employing almost 60 staff.
