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.
Radio star’s sour departure from SAFM
Radio personality Rebecca Morse has revealed that her contract at SAFM has not been renewed.
Rebecca Morse
“I was told on Tuesday that my contract would not be renewed and was offered the opportunity to see out the week,” Morse said in an Instagram post.
“Unfortunately the way the events unfolded meant I felt emotionally unable to return to the studio so I want to say sorry to the SAFM family that I didn’t say goodbye.
“I am grateful for the past six years, the lifelong friends I’ve made and the things they’ve taught me about radio.”
Morse has co-hosted the Bec & Soda breakfast radio show on SAFM alongside Mark Soderstrom for the past 6 years.
Morse’s departure comes as SAFM announced its new breakfast show, Bernie & Emma G, with hosts Bernie Vince and Emma Georgiadis.
As reported in InDaily, SAFM was in sixth place in the most recent radio ratings, above ABC Adelaide but below Nova 91.9.
Lieutenant General joins Defence SA board
Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO DSC MVO has joined the Defence SA Advisory Board.
Burr has held numerous leadership roles within the army, including as Chief of the Australian Army from 2018 to 2022.
Lieutenant General Rick Burr
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO CSM RAN has been officially appointed as chair of the Defence SA Advisory Board, having been acting chair for the past two years.
Crane has a 40-year career in the Navy, including as Chief of Navy from 2008 to 2011.
Defence Minister Stephen Mullighan said the Defence SA Advisory Board “provides high-level strategic advice to promote the growth of the defence industry in South Australia and plays a key role in guiding the State’s defence strategy”.
Argo chairman to retire
Russell Higgins AO will retire as chairman and non-executive director of the Argo Investments board on December 31, with Peter Warne succeeding him as chairman from January 1.
Higgins joined the Argo board in 2011 and has been chairman of Argo Investments Limited and its subsidiary Argo Service Company Pty Ltd since July 1, 2018.
Russel Higgins
“Higgins has made a substantial contribution to Argo over many years and his commercial acumen, in-depth economic and industry expertise, corporate knowledge and public sector experience will be greatly missed,” Argo said.
Warne has been a non-executive director of Argo since 2022 and is chair of its remuneration committee.
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Peter Warne
Argo said Warne “is an experienced company director with extensive knowledge of the financial services and investment banking sectors”.
Argo Investments is headquartered in Adelaide, where it was founded in 1946 and said it is “one of Australia’s oldest and largest listed investment companies”.
Learn about the advantages of boomerang hires with Bernie Dyer (she/her), an executive consultant at Hender Consulting.
Experienced fundraiser joins Cancer Council SA
Paul Morton has started his role as fundraising and engagement general manager at Cancer Council SA.
Paul Morton
Before joining the Cancer Council, Morton was head of fundraising and marketing at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation and general manager of fundraising at Guide Dogs SA/NT.
Cancer Council SA said that “with a strong background in fundraising and marketing, Paul has over fifteen years’ experience across national and state-based fundraising, marketing, advocacy and government relations teams”.
Founded in 1928, the Cancer Council said it is “Australia’s leading cancer charity, and the only Australian charity working across every aspect of every cancer, from research to prevention and support”.
Jumping on board at Rural Business Support
Rural Business Support (RBS) has welcomed Daniel Casement, Kevin Reid and Christine Hahn to its board of directors.
Daniel Casement
Casement, who is currently CEO of the Australian Bluefin Tuna Industry Association, has 20 years of leadership experience with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA).
“Mr Casement is known for his ability to shape big-picture strategies and implement resilience-building initiatives that align with RBS’s focus on strengthening rural capacity,” said RBS.
Kevin Reid
Reid is president and board chair of Meals on Wheels SA and has 20 years of experience as a chartered accountant at PwC in Sydney and Adelaide, as well as 10 years as a company director.
“His commitment to supporting rural communities aligns seamlessly with RBS’s Strategy 2030 goals, which emphasise the expansion of the RBS Relief Fund to provide practical assistance to farmers and small business owners during tough times,” said RBS.
Christine Hahn
Hahn has experience as a non-executive director, chair, audit and risk committee member, CEO and advisor across her nearly 40-year career and is owner and director of Carrara Vineyards in the Barossa Valley.
“Ms. Hahn’s combined expertise in governance and lived experience in agribusiness will help RBS continue to deliver meaningful programs that directly benefit the rural communities it serves, supporting sustainable and resilient business practices,” said RBS.
RBS was founded in 2006 and said it is “an organisation committed to building a profitable, sustainable and resilient rural sector by supporting businesses, farmers, landowners and communities in rural, regional and remote South Australia and the Northern Territory”.
Former Lord Mayor rejoins City of Adelaide (kind of)
Former City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese has been appointed as honorary chairman of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide.
Martin Haese
The voluntary organisation it maintains and promotes the historic City of Adelaide clipper ship, which shares its name with the council Haese once led.
Built in 1864 in Sunderland, England, the City of Adelaide carried passengers and cargo from the United Kingdom to South Australia, playing an important role in the early development of the colony.
The City of Adelaide is the oldest surviving clipper ship and it is estimated around 250,000 Australians can trace their ancestry to voyages made by the ship.
Since 2014, it has been moored at Port Adelaide and is open for daily tours from 10am to 3pm.
Defence Teaming Centre bolsters board
Allan Dundas, Celanie Meyer, Henry Atkins and Jeffrey Wojtiuk have been appointed as board members of the Defence Teaming Centre.
DTC is based in Adelaide and said it “is a prominent industry association focussed on growing and scaling Australia’s defence sector”.
Dundas said he is an “experienced senior technology, management and business leader” who is currently principal at DEWC Services Pty Ltd”.
Meyer has over 12 years of experience in business management, governance and operations and is currently business manager of Ascent Pty Ltd.
Atkins is a defence and space industry program manager who is currently program manager of Redarc Defence & Space.
Wojtiuk is a senior engineering leader in functional and program management who has been hardware engineering manager at Lockheed Martin for the past nine and a half years.
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Movements on Otto Energy Limited board
Justin Clyne has joined the Otto Energy Limited board as a non-executive director following the resignation of John Madden.
Justin Clyne
Clyne has also joined as a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee.
He is currently a director of Principal Wealth Group Pty Ltd and before this, he was executive financial planner of Westpac Private Bank.
Clyne also has a legal background, having been admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia in 1996 before gaining admission as a barrister in 1998.
“Justin’s breadth of experience in international law, corporate regulatory requirements and Australian and dual listed entities with US operations will be invaluable to the Company,” said Otto interim chairman Geoff Page.
Otto Energy Limited is an Adelaide-based oil and gas exploration and production company with a regional focus on the Gulf of Mexico.
Moving up at Morton Philips
Katherine Myers-Scott has been appointed as associate director of Morton Philips, where she has been a senior consultant for nearly 12 years.
Katherine Myers-Scott
“Over the last eight years Katherine has made a significant contribution to the business, playing a pivotal role shaping the firm’s strategic direction and overseeing client relationships,” said managing director of Morton Philips, Phil Morton.
“Her deep expertise in talent acquisition, organisational development, and human resource solutions supports the activities of Morton Philips in Executive Search, Recruitment and HR Consulting.
“Katherine has built trusted and enduring long-term positive relationships with many clients and candidates and has become the go to person in the market for significant appointments in the C Suite and at Board level.”
Morton Philips was founded in 2007 and specialises in executive search, talent solutions, confidential recruitment campaigns and human resource consultancy services.
Crime Stoppers SA welcomes new board member
Angelo Russo has been appointed to the board of directors for Crime Stoppers SA.
Russo is the current general manager of brand and growth at Police Health and has held senior positions at Schneider Electric and BAE Systems.
Angelo Russo
Crime Stoppers SA chair Phil Vincent said Russo’s “wealth of experience will be invaluable as the community-based charity continues to encourage people to anonymously share information to help police solve, prevent and detect crime across the state”.
Crime Stoppers SA started in 1996 and said it “has played a critical role in encouraging people to anonymously come forward with information that helps to solve and educate on topics such as property and personal safety, vehicle theft and cyber safety”.
Turner Real Estate expands team
Turner Real Estate has added Anna Maria Varelias and Guy Measday to its team.
Anna Maria Varelias
Varelias has 18 years of real estate experience, including at Boffo Real Estate, LJ Hooker Walkerville and Raine & Horne Tea Tree Gully.
“My diverse background, including international experience and roles in sales management and conveyancing, allows me to provide a truly comprehensive and seamless experience for my clients,” said Varelias.
Guy Measday
Measday has 35 years of experience in real estate, including at Harris Real Estate, Cock Auld Real Estate and Jock Gilbert Real Estate.
Turner Real Estate said, “he is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and guiding clients through every stage of their real estate journey”.
Turner Real Estate was established in 1991 and said it “is a leading family-owned and independent real estate agency in South Australia”.
Boomerang Hires – The advantage of returning talent
Increasingly at Hender Consulting we’re seeing clients reap the untapped potential of rehiring former employees, affectionately known as Boomerangs – because they come back! I’m a Boomerang hire myself, and not the only one in our firm.
In a competitive talent landscape, you might be missing a golden opportunity if you aren’t considering former employees.
These individuals often retain a wealth of institutional knowledge, familiarity with company culture, processes, relationships and the unspoken nuances of the workplace – making them invaluable assets.
If their motivation to return and the “fit” align, they can often reintegrate seamlessly with minimal onboarding.
Past performance is a known factor, reducing uncertainty. If they left on good terms, performed well, and have maintained credibility, the risks diminish significantly.
This all translates to financial advantage, a reduced learning curve and immediate productivity gains.
Boomerangs can also have a positive effect across your workforce, returning with renewed commitment, energy and loyalty, demonstrating a culture that values growth and opportunity.
Then there’s the expanded toolkit, brimming with new learnings, methodologies, industry experiences, increased self-awareness and confidence – sometimes with a greater appreciation of what they are returning to.
You get the upgraded version with enhanced capabilities… fresh thinking to challenge the status quo, a broader network and exposure to best practices.
This is a chance to not only recoup some of your early investment in them, but also leverage from their leadership development and insights gained elsewhere. This can propel strategic thinking, re-energise a team, spark innovation and drive business improvement.
But hirer beware – ensure you assess the pros and cons.
Have the open conversations before reuniting. Are there any past unresolved issues on either side that might resurface? How will clients, customers, staff and stakeholders perceive their return? Will they help you move forward or is there a danger of stagnation/disruption?
If it all looks like a good time to reunite, the Boomerang could be a great hire, bringing competitive advantage.
Bernie Dyer (she/her) is an Executive Consultant at Hender Consulting
