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.
SA tourism leader becomes deputy chair of Tourism Australia
Ian Horne has taken up the position of deputy chair of the Tourism Australia board.
Ian HorneHorne will serve alongside Herald and Weekly Times chairperson Penny Fowler as chair, as well as new board members Jenny Lambert OAM, Labor MP Michael Lee, Tim Yeend and Peter Laurance AO.
Horne is a board director and is the former CEO of the Australian Hotels Association (SA Branch).
Horne said he has expertise in industry organisation, advocacy, strategic advice and government relations.
He has been a member of the South Australian Tourism Commission for over 18 years and is also a board member of the South Australian Skills Commission, the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, as well as chair of Business Events Adelaide.
Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO passes on the torch
Jane Scotcher will retire as CEO of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation, with the non-profit’s current head of mission Verity Gobbett taking the reins.
Jane ScotcherThe foundation said that Scotcher, who has had a 50-year career in healthcare, “leaves behind a legacy of compassion, integrity, and tireless dedication to advancing community health and wellbeing”.
Among her achievements, Scotcher counts the founding of the Lanklinyeri Beach House in 2019, which the foundation said is the SA’s first purpose-built holiday home for families of children with complex medical needs and or in palliative care.
Verity GobbettShe also doubled the WCH Foundation’s investment in health and medical research by establishing the Bloom Research Program in 2023.
The foundation said Gobbett was chosen as Scotcher’s successor following a rigorous search process, with 80 candidates in consideration.
“Verity’s ability to build strong relationships and her innovative approach to addressing complex challenges will undoubtedly drive the WCH Foundation forward in its mission to support the health and wellbeing of women, children and families across South Australia,” the foundation said.
Changing of the guard at Legacy SA and Broken Hill
Brand Nexus principal Dan Demaria has been appointed as CEO of Legacy South Australia and Broken Hill, taking over from Kerryn Smith, who has been CEO for the past three years.
Dan DemariaDemaria will start on January 20, 2025, and will be based out of the Legacy’s new offices at the Torrens Parade Ground.
He has been head of News Corp’s fundraising arm in South Australia, the Advertiser Foundation, for just over two years.
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Before this, he spent 17 years at New Corp Australia, including as general manager of marketing and sales for South Australia.
The announcement comes following the recent appointments of existing board members Heather Willis as president and Meredith Wyles as chair, which the non-profit said is the first time women have simultaneously held these two roles.
Legacy will celebrate its centenary in 2028 and was established to support families of those who served in conflicts.
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Cochrane Transport chooses new CEO
Mike Lean has been appointed as CEO of Cochrane’s Transport, a family-owned express logistics business.
Mike LeanLean replaces Martin Robb, who has stepped down after four years in the role.
Before joining Cochrane’s Transport, Lean was CEO of Wettenhalls Transport in Victoria for almost 10 years and is the outgoing president of the Victorian Transport Association.
He has also been CEO of the Port of Hastings Development and has worked in senior roles at BAE Systems and Tenix Defence.
Cochrane’s Transport was placed in 85th position in InDaily’s 2025 South Australian Business Index and will celebrate 50 years of operation next year.
Long-serving Axiom director retires
John Howe has retired from the board of Axiom Properties Limited, where he has served since 2008.
John HoweAxiom said that as a trusted shareholder advocate, Howe has championed independence and transparency, earning the respect of stakeholders and shaping the company’s strategic direction.
“Joining the board during the global financial crisis, he played an instrumental role in navigating the Company through the challenges faced by the property development industry and provided key advice and guidance in restructuring the Company to position it for the sustained growth achieved since,” said Axiom.
Axiom is an Adelaide-based property development and investment business whose current projects include Glenlea in Mount Barker, Wordpark 01 and Sixty2currie.
ServiceFM bolsters leadership team
Adelaide-based facilities management company ServiceFM has announced significant changes to its leadership team with the promotion of Ben Pursche to chief commercial officer and Damien Doherty to chief operating officer.
Ben PurschePursche has been at ServiceFM for nearly four years and was previously its chief operating officer.
Before this, he worked at eSafe Services for 14 years as national operations manager and then general manager.
Doherty has been at ServiceFM for the past three years, firstly as state manager of NSW and ACT and then as executive general manager of services.
He has also held senior roles in property management companies and at Australia Post.
Damien Doherty“Ben and Damien share our vision of creating better work environments and have played key roles in the growth and success of ServiceFM,” said ServiceFM managing director James Pollock.
“Together, in their new roles, they will drive commercial outcomes for ServiceFM and ensure we deliver operational excellence at more than 2500 client sites across the country.”
Movements at Hood Sweeney
Louisa AndreucciHood Sweeney has promoted Louisa Andreucci and Dion Carbone to joint heads of accounting, where they will oversee the firm’s 80 accountants.
Andreucci and Carbone both joined Hood Sweeney as graduates over a decade ago and have worked their way up to directors.
“Both Dion and Louisa have been with Hood Sweeney for more than a decade, joining as graduates and working their way up to managing relationships with South Australian business and professional clients,” Hood Sweeney said.
Dion Carbone“The appointment of joint leads comes as the professional services firm prepares its strategy for the next five years to 2030, which will include a focus on technologies such as AI to enhance the client experience and drive transformation across the business.”
Hood Sweeney is a professional services agency headquartered on South Terrace.
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Mid Murray Council elects deputy mayor
Murray Ward Councillor Geoff Barber has been elected as deputy mayor of Mid Murray Council at a council meeting on November 10.
Barber will serve as deputy mayor for the next 12 months, taking over from fellow councillor Kirst MacGregor.
Geoff Barber“Geoff is a dedicated Elected Member who is passionate about representing the needs and views of not only Murray Ward but the entire Mid Murray district,” said Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey.
“I look forward to working with him in the new role, and I know he will continue to serve his community well.”
The Mid Murray council covers some 7,957 square kilometres and takes in the towns of Mannum, Swan Reach, Blanchetown, Morgan, Truro, Palmer and Tunkilo.
Health and technology entrepreneur to commercialise UniSA’s research output
Dr Michelle Perugini has joined the University of South Australia as its head of commercialisation.
Michelle PeruginiThe university said Perugini is a leading South Australian health and technology entrepreneur.
Perugini is currently chair of the biotechnology research venture Qubigen and director of AI healthcare startup Presagen.
“Dr Perugini will bring her proven strengths in commercialising research to a critical role at UniSA, leading its intellectual property (IP) and research translation activities including as CEO of UniSA Ventures, the University’s commercialisation subsidiary,” said the university.
Commercial manager joins Whittles
Dan Porter has taken on the role of national new business strategy and sustainability manager at Whittles Body Corporate Management.
Dan PorterWhittles said Porter has over 15 years of experience in the tourism, commercial property and energy industries.
Most recently he was commercial and project implementation manager at Savant Energy and before this, he held senior roles at the South Australian Cricket Association and Business Events Adelaide.
“At a time when energy prices are front of mind for many Australians, Dan’s ability to assist our corporations with energy procurement and navigate the complex world of sustainability grants and initiatives will continue to position Whittles as a market leader in body corporate management and act as a strong point of difference to our competitors,” said Whittles CEO Rino Parella.
Whittles is a body corporate and building management company founded in Adelaide in 1968.
Morton Philips appoints associate director
Andrew Payze has been appointed as an associate director at Morton Philips.
Andrew PayzeMorton Philips said Payze “brings unparalleled expertise in cultivating strategic partnerships, as well as leading sales and operations to achieve positive outcomes”.
“He is looking forward to applying his strategic thinking capability and exceptional communication skills to drive human resource solutions for our valued clients at Morton Philips,” they said.
From July 2023 to June 2024, Payze was national manager of client engagement at McMillan Shakespeare.
He has also been a general manager of client strategy and engagement at Maxxia Pty Ltd, a director of Adelaide Football Club and SA state manager at HSBC Bank Australia Limited.
Morton Philips is an Adelaide-based executive search, recruitment, talent solutions and human resource consultancy.
Blue Jam gains talent acquisition specialist
Stuart Deane has been appointed as a talent acquisition specialist a Blue Jam, which is a business consultancy service provider created by Hood Sweeney advisers.
Stuart DeaneBlue Jam said Deane’s experience spans from a large agency to a boutique provider, while he most recently led his own recruitment advisory/talent acquisition business People Space (SA) Pty Ltd.
“As our Talent Acquisition Specialist, I’m excited to build on Blue Jam’s service offerings by managing and expanding recruitment for both Blue Jam and Hood Sweeney’s client base, as well as my existing clients,” said Deane.
“My consultative approach, centred on creating long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships, elevates recruitment beyond the industry standard. In a relationship-driven city like Adelaide, this approach has proven invaluable, and I look forward to bringing the same dedication and expertise to Blue Jam’s and Hood Sweeney’s clients.”
A retirement from Irondrive Limited’s board
John Rock retired as a non-executive director of Irondrive Limited at its annual general meeting last Friday after withdrawing his nomination for re-election.
John RockRock is currently director and CEO of Out the Back Ventures, which invests in start-ups creating frontier technologies.
Before this, he was chief operating officer at corporate advisory firm Axito.
He was initially appointed to the Irondrive board in July 2023 after the company’s acquisition of its battery technology business.
“The Board wish to acknowledge John’s role in the pivotal acquisition, and wish to thank John for his service to the Company,” the board said.
