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.
BDO partner to serve as the Tax Institute’s 2025 president
BDO in Australia partner Tim Sandow has been elected as national president of the Tax Institute for 2025.
Tim Sandow
Sandow has been a member of the Tax Institute’s National Council since 2018 and takes the reins from Todd Want, who served as president in 2024.
Sandow is a tax professional with over 30 years of experience. He has been a partner at BDO in Australia since April 2020, where he leads the tax team in South Australia.
He has 25 years of experience at the Big Four, including as a senior tax manager and special adviser at PwC Australia and a partner at KPMG Australia.
Sandow provides income tax-related advice to various private and large public companies, as well as multi-nationals, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, tax governance, corporate tax, international tax and employment tax issues.
“I’m excited to kick off my time as President in 2025 and excited to further represent our members in that capacity,” said Sandow.
“The Tax Institute is the home of tax in Australia. From education programs to CPD events, tax resources to professional recognition, when tax practitioners think tax, those in the know think The Tax Institute.”
Hitting a gold mine
Lindsay Owler has started as CEO of Indiana Resources Limited and will lead the dual-listed mining company from its Adelaide office.
Lindsay Owler
Owler joins Indiana Resources from Argonaut Resources NL, where he held various positions over the past 21 years, including the last nine as CEO.
During this time, Owler led mineral exploration operations in Australia, Laos, Zambia and Canada, achieving significant mineral discoveries and raising capital to complete programs.
“Lindsay is an accomplished mining professional with extensive experience in mineral exploration, feasibility studies, business development and capital markets, having successfully established and operated numerous domestic and international businesses,” said Indiana Resources chair Bronwyn Barnes.
“Lindsay’s appointment reflects our commitment to unlocking the potential of our Gawler Craton assets, and he will hit the ground running in December with an initial site visit planned to oversee the progress of the current drilling and geochemical sampling campaigns.”
Indiana Resources said was “is an Australian exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of tenements in the highly prospective Central Gawler Craton Province in South Australia, strategically located between the historic gold mining centres of Tunkillia and Tarcoola”.
Passing the baton at Sport SA
Two-time Olympian Pat Mickan will serve as president of Sport SA, taking over from Michael Wright.
Pat Mickan
Mickan is a former basketballer who represented Australia with the Opals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, as well as at three World Championships.
Mickan also played in the South Australian state netball league, as well as representing Australia on the national netball team.
In addition to her career as a professional sportsperson, Mickan has been a senior netball coach, a journalist, a small business owner and a skills coach at the Adelaide Crows Football Club – the first woman to hold this position in the AFL’s history.
Sports SA said that Mickan would be the first female president in its 32-year history.
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Business Partner People & Culture for respected and forward-thinking local government entity, City of Mitcham. A diverse generalist role that will also contribute to a range of P&C project initiatives. Business Manager for leading Christian co-educational secondary school, Endeavour College in Mawson Lakes. Reporting to the Principal the role leads the core business services functions of finance, property, and ICT to support a thriving and growing educational community. Project Finance Manager for multi-award-winning residential land developer with strong community focus, Villawood, as it expands its presence in SA. A newly created role providing hands-on project-based management and financial accounting support across the business. |
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Crows board farewells Kate Ellis
Former federal politician Kate Ellis has stepped away from her position on the Adelaide Crows board to focus on her role as CEO of Raising Literacy Australia.
Kate Ellis
Ellis is a lifelong Crows supporter who joined the board in early 2017, sitting on the club’s diversity and inclusion committee, as well as the Adelaide Crows Foundation Board.
Ellis was a member of the Australian Parliament from 2004 to 2019, holding various ministerial positions under the Rudd and Gillard governments.
The Crows board will now be comprised of Mark Ricciuto, Stephen Roche, Richard Fennell, Shanti Berggren, Imelda Lynch and Graeme Goodings, as well as chair John Olsen and deputy chair Linda Fellows.
Leadership change at Diabetes SA
Diabetes SA has announced the appointment of Gary Neave as president and David Scotland as vice president of its board.
Neave will take the reins from Peter Crouch, who has signalled his intention to retire after 13 years of service.
Gary Neave
Neave has been on the board since 2019, where he has been vice president since 2021, as well as chair of its building and development committee.
“Gary’s partner lived with type 1 diabetes, and this was one of many primary motivators that drove his membership of the Diabetes SA Board,” said Diabetes SA.
“He has real passions, and strong empathy for those that rely on the not-for-profit sector, and brings significant relationships across government and industry.”
David Scotland
Incoming vice president Scotland is director of Outcome Advisory and has served on the Diabetes SA board since November 2022, where he is also chair of advocacy and communications and a member of the finance and audit committee.
“David has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 26, so he has a strong affinity with the Association’s objectives and a personal understanding of the importance of diabetes education, awareness, and research,” Diabetes SA said.
Diabetes SA was founded in 1953 and said its “mission is to educate, advocate, support and fund research to provide better outcomes for people with diabetes”.
CEO shows the art of leadership
Beth Neate has been appointed CEO of arts not-for-profit Guildhouse, starting on January 13, 2025.
Neate is currently president of Tutti Arts, as well as a member of the Industry Skills Council at the South Australian Skills Commission.
Beth Neate
Before this, she was head of production and development at the South Australian Film Corporation and has held roles at the United Nations, ABC and SBS.
“Beth Neate is a respected arts and creative industries leader with 20 years of experience in sector advocacy, program delivery, community arts and cultural development, audience engagement and film and television production,” said Guildhouse.
“Bringing to the role a wealth of experience in fostering innovation and delivering outstanding arts and cultural experiences, Beth will be building upon Guildhouse’s strong legacy to support South Australian visual artists, craftspeople and designers in building and maintaining sustainable careers.”
Cancer research pioneer joins NHMRC
Professor Raymond Chan, who is Flinders University’s deputy vice-chancellor (research), has been appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for a three-year term.
Professor Raymond Chan
Flinders University said the appointment recognises Chan’s “extensive work across clinical nursing and cancer research”.
Chan is a nurse-scientist with clinical experience in cancer care, palliative care and aged care.
Chan is currently director of the Caring Futures Institute, as well as a Matthew Flinders Professor of Cancer Care Systems & Policy and an executive member of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer board.
His research focuses on optimising models of care, health services and policy responses to address the needs of people affected by cancer.
NHMRC said it “is the Australian Government’s primary health and medical research funding agency,” with the council as its peak advisory body.
AHRWMA CEO wastes no opportunities
Rob Gregory has been appointed CEO of the Adelaide Hills Regional Waste Management Authority (AHRWMA).
Rob Gregory
Gregory joins AHRWMA from East Waste, where he has been general manager for the past seven years.
He is also a board member of KESAB and the Brown Hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Project.
“Rob has a well-established career in local government, particularly in the waste and sustainability space,” said AHRWMA.
“Mr Gregory has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and community-focused solutions and his passion for the sector aligns with AHRWMA’s mission to deliver best practice waste and resource management practices with community service and benefit central.”
AHRWMA is responsible for waste and recycling facilities in Adelaide Hills, Alexandrina, Mount Barker District Council and The Rural City of Murray Bridge councils.
More change at AEDA
Marketing specialist Emma Kardachi has been appointed to the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) board for a two-and-a-half-year term.
Emma Kardachi
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Kardachi will fill a vacancy left by AEDA’s deputy chair Steve Maras, a city property business owner who will take over from Nikki Govan as chair in January 2025.
Kardachi was chosen from a pool of 90 applicants, with her appointment endorsed by the City of Adelaide at a meeting on November 26, 2024.
Kardachi is a self-employed marketing and strategy director who provides strategy and communications for popular local restaurants Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room, Osteria Oggi, Shōbōsho, Latteria Bar, Bread & Bone Wood Grill, ShoSho, Nido Pasta Bar and Henley House.
“The Board is enthusiastic about harnessing Emma’s expertise in crafting communications stragies, brand building, stakeholder engagement and hospitality operations to drive our initiative forward,” said incoming AEDA chair Steve Maras.
Wills and estates specialist joins Clelands Lawyers
Nick Muirhead
Wills and estates specialist Nick Muirhead has joined Clelands Lawyers, bringing with him over 20 years of experience.
Muirhead has been appointed as special counsel on Clelands’ wills and estate team.
Muirhead was admitted to practice in 2006 and has held positions at firms such as Mellor Olsson and Norman Waterhouse.
He also volunteers as deputy chair of Palliative Care SA and as president of the Pulteney Old Scholars’ Soccer Club.
Clelands Lawyers was established in 1892 and is headquartered in the historic Albert Terrace building on Carrington Street.
New board members for The Hospital Research Foundation Group
South Australians John Goodwin and Matt Kay have been elected to The Hospital Research Foundation Group (THRF) board.
John Godwin
Godwin served as a weapons electrical engineer in the Royal Australian Navy before transitioning into the defence industry, where he has three decades of experience.
He is also the co-founder and managing director of Cambrian Defence & Space and has 10 years of non-executive board experience.
Godwin will be chair of the board of governors for THRF’s Military and Emergency Services Health Australia research institute, as well as joining THRF’s technology and cyber security subcommittee.
Matt Kay
Kay is the current director of Management Konsulting and from May 2016 to April 2022, he was managing director and CEO of Beach Energy Ltd.
He will be a member of THRF’s governance and risk and HR and remuneration subcommittees.
THRF said the appointments “will bring valuable expertise and diverse perspectives to the organisation, which funds life-changing medical research and patient care across South Australia, Western Australia and ACT”.
Treasury additions
Chinese businesswoman Judy Liu will join the Treasury Wines Estate board as a non-executive director.
Judy Liu
Liu has over 20 years of experience as a director, entrepreneur and C-suite executive in the e-commerce and luxury consumer goods sectors.
Until June of this year, Liu was president of Farfetch Asia Pacific – an e-commerce luxury clothing and beauty business – where she was also a member of the executive board.
She is also the past vice president of online coupon business Groupon China and she co-founded CuriorsityChina – a digital marketing company for luxury brands in 2013.
She is currently an independent board member of international luxury brands Acne Studios and Shang Xia (Exor Group).
Treasury Wine Estates is an Australian wine company whose brands include South Australian staples Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
Iondrive bolsters leadership team
Iondrive has announced the appointment of Hugo Schumann as a non-executive director, while Lewis Utting has joined as commercial director.
Hugo Schumann
Schumann recently served as CEO of the silver division at Hindustan Zinc Limited and was also chief financial officer at Jetti Resources.
He is currently establishing a private equity business focused on the recycling of critical minerals in the US.
“Mr. Schumann brings a wealth of experience in the metals industry, with a strong focus on leveraging innovative technologies to unlock value in metal extraction and processing,” said Iondrive.
Lewis Utting
Utting is currently a director at Synrado Pty Ltd, where is served as CEO from September 2023 until December 2024.
He has also held senior roles at SciDev Ltd, Utting & Associates and BASF.
“Mr. Utting is a seasoned executive with a proven history of commercializing technologies across mining, water treatment, and oil & gas,” said Iondrive.
“His extensive experience in technology commercialisation, capital markets, strategic partnerships and investor relations will be instrumental in scaling Iondrive’s battery recycling operations to meet growing market demand.”
All aboard at Treasure Boxes Inc
Marketing consultant Lynda Schenk has joined the board of Treasure Boxes Inc.
Lynda Schenk
Schenk is the director of the marketing firm Purple Giraffe, which she founded in 2014.
Schenk is also currently co-deputy chair of Wine Communicators of Australia Inc, a judge for the Tourism Industry Council SA and a judge for the Wine Industry Impact Awards.
“With over 25 years of expertise in marketing, strategic communications, and business development, Lynda brings a wealth of knowledge and entrepreneurial acumen to the organisation,” Treasure Boxes said.
The announcement comes following the appointment Gena Notley as CEO in September 2024.
Treasure Boxes is a South Australian not-for-profit, which said it “provide[s] vital essentials to babies, children and teens living in disadvantage in our community”.
