Minister Cregan to attend final cabinet meeting

Independent state MP Dan Cregan is set to retire from politics and will attend his final cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Dan Cregan MP

Cregan was first elected to represent the seat of Kavel as a member of the Liberal party at the 2018 South Australian election.

He resigned from the party in 2021 and became speaker of the House of Assembly, a role he held for several years.

Since April 2024, he has served as special minister of state, as well as the minister of police, emergency and correctional services.

Cregan said he counts the ban on electoral donations and democratic reforms as among his biggest achievements while in office.

The government said that as member for Kavel, Cregan advocated for new infrastructure in the Adelaide Hills, including a new hospital, aquatic centre, sports hub, ambulance station, Service SA centre and major road and public transport upgrades.

“A much as I love this role, pressing family matters make this the correct decision at this time,” said Cregan.

“Most political careers are doomed to go on for longer than they should, and this is the right time for me.”

“Dan Cregan is an intelligent, thoughtful and determined Member of Parliament and these qualities have shone through since he was first elected to Parliament, and have been amply demonstrated during his time as Speaker and throughout his service in Cabinet,” said Premier Peter Malinauskas.

New leadership for The Aboriginal Lands Trust

Experienced public servant Kerri Wilson-Reilly has been appointed as CEO of The Aboriginal Lands Trust, leading its “efforts to support Aboriginal communities to realise meaningful self-determination and economic independence”.

Kerri Wilson-Reilly

Wilson-Reilly has spent 34 years in the public sector and currently works in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she briefly served as First Nations Manager.

She has spent 25 years of experience working in leadership roles in Aboriginal health and was instrumental in developing SA Health’s regional and remote area response to the Covid pandemic.

Wilson-Reilly is the granddaughter of the late Lindsay Wilson – one of ALT’s founding members – as well as a relative of its former chair Garnett Wilson.

“My skillset and experience lie in community engagement and community development, and I am looking forward to making a positive difference to these communities beyond just a health perspective,” Wilson-Reilly said.

The Aboriginal Lands Trust was established under the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 to provide the transfer of land from the Crown to Aboriginal communities, including former reserves and mission sites.

A mighty shake-up at Adelaide-based game developer

Mighty Kingdom’s former director of production Dylan Miklashek will start as CEO of the game developer, replacing David Yin, who resigned from the position last November.

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Dylan Miklashek

Miklashek becomes Mighty Kingdom’s third CEO since January 2023, bringing 25 years of video game industry experience to the position.

Miklashek joined Mighty Kingdom in July 2024 as a senior product manager before moving his way up to director of production.

He is also the founder of video game consulting firm Loco Game Services, as well as a board member of Screen Queensland and the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association.

He has previously held roles at EA Canada, Pandemic, THQ and Gameloft, which he founded in 2014.

Duncan Gordon

He has led teams developing popular video games including FIFA, NHL, MVP Baseball, WWE, Batman and The Oregon Trail.

In addition to Miklashek’s appointment as CEO of Mighty Kingdom, Adelaide-based corporate advisor Duncan Gordon will replace David Butorac as chair of the company’s board.

Gordon has been executive director of private equity firm Black Box Advisory since June 2023.

From June 2009 until June 2023, he was director of the Adelaide Motorcycle Centre, as well as director of Adelaide Equity Partners Limited from April 2006 until May 2023.

Partnerships Manager for respected community services entity Guide Dogs SA/NT, voted seven times as Australia’s most trusted charity. Leading a small team, the role will create long-term value through developing effective partnerships and networks for fundraising across corporate, community, government and non-government arenas, with the opportunity to contribute to national initiatives. Academic Programs Leader for a highly respected independent school. Reporting to the Deputy Principal, the role works closely with the school’s executive leadership group to drive academic excellence across a range of education programs and pathways. An inaugural Chair to work closely with the visionary founders to guide not-for-profit entity Sophie’s Legacy for an impactful future driving advocacy and support to improve mental health for the veterinarian profession.

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Dr Tim Cooper says cheers to over two decades as Coopers’ managing director

Dr Tim Cooper is set to retire as managing director of Coopers Brewery in March, having led the brewery for the past 23 years.

Dr Tim Cooper

Cooper is a fifth-generation member of the famous beer manufacturing family, with his forebearer Thomas Cooper having founded Coopers Brewery in Norwood in 1862.

Cooper began his career as a cardiologist in the United Kingdom and joined the brewery in 1990.

He will remain at Coopers Brewery on a part-time basis after his retirement as managing director.

Cooper will pass on the torch to passing on the torch to current general manager Michael Shearer.

Michael Shearer

Shearer joined Coopers Brewery 21 years ago as commercial manager, a role he held for nearly 15 years. For the past six years, he has been general manager.

In other news, Jessica Douglas has been appointed as brand manager of Coopers Brewery.

Douglas has been manager at Brand SA for the past two years. Before this, she spent 10 and a half years in marketing roles at the University of Adelaide.

Jessica Douglas

Douglas has previous experience in the beverage industry as trade marketing executive of Coca-Cola Amatil and assistant brand manager of innovation and new product development at VOK Beverages.

“I’m looking forward to returning to a commercial environment and to the beverage world. To narrowing my focus, and contributing to the ongoing success of an awesome South Aussie business,” said Douglas.

Longstanding Tarnanthi artistic director heads off to the US

Tarnanthi’s inaugural artistic director, Nici Cumpston OAM, will depart the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) this March after 17 years at the North Terrace institution.

Cumpston – a Barkandji artist, curator, writer and educator – will take up the post of director of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia in the USA.

Nici Cumpston OAM

She joined AGSA in 2008 as its first ever curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.

In 2014, Cumpston became the inaugural artistic director of the Tarnanthi Aboriginal and Indigenous art festival, as well as continuing in her previous role.

AGSA said that during her time there, Cumptson contributed to sixteen major exhibitions and accompanying publications.

Cumpston was the recipient of an Order of Australia medal in 2020 for her contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, as well as the SA Government’s Stephen Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award 2019 and the SA Premier’s NAIDOC Award in 2013.

In addition to her role at AGSA, Cumpston is on the board of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

‘Under Nici’s direction, Tarnanthi has set a benchmark in best practice with its commitment to working with First Nations artists and communities respectfully, ethically and in culturally appropriate ways,” said AGSA’s acting director Emma Fey.

“Her contribution to AGSA has been transformative; the growth in scope and scale of AGSA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art collection under Nici’s care has positioned AGSA as a leader internationally.’

AGSA said Cumptson will act as artistic director of the 2025 Tarnanthi festival as the gallery begins an international search to find her successor.

GHD appoints regional manager for South Australia

Long-term GHD senior executive Carl Willis has been appointed as regional manager of the engineering consultant’s South Australian operations.

Carl Willis

Willis takes the reins from Kerry Neil, who recently took up the role of regional general manager for western Canada.

Willis has had a career of more than 20 years at GHD, including the past five and a half as global leader of delivery transformation in Adelaide.

Before this, he was market leader for Asia and he has also been country manager for the Philippines.

“I’m honoured to have this opportunity to contribute to my local region and GHD’s success, working closely with our many talented people, both locally and beyond,” said Willis.

“With my background in traditional infrastructure delivery, as well as design thinking and transformation, I’m confident I can bring fresh perspectives to our teams and emphasise the importance of client-focused delivery.”

New head of leasing for Maras Group

Chris Lucas has joined Maras Group as its head of leasing, bringing more than 30 years of experience in commercial property to the role.

Chris Lucas

In this role, Lucas will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic leasing initiatives for Maras Group’s commercial property portfolio, as well as building and maintaining relationships with its business partners and prospective tenants.

Lucas has been associate director of office leasing at CBRE Asia Pacific for the past almost six years.

Before this, he was associate director of office leasing at Knight Frank Australia for close to 24 years.

Maras Group said that Lucas’ “extensive and highly skilled background includes working on diverse leasing projects across the Adelaide CBD (Core + Frame), Fringe, and Suburban markets, where he consistently delivered tailored solutions that added value for clients by securing quality, long term leasing commitments”.

Maras Group said it is a privately owned commercial and retail investment and development company.

Paragon Wine Estates winemaker bids farewell to South Australia

South Australian winemaker Teresa Heuzenroeder will be packing her bags and heading interstate after taking up the role of senior sparkling winemaker at Jansz Tasmania.

Teresa Heuzenroeder

Heuzenroeder has more than 20 years of experience making sparkling wines, having held senior roles at wineries across the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.

She was most recently senior winemaker of sparkling at Paragon Wine Estates in the Barossa.

Before this, she was senior winemaker/manager at Tintara Winery with Accolade Wines.

She also spent nearly 27 years at Yalumba Wine Company, including more than 13 as senior winemaker of white and sparkling.

Jansz Tasmania, which creates sparking wine using traditional French methods, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026.

UniSA professor leaves generous parting gift to Australian Dance Theatre

University of South Australia professor Ruth Rentschler OAM MAICD will retire from Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) board, announcing a bequeath of some $500,000 to the company as a parting gift – the largest donation in its history.

Ruth Rentschler OAM MAICD

Rentschler is currently a professor at the University of South Australia’s business school and has spent eight years on the ADT board, including the past three as chair.

Australian Dance Theatre said Rentschler is a passionate advocate for arts organisations across the state and country who brought decades of experience in the arts, management and non-profit sectors to its board.

“It’s been an immense privilege working alongside Ruth,” said Australian Dance Theatre’s executive director Nick Hays.

“Her generosity, passion and rigour have enriched AFT during her time on the Board.

“It’s rare to find a chair that has such a deep understanding across all areas of management and governance, alongside such a broad range of experience in the arts.”

Australian Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company based in Adelaide and will celebrate its 60^th anniversary in 2025.

New look for Southern Angels board

Angel investor Ryan Williams has been appointed chair of Adelaide-based startup investment group Southern Angels.

Ryan Williams

Williams takes over from Professor David Saint, who is retiring from the position after serving a maximum two-term limit.

Williams has held various senior positions over the past two decades, including as group managing director of Nota Bene, group CEO of Unlimited and CEO of Star-Kinekor Theatres.

He is currently director of UniSA’s Australian Centre for Business Growth, an advisory board member of MarketEase, plus a board member for Bailey Abbott Group and Ster-Kinekor Theatres, as well as advising various startups and scale-ups.

Southern Angels has also announced the addition of John Keeves and Liz Dunn, Imelda Alexopoulos and JD Sheard to its board, with Dunn also serving as treasurer.

Southern Angels said it had recently passed $10 million investment mark, having contributed to 33 startups since its inception.