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.
Former City of Adelaide CEO to head up Arts South Australia
Former City of Adelaide CEO Clare Mockler will take over as the permanent executive director of Arts South Australia, following a brief stint as its interim executive director last year.
Clare Mockler
In the new role, Mockler will work alongside Arts Minister Andrea Michaels to deliver South Australia’s cultural policy.
Mockler is currently serving as interim CEO of the beleaguered South Australian Museum, a role she was appointed to in December 2024 following the departure of former CEO Dr David Gaimster.
Mockler said she is a “highly experienced executive with expertise in providing decisive and insightful leadership to the planning and implementation of services, programs and projects, as well as driving business transformation”.
Opposition leader appoints dedicated media advisor
The South Australian Liberal Party looks set to ramp up its media campaign with the addition of a dedicated communications advisor for opposition leader Vincent Tarzia.
Hayley McDonald
Former Network 10 reporter Hayley McDonald has today started in the newly-created role of director of communications and media for the office of the Hon Vincent Tarzia MP.
McDonald is a journalist and communications specialist with more than 20 years of experience working in both newsrooms and in government media and communications.
She started her career as a broadcast journalist at the ABC, where she remained from 2005 until 2010.
McDonald then became an executive producer and news reporter at Network 10, a position she held for the next seven and a half years.
Following this, McDonald spent just under two years as the principal media advisor for SA Health, and for the past five and half years, McDonald has been director of media and communications at the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.
McDonald is also a fellow of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Liberal party said McDonald “is an experienced journalist and communications professional”.
Purple Giraffe founder to chair of Wine Communicators Australia Inc
Purple Giraffe Marketing Consultancy founder Lynda Schenk has been appointed as the national chair of Wine Communicators Australia Inc (WCA).
Lynda Schenk
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Schenk brings to the role around 25 years of experience in the Australian wine sector, including eight and half years on the WCA’s board in roles ranging from co-deputy chair to a WCA awards judge and an executive officer.
Schenk has a background in marketing roles at Normans Wines Limited, Tarac Liquor Marketers, Hardy Wine Company and Kingston Estate Wines.
She has also been a judge for the Wine Industry Suppliers Association Inc’s Wine Industry Impact Awards.
Schenk is currently a marketing consultant and strategic marketing specialist at Adelaide-based marketing consultancy Purple Giraffe, which she founded in April 2014.
“I am honoured to step into the role of National Chair for WCA,” said Schenk
“The wine industry is a dynamic and inspiring community, and I’m committed to building on WCA’s legacy by continuing to champion collaboration, innovation, and communication excellence.”
WCA, a national not-for-profit founded in 2010, said “it is Australia’s pre-eminent organisation connecting professionals working with wine”.
A new boss in town
Jennifer Lynch has started as CEO of Regional Development Australia Barossa Gawler Light Adelaide Plains (RDA BGLAP).
Lynch takes over from Leonie Boothby, who is now CEO of Regional Development Australia Adelaide Metro.
Jennifer Lynch
RDA BGLAP said Lynch has more than 20 years of leadership experience, including more than six as CEO of McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association.
She was most recently senior manager of AgriFood Transformation and Circularity at Deloitte.
She has also been Australian general manager at New Zealand Winegrowers, as well as global manager of membership services at Wine Australia.
Lynch was also a finalist in InDaily’s 40 Under 40 Awards in 2021.
“Jennifer’s exceptional leadership and proven track record make her the ideal CEO to guide RDABGLAP. Her expertise will bring lasting benefits to the Barossa, Gawler, Light, and Adelaide Plains,” said RDA BGLAP chair Rolf Binder.
RDA BGLAP said it is a non-governmental non-profit organisation focused on growing regional economies and creating more liveable communities.
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Wilderness School’s deputy principal to lead St John’s Grammar
Wilderness School’s deputy principal Ben Manifold will become the principal of St John’s Grammar School in Belair, to commence in term 3 of the 2025 school calendar.
Manifold takes the reins from Richard Anderson, who has retired after leading the school for the past 26 years.
Ben Manifold
Manifold has spent the past decade as deputy principal and head of senior school at Wilderness School.
Before this, he spent 11 years as deputy principal of The SCOTS PGC College in Warwick, Queensland.
Manifold has a background as a science and physical education teacher, having started his teaching career in the 1990s as a secondary teacher at St Peter’s College and then at Wesley College in Perth.
He has previously also been director of rowing at the Anglican Church Grammar School in east Brisbane, as well as head of physical education and boys sports at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston.
St John’s Grammar School said it undertook an extensive recruitment process to find Anderson’s successor, adding that he was a stand-out candidate in a pool of high-calibre applicants from Australia and overseas.
“I am thrilled and humbled to be joining the St John’s Grammar Community, and am committed to honouring the School’s legacy of excellence,” said Manifold.
“Exceptional educational outcomes occur when students, staff, families and the broader community come together to create a place where everyone feels valued, empowered and connected, and I know that these values are at the heart of St John’s Grammar School.”
Long-serving Elders company secretary retires
Peter Hastings has retired as company secretary of Elders after more than 15 years in the role.
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Peter Hastings
Hastings was first appointed as company secretary and general counsel of Elders in 2010, having held the latter role until March 2024.
Hastings, who has a background as a solicitor, previously also served as in-house counsel to Elders from the mid to late 1990s.
“The Board of Elders thanks Peter for his commitment to Elders and his service to the board,” said Elders chair Ian Wilton.
“Peter has at all times put the interest of Elders at its stakeholders first.
“His fruits of all his hard work are borne out in the continual improvement in governance during his tenure.”
A shake-up on the Bedford Group board
Significant changes are underway on the board of disability employment non-profit Bedford Group, with the appointment of Janet Miller as chair and Erin McCarthy as deputy chair.
Janet Miller
Miller takes over from Richard Hockney, who recently retired from the board after some 18 years, including the last six as chair.
Miller has been on the board of Bedford Group for around six years, including the past almost three years as deputy chair. She previously also sat on the audit and risk committee.
Miller, a chartered accountant, has over 20 years of experience in CEO roles including the past nine at the helm of Centennial Park.
Erin McCarthy
She previously headed up Fox Tucker Lawyers and Perks Integrated Business Services.
Bedford Group said she is experienced in strategic leadership, operational management and financial management.
McCarthy, who has been elevated to deputy chair, joined the board in 2019 and has been chair of the service and governance committee since 2022.
She is currently a partner at Piper Alderman and a board member at St Michael’s College and the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency.
Ian Stone
Bedford Group said she has 20 years of experience in employment and industrial relations law, as well as expertise in safety, risk management and compliance.
Bedford Group said it was the first time in its 80-year history that the board would be led by two women.
Additionally, Ian Stone, also a chartered accountant, has joined the board as a non-executive director.
Stone spent close to 18 years at RAA, including 15 as group managing director and CEO and three as general manager of RAA Insurance.
He is currently on numerous boards, including Deep Blue Company Pty Ltd, RAC Insurance and Medical Insurance Group Australia.
He is also chair of the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority and a member of the SA Council for the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stone has also been a member of Bedford Group’s finance and investment committee since May 2024 and its culture and remuneration committee since March 2023.
Bedford Group said he has expertise in strategy, risk management, governance, change management, compliance and financial risk.
A new chair for The Mill Adelaide
Ana Koch has been appointed as chair of The Mill Adelaide, succeeding James Allen, who will remain on the board as treasurer.
Ana Koch
Koch has been a member of The Mill Adelaide board for the past 10 months and is also on the boards of Zoos SA and The Village Co. In addition, she is a principal at Iridium Capital.
Before this, Koch spent eight years at Yum! Brands, including as supply chain manager and was also a lawyer at Ashurst in its Sydney, Singapore and Tokyo offices.
Koch is an alumnus of Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
The Mill said Koch, who is an emerging photographic artist, has extensive experience in the legal, commercial and philanthropic sectors.
“I believe in the underlying premise of The Mill to exist as a community that supports artists to build and strengthen their practice,” said Koch.
“I resonate, as a practising artist myself, with the vulnerability of the creative practice, and also with the need to feel a part of a community to have the space, and the courage to make art.”
The Mill Adelaide is a multi-arts hub based on Angas Street in the CBD.
