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.
New ICAC commissioner gets to work
Emma Townsend has started in her role as commissioner for the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Emma Townsend
Townsend was appointed to the position after the resignation of her predecessor Ann Vanstone in September 2024, who criticised a 2021 amendment limiting ICAC’s powers.
“The 2021 amendments to the legislation governing public integrity in South Australia damaged the scheme, under the guise of making it more ‘effective and efficient,” Vanstone said at the time.
Townsend has joined ICAC from the Office of Public Integrity, where she was director from January 2022.
She is also a former prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where she worked for 18 years.
Townsend said it would be “business as usual” while she acquaints herself with ICAC.
She said she would make a submission to the inquiry being held by Parliament’s Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee into the functions and operations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 2012.
“Public integrity has been a driving force in my career, and I am looking forward to taking on the challenges involved in identifying, investigating and preventing corruption in public administration,” said Townsend in a statement.
Attorney-General appoints a suite of new judges
Justice Tim Stanley
Attorney-General Kyam Maher has announced several new appointments to South Australia’s higher courts following the retirement of long-serving judges.
Supreme Court Justice Tim Stanley has been appointed to the Court of Appeal, filling a vacancy left by the retirement of Justice David Lovell.
Stanley was appointed to the Queen’s Counsel in 2006 before joining the Supreme Court in 2011.
Barrister Dr Rachel Gray KC will take over Stanley’s position in the general division of the Supreme Court.
Dr Rachel Gray
Gray is currently the president of the South Australian Bar Association and is a barrister practising at Victoria Square Chambers.
Meanwhile, District Court Judge Michelle Sutcliffe will become a judge at the Youth Court, replacing long-serving Judge Penny Eldridge.
In addition to being a District Court judge, Sutcliffe previously managed the Magistrates Court’s specialist domestic violence list.
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In other news, Ian White will step down from his deputy State Coroner position to become a District Court judge.
Ian White
“The Court of Appeal, District Court and Youth Court are fortunate to have such experienced and skilled legal minds taking on new roles within the judiciary,” said Maher.
“Each of these appointees has demonstrated they have the knowledge and expertise to take on their new roles.”
A shake-up on the Maggie Beer Holdings board
Mark Lindh has been appointed as non-executive chair of Maggie Beer Holdings Limited.
The current chair, Sue Thomas, will remain on the Maggie Beer Holdings board as a non-executive director.
Mark Lindh
The announcement follows a recent restructuring of Maggie Beer Holdings to remove the chief operating officer and chief financial officer positions.
Lindh joined the Maggie Beer Holdings board in January of this year, bringing with him significant corporate advisory experience.
He is the founder and principal of investment house AE Advisors and is a board member of ASX-listed companies Aerometrex Limited, Bass Oil Ltd and Whitebark Energy Limited, where he is chair.
“This transition is part of a broader Board renewal process focusing on strong corporate governance and independence. The Board is also intending to make additional non-executive director appointments as part of this process and looks forward to updating the market in due course,” said Lindh.
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A Business Manager for Dermatology SA, a well-established, high-quality private specialist practice with 4 clinics at Dulwich, Salisbury, Mount Barker and Morphett Vale. The Business Manager reports to Equity Partners and oversees a range of core business support functions including, administration, people and culture, finance, facilities, records management and communications. |
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New AADC co-president announced
The Adelaide Advertising & Design Club (AADC) has welcomed Sarah Luthaus as its co-president for 2025/26, serving alongside current co-president Paul Kitching of Fuller Brand Communication.
Sarah Luthaus
Luthaus takes over from outgoing co-president Nic Eldridge, who is design director at Super Studio.
Luthaus has been managing director of the creative digital experience Ten Past Ten for nearly the last eight years.
“As Co-President, my goal is to strengthen the opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration, ensuring we continue to push boundaries, shape the future of our industry, and champion the incredible work coming out of South Australia,” said Luthaus.
Current co-president Kitching welcomed Luthaus to the role.
“With over 16 years in the industry and a track record of leading strategy for global brands, she brings a wealth of experience, insight, and a deep passion for creativity,” said Kitching.
“Her commitment to fostering collaboration—both through her work at Ten Past Ten and her leadership roles with AADC and She Creates—makes her the perfect person to help steer the Club into the future.”
AADC said it is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation dedicated to “shaping the future of the creative community”.
Magnetite Mines CFO and co-company secretary resigns.
Simon Smith
Simon Smith has resigned as chief financial officer and co-company secretary of Magnetite Mines Limited.
As a result, current co-company secretary and financial controller Inthu Siva will begin the role of company secretary.
Siva will continue to have responsibility for the core of Magnetite Mine’s financial activities.
Smith was appointed to the role 18 months ago and will have his final day on March 7.
Inthu Siva
In other news, Magnetite Mines has engaged Mark McManus on a consulting basis to support commercial negotiations and transactions for its Razorback Iron Ore Project.
Magnetite Mines said it “is an ASX-listed iron ore company focused on the development of magnetite iron ore resources in the highly-prospective Braemar iron region of South Australia”.
Meals on Wheels CEO to chair Guide Dogs SA/NT
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Meals on Wheels CEO Sharyn Broer has been appointed as chair of Guide Dogs SA/NT, replacing John Oliver, who has retired after 10 years on the board including six as chair.
Sharyn Broer
Broer has been on the Guide Dogs SA/NT board since 2022 and a member of its Services Delivery Committee since 2019.
She has been CEO of Meals on Wheels SA for the past 14 and a half years and is past president of Meals on Wheels Australia.
Broer is also a member of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association State Member Council, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
Guide Dogs SA/NT said she has twice been a Telstra Businesswoman of the Year finalist and contributed to the Aged Care Royal Commission, government advisory groups and industry alliances.
“I’m incredibly proud of Guide Dogs’ impact and the work we do to support independence, participation, inclusion and wellbeing, principles that have underpinned my career,” said Broer.
US professor to lead Mount Gambier forestry centre
Professor Jeff Morrell has started as the first director of the Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE).
Professor Jeff Morrell
Morell is a professor at the Oregon State University in the United States and specialises in wood durability.
He was also the director of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from 2018 until 2023
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said Morell was chosen after an extensive international search.
The soon-to-be-built centre in Mount Gambier is a collaboration between the state government, the University of South Australia and the forestry industry.
Minister Scriven said she hopes the centre will become an international leader in forest industries for research, education, product and market development.
“Professor Morrell’s commencement as director is the latest in a series of exciting milestones for the Forestry Centre of Excellence following the successful launch late last year and the imminent start of construction on the new facilities,” said Scriven.
“The Forestry Centre of Excellence will consolidate the Green Triangle’s strengths which have been built over generations and maximise the wealth of local knowledge, expertise and skills.
“The FCoE’s focus on delivering global leading research, development and education will enhance the competitiveness, diversification and prosperity of the Green Triangle regional economy and communities while building overall resilience in the Australian forest industry.”
Dancing into a new role
Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) has welcomed Viviana Sacchero to the newly-created role of executive producer.
Viviana Sacchero. Photo: Australian Dance Theatre
In this role, Sacchero will manage the company’s artistic, touring and engagement programs.
She will also lead LOFT, a soon-to-be-launched joint initiative between ADT and Arts South Australia that has been “designed as a space dedicated to independent dance practice”.
Sacchero joins ADT from The Australian Ballet, where she looked after audience and sector engagement.
Saccherro is currently deputy chair of Dancehouse and has also worked as an independent dance artist. She has also been a lecturer in contemporary dance at Deakin University.
“Viviana has dedicated her career to dance and has an incredible knowledge of the industry from all sides, having worked as a performer, teacher, maker, administrator, producer and programmer,” said ADT’s executive director Nick Hays.
Australian Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company based in Adelaide and will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025.
Family law practitioner starts her own firm.
Experienced family lawyer Selina Nikoloudakis has launched Divorce Legal in Prospect.
Selina Nikoloudakis
Nikoloudakis said the new firm would be dedicated to family law.
“I am committed to assisting clients navigate the divorce pathway, respectfully, efficiently and in a cost-effective manner,” said Nikoloudakis.
Nikoloudakis started her career as a lawyer more than 15 years ago, having worked at both boutique and mid-sized firms.
She was previously a partner at Andersons Solicitors for three years, where she was responsible for co-leading its family law team.
Before this, she was a senior associate and accredited family law specialist at Mellor Olsson for three years.
Nikoloudakis is also a lecturer at the College of Law, an accredited specialisation family law mentor at the Law Institute of Victoria, and a GDLP sessional lecturer and marker at the Law Society of South Australia.
She is also the former South Australian chair and a current committee member of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.
Nikoloudakis said that her new practice will provide mentorship and employment opportunities to young lawyers that she feels she was denied when starting out.
Correction: An earlier version of this article confused the career histories of Judge Penny Eldridge and Judge Michelle Sutcliffe.
