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 head of SA’s integrity watchdog gets to work
Vanessa Burrows has started her role as head of South Australia’s Office for Public Integrity (OPI), which she will lead for the next three years.
Vanessa Burrows
Burrows replaces Emma Townsend, who was appointed to lead the South Australian Independent Commission Against Corruption in December 2024.
Burrows is currently the acting director of OPI and has worked in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for nearly 15 years in roles ranging from solicitor to acting senior solicitor, acting senior prosecutor and prosecutor.
The OPI is responsible for receiving and referring on complaints made against government agencies, statutory authorities and public servants in relation to public administration to anti-corruption bodies.
She will also oversee the investigation of complaints made against South Australian police officers.
New leadership for Housing Trust
Julie-Anne Burgess has been appointed as chief executive of the South Australian Housing Trust.
Julie-Anne Burgess
Burgess begins her role on April 28 and takes over from current chief executive David Reynolds.
Burgess is currently CEO at the Independent Commission Against Corruption and previously held leadership roles at the Department of Trade and Investment and the Department of Treasury and Finance.
In her new role, Burgess will be responsible for the leadership and management of the Housing Trust and for implementing relevant government and public administration policy objectives.
“I would like to congratulate Julie-Anne on being appointed to this important role at a critical time for the Housing Trust,” said Housing Minister Nick Champion.
“Her vast experience, including her recent work with ICAC, will be crucial as the Trust works to support more vulnerable South Australians by improving the quantity and quality of public housing.”
Experienced chef joins ALH Hotels
Paul Baker
Paul Baker has started as state executive chef for South Australia at ALH Hotels.
Baker has been director of Chefs on Wheels for the past five years.
He is a former executive chef of the Botanic Gardens Restaurant Adelaide, executive sous chef of Naladhu Resort and head chef at Pello Restaurant.
Paul Baker was also named one of InDaily’s 40 Under 40 in 2021.
ALH Group operates more than 350 licensed venues across Australia including the Belgian Beer Café, the Royal Oak and the Ramsgate Hotel in South Australia.
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SA Skills Commissioner appointed to Construction Industry Training Board
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced the addition of South Australian Skills Commissioner Cameron Baker.
Baker brings more than 20 years of experience in the vocational education and training sector to the role.
Cameron Baker
Baker has been the South Australian Skills Commissioner since July 2023 and is the former acting Skills Commissioner, as well as head of apprenticeships in Victoria and commercial director at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
He also held various roles focused on education in the Australian Department of Defence.
“I’m delighted to be joining CITB’s leadership team and to play an active role in advancing South Australia’s dynamic building and construction industries,” said Baker
“We have a great opportunity to lead the way in developing a highly skilled, safe and productive workforce, through quality training and support initiatives. It’s about generating positive impact across the sector and setting us up for the future”.
The CITB is an industry-led organisation with the mission of attracting, training and retaining South Australian building and construction workers by providing leadership in training and skills development.
Investigator Resources Limited gets a new managing director
Lachlan Wallace has been appointed as managing director of Investigator Resources Limited.
Wallace will start on July 1 and replaces Andrew McIlwain, who is retiring from full-time work.
Lachlan Wallace
Investigator Resources Limited said Wallace is a mining engineer with more than 20 years of experience.
For the past 12 and a half years, Wallace has been at Hillgrove Resources, including the past five years as CEO and managing director.
He has also held senior roles at Ascor Resources, Stemcor, Coffey International Ltd and Australian Bulk Minerals.
“We are delighted to appoint Lachlan as Managing Director following a comprehensive executive search process. Lachlan has extensive experience in open pit operations and is ideally suited to advance the Paris Silver Project,” said Dr Richard Hillis, who is chairman of Investigator Resources Limited
Investigator Resources Limited is a metals explorer mainly focused on the Gawler Craton in South Australia.
SA environmental consulting company expands management team
Stuart Taylor has joined the senior management team of South Australian environmental consulting company LBWco.
Stuart Taylor
Taylor has more than 30 years of experience advising on strategic environmental and site contamination matters for the public and private sectors in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
He has served as an advisor on site contamination for the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia and is a certified environmental practitioner and site contamination specialist.
“We see Stuart’s addition as a game-changer for us, our team, and our clients,” said Kylie Bishop, who is co-founder and CEO of LBWco.
“With our Principal team of four incredibly talented professionals and the experience of our leadership team, Jarrod and I now have the structure to support our expansion into new geographies.
“We are all committed to solving problems that lead to a better environment for everyone and, after 17 years in SA, it is exciting to now be able to offer our services in Brisbane and the UK based on the strength of our team.”
GDstudia bolsters leadership team
Lisel McLeay has been appointed as principal landscape architect at GDstudia.
Lisel McLeay
McLeay will join current principals Amy Prince and Paul Wong on the leadership team.
McLeay has more than 18 years of experience, including the past two years and eight months at engineering consultant Sproutt.
Before this, she spent 13 years as associate director, landscape architect and urban designer at urban planner Jensen PLUS.
GDstudia said McLeay will “help drive project delivery and diversify the growth of the studio through strengthening its masterplanning and local government arms”.
GDstudia said it is an award-winning landscape architectural and urban design studio which is based in Dulwich.
Leadership change at Don Dunstan Foundation
Matt Clemow
Matt Clemow had been appointed as chair of the Don Dunstan Foundation’s Committee of Management.
Clemow takes over from Cathie King, who has retired after a long period as chair.
The Don Dunstan Foundation said Clemow brings extensive experience in public policy, partnerships, government and media to the role.
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Throughout his career, Clemow has worked in social policy, strategic consulting, government relations and media.
He is the founder and senior consultant at Capetal Advisory and was previously general manager of the Committee for Adelaide.
“The ambitions and achievements of the Dunstan Governments, along with Don’s pre and post Premier life, remain the foundation of South Australia’s social fabric,” said Clemow.
“At a time of systemic inequity and enormous global shock, there’s no more important time for the Foundation and its partners to investigate and take lessons and guidance from the past in order to look at policy issues both today and into the future.”
The Don Dunstan Foundation said it “is a thought leadership organisation that works on collaborative projects to inspire action for a fairer world, building on the legacy of former Premier, Don Dunstan”.
Former Qantas executive joins Adelaide Airport board
Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) has announced the addition of Andrew Parker to its board.
Andrew Parker
Parker spent close to 12 years at Qantas as group executive of government, industry, international and sustainability and then as chief sustainability officer.
Before this, he spent six years as senior vice president of global public affairs, international affairs, industry affairs and environment at Emirates and nine as managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations.
He previously also spent six years as chair of the Australia Day Council of NSW.
“Mr Parker understands both the national and global aviation landscape, and will offer an extraordinary depth of knowledge, particularly in the area of sustainability,” said AAL chair Rob Chapman.
“Mr Parker’s customer-led insights gained from decades within the leadership teams of two of Adelaide Airport’s largest airline customers, will be invaluable.”
“His appointment comes at a time when aviation industry sustainability is more important than ever. Mr Parker’s experience will continue to drive Adelaide Airport as a sustainability leader as well as continue AAL’s collaboration with airlines to develop commercial low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel.”
Jumping on board at Coopers Foundation
Coopers Brewery chief financial officer Brad Grunert has been appointed to the Coopers Foundation board.
Brad Grunert
Grunert replaces outgoing staff governor Leanne Gelly, who has recently stepped down after 11 years on the foundation board.
Grunert joined Coopers Brewery in 2015 as financial controller and has been chief financial officer since December 2016.
He also currently chairs the Foundation’s Investment Committee.
Before this, he spent 15 years at KPMG Australia, firstly as an accountant to the assistant manager in Adelaide, then as a manager in London and finally as a senior manager and director in Sydney.
The Coopers Foundation said it has donated more than $8.2 million in funds to support more than 370 projects since it was established by Coopers Brewery and the Cooper family in 2006.
First Nations music producer joins Country Arts SA
Jay Gonsalves has joined Country Arts SA as associate producer of its arts programming team.
Jay Gonsalves
Gonsalves is a proud Eastern Arrente/Arabana man who has experience as an events coordinator and music producer.
He is also an avid baseball enthusiast and a practicing artist.
Gonsalves spent almost the past three years as public programs officer at the Art Gallery of South Australia, where he worked on events including Tarnanthi, First Fridays and Start at the Gallery.
Country Arts SA said it is an arts organisation providing arts and services to regional South Australia.
Movements at Oakridge International Limited
Wally Pastuch will join the board of Oakridge International Limited, replacing Elvis Diao, who has stepped down as a non-executive director
Wally Pastuch
Pastuch brings to the role more than 40 years of experience in the automotive, insurance and IT industries.
This includes as the regional manager for Victoria and Tasmania at Mitsubishi Motors.
He also implemented computerised inventory management systems at Ford Australia and developed specialised insurance products at Eric Insurance.
Oakridge International Limited is headquartered on Pirie Street and said it provides “innovative healthcare technology solutions”.
Arts body strengthens executive committee
Rebecca Young has joined the executive committee of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia (AICSA) as a co-opted member.
Rebecca Young
Young is currently chief executive of Access2Arts, the owner of Zingara Wines and chairs the Arts and Disability Network Australia.
She previously spent seven years as chair of inclusive circus school Lolly Jar Circus.
“I am passionate about working with community and business to create impactful change and deliver positive outcomes,” said Young.
“I believe that social justice, equity and the empowerment of young people are critical in ensuring that all Australians achieve their full potential.”
AICSA said it is a non-government not-for-profit providing an independent voice for the arts in South Australia.
