A weekly guide to South Australia’s executive appointments

SACA Vice President joins Cricket Australia board

South Australian Cricket Association vice-president James Orchard will join the Cricket Australia board on July 24, following the resignation of former SACA director John Harden in May.

Orchard has been a member of the SACA board since 2019 and has served as its vice president since 2022.

He is a chartered accountant and managing director of the accounting firm Accru-Harris.

He is also a member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants) and the Institute of Company Directors.

Orchard played for Sturt Cricket Club for over 20 years and was captain for four seasons.

He was also a member of the SA State Training Squad and is involved in coaching and developing junior players.

Adelaide lawyer to be chairman of HWL Ebsworth’s board of partners

Commercial law firm HWL Ebsworth has announced the election of Adelaide lawyer Clare Raimondo to its newly formed partnership board, while Jamie Restas has been appointed national chairman.

HWL Ebsworth has formed a board of directors following the recent death of longtime managing partner Juan Martinez.

Raimondo has been a partner at HWL Ebsworth Layers since July 2014 and specialises in employment law and industrial relations.

Restas has been practicing corporate law for nearly 30 years. He joined HWL Ebsworth in June this year.

He previously spent almost 12 years at Port Adelaide Football Club where he was Vice-Chairman and a Director.

HWL Ebsworth said it was the largest law firm in Australia, employing about 1,800 staff nationwide.

General Manager Adelaide Marriott

Veteran hotelier Paul Gallop has been appointed general manager of the Adelaide Marriot Hotel, which will open in August.

Marriot said Gallop is a specialist in leading successful hotel openings and managing complex renovation projects.

Since July 2023, Gallop has served as Pre-Opening General Manager of the Adelaide Marriott Hotel.

Previously, he served for six years as General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, also owned by Marriot International.

The five-star Adelaide Marriott Hotel is housed in the historic General Post Office building on King William Street, with a newly constructed 15-storey tower to the rear.

The new hotel will have 285 rooms, two modern restaurants, a fitness studio, an 18-meter indoor swimming pool and over 535 square meters of meeting and event space.

Managing Director to perform a management role A helping hand in caring for the elderly, a major, values-driven provider of care and support services for older people.

The progressive, competency-based board of this distinguished organization is seeking professionals with management expertise and strategic experience in technology/digital and data development, business transformation and change, customer experience (CX), and/or strategic communications, stakeholder and community engagement.

New CEO of People First Bank after merger

People First Bank has announced that its Vice President Steve Laidlaw will replace Peter Lock as CEO on July 1.

People’s First Bank was formed through the merger of People’s Choice and Heritage Bank in March 2023.

Prior to the merger, Lock had served as managing director and CEO of People’s Choice since 2016.

People’s First Bank said the new appointment “will allow for a smooth transition in line with merger commitments and coincide with the start of the new financial year.”

In addition, the bank announced that it would reduce the composition of its management board from 12 to eight, in line with the constitution approved as part of the merger.

Kerry Betros AM and Georgina Williams will retire at this year’s AGM on 14 November, while two further directors will retire next year.

Whitebark appoints science professor to strengthen hydrogen plans

ASX-listed Whitebark Energy has appointed Professor Rosalind Archer as a non-executive director.

Whitebark Energy says Archer has 25 years of experience in a variety of academic, technical and commercial roles in the renewable energy industry.

Archer holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Stanford University, is Dean of Science Group Science at Griffith University, and is a Non-Executive Director of New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd.

Whitebark said the appointment “reinforces the company’s internal expertise in executing planned geothermal and hydrogen technology development projects.”

As stated in EverydayWhitebark Energy is currently considering building a hydrogen energy plant at its Cooper Basin facility.

Promotion at Finlaysons

Commercial law firm Finlaysons Lawyers has announced the promotion of Jane Welsh to partner.

Finlaysons said Welsh had extensive experience and legal knowledge in indigenous rights and Aboriginal heritage.

Welsh joined Finlaysons as a trainee solicitor 13 years ago, rising through the ranks to associate, partner, senior partner and, most recently, special adviser.

Finlaysons said it had “built a strong reputation for providing exceptional services to a diverse range of clients, including ASX-listed, private and government entities across Australia and overseas”.

Export Finance Australia appoints a state director

James Gallagher has been appointed State Director for SMEs for South Africa and the Northern Territory at Export Finance Australia, joining on 29 May.

The export credit agency said Gallagher has 12 years of experience in corporate and commercial banking across a broad range of industries.

Prior to joining Export Finance Australia, Gallagher worked as head of corporate advisory and consultant at financial services firm TIP Group.

He has also worked for the St Kilda Football Club, Macquarie Group, Westpac and from January 2001 to October 2004 played for the Adelaide Crows.

Export Finance Australia said it supports Australian businesses with growth finance globally, including SMEs and large corporates, overseas governments and infrastructure groups.

Movements in BDO

BDO Australia has announced the promotions of Ryan Wilton to business services partner, Lisa Carlin to chief economic officer and Tenille Ireland to business services director.

Ryan Wilton has worked at BDO for over 20 years. Initially, he was deputy director, and in January 2020 he was promoted to the position of director.

Lisa Carlin joined BDO in July 2017 and was subsequently promoted to senior economist and then manager in July 2022.

Tenille Ireland has been a senior manager for superannuation at BDO since June 2022.

Previously she was Pensions Manager at HLB Mann Judd and Senior Pensions Accountant at Rawson Verco Chartered Accountants.

BDO Australia was founded in 1975 and claims to be “one of the largest associations of independent accounting practices in the country”.