Governance

South Australian born Pauline Carr has built a 35 plus year career bringing her executive experience, business improvement, governance, compliance and risk management services to a range of organisations in the resources, construction, superannuation, education, retail and community healthcare sectors. She has extensive experience with ASX listed companies in particular.

Pauline was appointed as Chancellor of the Adelaide University Transition Council in March 2024. She has over 14 years’ experience in the higher education sector including a number of years as Chancellor of the University of South Australia (2018 to 2024). Prior to being appointed as UniSA’s Chancellor, she chaired its Audit and Risk Committee (2011–2018) and was a member and subsequent chair of several other Council committees.

A graduate of ANU, Pauline has a bachelor's degree in economics and an MBA. As a graduate, she joined an international resources company where she worked as a financial analyst, accountant, internal auditor, and in government and community relations. Pauline then returned to Adelaide to a divisional accounting leadership role with Normandy Mining Limited. She ultimately became an Executive General Manager and a member of its executive team and was an integral part of the company's rapid growth and international expansion through mergers and acquisitions. She continued in an executive role with Newmont Mining Asia Pacific (part of Newmont Mining Corporation) following its takeover of Normandy.

Pauline is a professional non-executive Director and in addition to her Adelaide University chancellor role she currently chairs the board of Adelaide headquartered National Pharmacies and is a non-executive director of ASX-listed companies Highfield Resources Limited and Australian Rare Earths Limited. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Directors.

A chartered accountant, Janet Finlay is an independent professional director and experienced business adviser having worked in professional services for more than 25 years, the last 15 years as a partner in Big 4 accounting firm, EY.

Janet has a strong commercial and finance background with a practical understanding of and experience with both the public and private sectors, advising organisations on finance, strategy and risk management.

Her other board positions include:

• Director of SA Water Corporation and member of the Governance, Finance and Risk Committee and the People and Culture Committee
• Director of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority Ltd
• Director of Helping Hand Aged Care Inc.
• Member of the Libraries Board of South Australia
• Member of the SA Football Commission

>She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a registered tax agent.

Jim Hazel is an experienced non-executive director with a distinguished career in banking and investment banking, both in Australia and Asia.

He is Chair of Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, Precision Group and a board member of COTA Australia.

Jim has extensive board experience and has regularly chaired committees across audit, risk, finance, credit, governance, and remuneration. 

He is a former Pro Chancellor of the University of South Australia.

Lachlan Coleman has been employed at the University of Adelaide since 2007 and has served extensively on various boards, committees and working groups. He is currently a member of the People and Culture Committee and was previously an elected professional staff representative on Academic Board.

Lachlan is currently Chairman of the Adelaide University Cricket Club Executive Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Lachlan completed his Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Adelaide in 2004, and more recently has been the recipient of the Bill Cowan Barr Smith Library Research Fellowship and the Australian War Memorial Research Fellowship.

His current role as Director, Student Engagement and Success at the University of Adelaide provides support across key learning and teaching, curriculum and governance functions.

Professor Peter Høj AC has more than 25 years’ senior leadership experience in higher education and research and, having served as Vice-Chancellor and President at three universities, is currently Australia’s longest serving Vice-Chancellor. He was Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of South Australia (2007 – 2012) and The University of Queensland (2012 – 2020) and commenced his term as the 24th Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide in February 2021. 

During his term and under his leadership since 2021, the University has embarked on an historic merger with the University of South Australia to create a new entity – Adelaide University – which will open its doors to students from 1 January 2026. In March 2024, Professor Høj was additionally appointed as co-Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University. 

Having previously been Chair, Professor Høj is currently Deputy Chair of the Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities. He also serves on the Australian Government’s University Foreign Interference Taskforce.

Professor Høj is a Fellow of Academies in Australia, the USA and Denmark, and has been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, University of Queensland, La Trobe University, and University of Copenhagen.

He was educated at the University of Copenhagen, majoring in biochemistry and chemistry, and has a Master of Science degree in biochemistry and genetics, and a PhD in photosynthesis. 

Professor Høj was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2019 for “eminent service to higher education and to science, particularly to the commercialisation of research, and to policy development and reform”.

Andy Keough CSC is the Managing Director of Saab Australia, bringing extensive leadership experience from both defence and industry. 

He served 22 years in the Australian Navy, commanding two Collins Class submarines and completing a three-year exchange with the US Navy’s Submarine Force in Hawaii. In 2006, he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for his leadership as Commander of HMAS SHEEAN.

After retiring from the Navy in 2007, Andy joined ASC, leading business improvement and managing Collins Class fleet maintenance and training in WA. He later served as CEO of Defence SA before becoming Managing Director of Saab Australia in 2017. 

Andy also plays a key role in shaping Australia’s defence and skills sectors, serving as a member of the South Australian Skills Commission and contributing to education and workforce development initiatives.

Professor David Lloyd is Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia. A Dublin-born and educated chemist who specialises in computer-aided drug design, Professor Lloyd has re-focused institutional culture to position the institution as Australia’s University of Enterprise and to shape its activities to better meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Professor Lloyd was a member of the South Australia Economic Development Board (EDB) from 2014 to 2018. A past Chair of the Australian Technology Network group of technology-focused universities, he is now Chair of Universities Australia, the peak national body representing the university sector. He was also appointed to the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Advisory Council to provide advice to the ARC on key research policy issues, to lend independent strategic guidance and experience that will strengthen the ARC’s ability to support research and innovation in Australia. In 2019, he was appointed as chair of the Committee for Adelaide.

Professor Lloyd qualified with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Chemistry and a PhD in Medicinal Organic Chemistry from Dublin City University. He holds an honorary Professorship from Tianjin University, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.

Jim McDowell has over 40 years of leadership experience across the private and public sectors, with a strong focus on defence and government. Until recently, he served as Deputy Secretary, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment at the Department of Defence.

Previously, Jim was CEO of Nova Systems, Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and Chancellor of the University of South Australia. From 2001, he led BAE Systems Australia, overseeing its expansion into the country’s largest defence prime. He later served as in-country CEO for BAE Systems in Saudi Arabia, managing a $6 billion business.

Jim has contributed to major defence initiatives, including the First Principles Review, the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, and key Defence review boards. He began his career in legal, commercial, and marketing roles at Bombardier Shorts after graduating from the University of Warwick (England).

Anna Meares is one of Australia’s most decorated track cyclists, competing in four Olympic Games and winning six Olympic medals, including two gold. She is an eleven-time world champion across four disciplines and a five-time Commonwealth Games champion. Anna was Australia’s flag bearer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympic Games and served as Chef de Mission for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She has been reappointed as Australia’s Chef de Mission for future Olympic Games.

Beyond sport, Anna is a dedicated community advocate, supporting causes such as Cycling Cares, Fight MND, Little Heroes Foundation, Backpacks for SA Kids, foster care, and the Port Adelaide Community Youth Program. She has also served on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Advisory Committee.

Anna was the first Australian athlete to medal individually at four consecutive Olympic Games, a feat matched only in 2024. Her contributions were recognized with a Centenary Medal (2003) and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (2005).

An author and speaker, she shares insights on sportsmanship, resilience, and success through her autobiography, The Anna Meares Story – The Fighting Spirit of a Champion, her latest publication NOW, and public engagements.

Carolyn Mitchell is a commercial lawyer specialising in the areas of commercial advice, insolvency and trade practices. These areas of practice allow a rare insight into identifying major issues of governance, risk management and legal compliance.

As Chair of The Executive Connection (TEC) Group 6 in Adelaide, Carolyn mentored and coached a group of business owners and CEOs with businesses ranging in size from $10 –80 million in annual revenue across a wide variety of industries and sectors.

As Acting Executive Director of WCHRI Carolyn undertook a restructure of the organisation resulting in a long-term funding and research agreement being entered into between WCHRI, The University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) to ensure continuation of WCHRI’s research within the Healthy Mothers Babies and Children Theme at SAHMRI and within the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.

As Managing Partner of Cowell Clarke from 2002 to 2009, Carolyn doubled the size of the business, introduced mechanisms to increase accountability between partners and significantly improved the profitability of the business. Carolyn worked extensively within Cowell Clarke on cultural issues, including communication skills for lawyers and change management.

Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds is an experienced non-executive director of public unlisted companies and various strategic boards. Nicolle is a member of the Credit Union SA Board (Audit Committee Chair), The Grange Golf Club (Vice President and Finance Committee Chair), Cancer Council SA (Finance and Audit Committee Chair), Australian Institute of Company Directors SA/NT Councillor and a member of various government and local government audit and finance committees.

She holds a Masters in Commercial Law, an MBA and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia. Nicolle also holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Nicolle is the South Australian Public Trustee and manages over 200 staff with responsibilities including corporate strategy, financial management and investment of over $1.3 billion. Prior to this she was the Chief Operating Officer of the South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance.

In addition to being South Australia’s former Chief Scientist, Dr Leanna Read has extensive experience on boards that address innovation across government, industry and research organisations, particularly in the biotechnology sector. Her current roles include chair of biotechnology companies, Carina Biotech Ltd and TekCyte Ltd, established as spin-outs from the CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing (CTM CRC), which she led as Chair until the end of its term in 2019. She is also the independent chair of Health Translation SA, a NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centre and chairs a bid for a new CRC for Solutions for Manufacturing Advanced Regenerative Therapies (SMART CRC).