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.

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.

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.

Professor Nicola Phillips is the Vice Chancellor and President of Adelaide University, commencing in the role on 12 January 2026. 

An esteemed leader and academic, Professor Phillips has some 30 years of experience in the higher education sector across Australia and the United Kingdom. She completed her undergraduate studies at King’s College London, and holds both a Master’s degree in Comparative Government and a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

A distinguished scholar in global political economy, she held academic and leadership positions at the Universities of Warwick, Manchester, and Sheffield, before returning to King’s College London in 2017 as Vice-President and Vice-Principal (Education). She subsequently moved to the University of Melbourne to take up the role of Provost from September 2021 to July 2025.

Over the course of her career, Professor Phillips has held visiting fellowships and professorships at several leading institutions around the world, including the Australian National University, the University of British Columbia, and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.

She is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and a Member of Chief Executive Women.

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). 

Deirdre Tedmanson is a Professor of Social Policy and Dean of Programs for UniSA Justice & Society.

She holds a PhD from the ANU, in addition to Masters (Policy and Administration) and Arts (Social Sciences) degrees. Deirdre is an active researcher with a strong focus on social policy, community development, homelessness, Aboriginal governance and wellbeing, and enterprise development. Her research has included ARC Discovery and Linkage projects; extensive CRC work and AHURI research projects, as well as a range of community and industry partnered applied research.

Deirdre has had an extensive career at the University of South Australia, prior to which she worked in community development, research, policy and management positions in both the non-government sector and State Government, as well as working in Australia’s Commonwealth Parliament as a senior political advisor. She is also currently the Chair of Academic Board at the University of South Australia.