Adelaide Connected

Kayla Johnson came to Adelaide from Oklahoma in the United States in 2015 to study her masters and has quickly become a passionate advocate for SA. She started as an intern with the South Australian Government where she quickly progressed to Policy & Project Officer with the Department for Education and Principal Policy Officer with the Department of the Premier & Cabinet.

In her role as Director, Population Strategy, Kayla leads the State Government’s population growth policy, targets, and campaigns to attract and retain exceptional young global talent to SA.  We chat to Kayla about her role, what she loves about living in Adelaide and her favourite things to do on the weekend, including her go-to place for Tacos!

Ben Symons is the General Manager SA & WA at Lendlease.

After growing up in Country NSW, Ben found his calling in the construction industry and joined Lendlease as a graduate and hasn’t looked back. He has held multiple roles within Lendlease, starting in Sydney and Canberra and later having the opportunity to work across the business internationally in Hawaii, Alaska, Dallas and Los Angeles, before coming back to Australia after nearly a decade of working abroad.

In 2021, Ben moved with his young family to Adelaide to take up his current role and has loved the lifestyle and access Adelaide provides.

We speak to Ben about how Adelaide stacks up to other cities he has worked in and why they chose Adelaide live long-term.

With a Master of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Arka Ghosh moved from India to Australia in 2019. He originally settled in Geelong where he studied a Ph D in Construction Management and was awarded as a finalist for innovative breakthrough and impactful research. In 2022, Arka secured a role as Digital Assets Leader for Beca and moved to Adelaide in 2023. We chat to Arka about his reasons for moving to Adelaide, the lifestyle benefits of living in the CBD, including the events and the iconic Adelaide Central Market, and how Adelaide compares to other cities.

Irina is what we term an ‘Arrow’ and a ‘Boomerang’. Originally from Romania, Irina moved to Adelaide in 2002 to undertake her post graduate studies at the University of South Australia and worked in a number of engineering and project management roles including as Director, Corporate Services and Director, Engineering & Building Services at SA Health. In 2011, she took up a national role with Schneider Electric Australia and subsequently moved to Sweden in 2016 before ‘boomeranging’ back to Adelaide in 2021.

Irina is now the Associate Director, Business Leader with Stantec and part of her reasoning for moving back to Adelaide was to support her son progress career opportunities in SA’s tech and innovation sectors. We chat to Irina about her journey and why she chose to move to Adelaide not once, but twice.

Professor Simon Lucey is the Director of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, a professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Adelaide and an 'Arrow,' someone who has moved to Adelaide to live and work.

Originally from Queensland, Simon has spent time working as the Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO in Brisbane and as an Associate Research Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute in Pittsburgh, USA. In October 2020, he was lured to Adelaide to set up the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, Australia's first facility dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, computer vision, deep learning and innovation. We chat to Simon about his career to date, his work developing technology for self-driving cars and the opportunity for Adelaide to be a global leader in AI. We also find out what he loves about living in Adelaide, his typical Saturday routine and his favourite Adelaide restaurants, events and regional getaway destinations.

Krish De Silva is the Business Performance & Reporting Manager with Thomas Foods, a family-owned South Australian business that grows, supplies and distributes premium meat and seafood all over the world.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Krish moved to Adelaide in late 2018 and is what we term an 'Arrow,' someone who is originally from overseas and has chosen to relocate to Adelaide to live and work.

With a Bachelor’s degree in HR Management and an Authorised Chartered Accountant, Krish has worked with Thomas Foods since 2019, starting as Financial Accountant before working his way up to his current role.

We chat to Krish about his reasons for moving to Adelaide, how he navigated the VISA and migration system, his role at Thomas Foods and what he loves about living in Adelaide, South Australia.

Federico Bozzano is originally Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy and is what we term an 'Arrow', someone who is from interstate or overseas and has chosen South Australia as their new home. 

Federico originally moved from Italy to Oxford in the United Kingdom before relocating to Australia in 2010 where he has lived in Brisbane, Coolum Beach, Melbourne, Sydney and now Adelaide, where he has lived since October 2023. He is the Brand Ambassador / Sales Executive for Solitaire Automotive Group representing a range of luxury car brands including Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Abarth. He chats to us about why he originally moved to Australia, his impressions of Adelaide so far, his favourite places to dine and explore, and his tips for others considering making the move.

Brooke Bickmore-Bridges is the lovely co-founder and creator of In the Roundhouse, serving up trendy homewares and dinnerware to fashionistas, celebrities and everyday Australians. But Brooke is so much more than this gorgeous lifestyle brand. She is a mum to 3 girls, has had a really interesting career to-date working in publishing and magazines in Sydney and London, and is what we term a 'Boomerang', having grown up in Adelaide, she moved abroad and has now returned. We chat to Brooke about what she loves about being back home, what changed in Adelaide during her time away, her travels around the world while she was working in publishing and the inspiration behind the famous In the Roundhousebrand.

Stuart is a photographer, videographer and digital creator who travels the world taking amazing pictures of sporting events and mega stars, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Stuart spends a lot of time travelling the world but chooses to call Adelaide, SA home. We chat to Stuart about his first impressions of Adelaide, his career in the creative industries, the impact of events like LIV Golf, our world-class golf courses and what he likes to get up to in his spare time when he doesn't have a camera in hand.

Gemma Nelson originally came to South Australia as a backpacker and loved it so much, she ended up staying! 15 years later, Gemma and her young family live in the Adelaide Hills, enjoying the country lifestyle while being within easy reach of the city and beach. With a background in strategic sales, marketing and business development, Gemma has a real passion for developing South Australia as an outstanding tourism and events destination. We chat to her about what she loves about Adelaide, what she thinks should be improved and her favourite places to eat, drink and explore.

While most people choose to relocate to a new city for work, family or lifestyle reasons, it was a Rundle Mall busker that prompted Ryan Williams and his family to call Adelaide home.

Originally from South Africa, Ryan is what we call an 'Arrow' having relocated to Adelaide in 2021. He is an international business executive, strategist, and entrepreneur with two decades of experience in business growth, scaling companies, and managing change across a broad spectrum of start-ups, small and medium companies, and large corporate enterprises.

We chat to Ryan about what he loves about living in Adelaide, including South Australia's business advantages, our great live music scene and beautiful golf courses, as well as his role as Director of the Australian Centre for Business Growth and Playford Chair at the University of South Australia.

Ever since Krystina Hudson made the move to Adelaide she has felt right at home. Originally from the Pilbara in Western Australia, Krystina started as a Trainee at BHP in WA before transferring to SA to further her career and broaden her mining experience. She has quickly moved up the ranks and is now the Surface Logistics Supervisor for BHP, responsible for the movement of copper and other minerals from Olympic Dam to the global market. Krystina chats to us about what it's like working in the mining industry, what she loves about living in Adelaide, her passion for volunteering for major events including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and her very unique way of using Paddle-Pop sticks to experience the best of Adelaide, South Australia.

Patrick Clifton is a born and raised 'Adelaidean' who has had an exciting career to-date, including working in Melbourne with the AFL and in New York City with the NBA. In 2023 Patrick made the decision to return to Adelaide and is now the Chief Operating Officer of the Adelaide 'Crows' Football Club where he leads the clubs finance, facilities, IT, legal, governance and risk functions. We chat to Patrick about his experience working for the AFL and the NBA, what propelled his decision to return to Adelaide, the impact Adelaide Oval has had on the CBD and what he loves about being back in Adelaide including the beach, the hills, Adelaide's events calendar and our great wine and dining scene.

Sanj de Silva has had an interesting and varied career to-date including as the Principal News Anchor for MTV News in Sri Lanka and senior roles with British American Tobacco and Standard Chartered Bank in the UK. At the end of 2019, Sanj and her family made a spontaneous decision to move to South Australia, attracted by Adelaide's convenience, family-friendly culture and vibrancy. Sanj is now the Director of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability with ResourceCo and we chat to her about her passion for sustainability, what she loves about Adelaide, including our famous food and wine, and how she and her family have settled in to their new home.

Joseph John is Senior Economic Development Advisor at the City of Salisbury and is what we term an 'arrow', having recently moved to Adelaide with his wife and young family. Joseph is originally from India and has spent time working in New Zealand and the UK, including as an Associate for Goldman Sachs and as Director for the British High Commission, India. He chats to us about his reasons for moving to Adelaide, how his family navigated the migration and Visa process, how his children are settling in and what he enjoys about his new hometown, including his favourite Biryani and his new love of Vegemite!

In this episode we sit down with Jenna-Belle Smith, Group & Event Manager with Destination Sport Experiences Australia. Jenna-Belle, affectionately known as JB, is a 'boomerang,' having moved to British Columbia in Canada to hit the slopes and work for Big White Ski Resorts. After a few years overseas, JB returned home to further her career in events and tourism, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to bring the world to a standstill. We chat to JB about her travels, her career to date, juggling work with a toddler and why she chooses Adelaide to be her home base.

In this episode we speak with Giosuè Pianciamore, a Careers Advisor with Kaplan Business School. Giosuè is from Malta, a small island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea, and has recently moved to Adelaide in November 2023 with his wife and two young children. He shares with us his reasons for moving to Adelaide, how he has navigated the visa and migration process, his impressions of Adelaide so far, the importance of 'family agreements' and lots of advice for those considering the move to Adelaide, South Australia.

In this episode we chat to the delightful Dr Catherine Grace. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Catherine is a physician, clinical researcher and thought leader in the areas of defence, space, cyber, health, medicine and disruptive technologies. In her role as Director of the South Australian Space Industry Centre, Catherine works closely with government, industry and academia to position South Australia as the undisputed centre of Australia's space industry. She shares with us why she chose to move to Adelaide, what she loves about her new home town and her passion for all things space and SA.

Sam Dighton is CEO of the Committee for Adelaide and is what we term a 'Boomerang' - someone who was originally from South Australian, moved abroad and has now returned. Sam reflects on his time spent overseas, including working as a lawyer, cheesemaker and with the London Office of the Agent General for South Australia. He shares with us his reasons for returning to Adelaide, his experience working as a Director for Renewal SA and Executive for ElectraNet, what he loves about his home state and his priorities for the Committee for Adelaide.

Hasitha Jayatilake wanted a career change and after finding the right course at the University of Adelaide, as well as seeing the state’s migration policy, he made the move to Adelaide. Now a software architect, he found a vibrant community within his field and is working on his own startup. Despite being able to work anywhere in the world, Hasitha chose to stay in South Australia.

International Arrow Brent Gimpel is Director - Digital Transformation and Change at PWC. In this episode, we follow his journey from New Jersey to Adelaide, as he shares what brought him here and what he loves about living in the Adelaide Hills. 

Brent reveals his ideal South Australian weekend - including wineries, pub meals and spending time on his hobbies. 

He also reveals what he thinks about the pace of work in Adelaide and what industries he thinks are key to Adelaide's future.   

In this podcast episode we speak to an international arrow AND boomerang, Parika Verma, Strategic Foresight Officer with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 

Having lived around the world, Parika returned to Adelaide from Melbourne during the covid lockdown and found her dream role, developing policies and tools to shape the future of SA within the South Australian Government. 

Find out what Parika loves most about Adelaide and what her perfect day in the city would look like. 

In this podcast episode we speak to Chris Ball, Director at Tourism Sentiment Index and Andrea Conn, Senior Category Leader at Amazon.

Juggling international tech careers with a love for adventure, Adelaide newcomer Andrea and returnee Chris tell the Adelaide Connected podcast why they now call the city home.

Find out what they love about Adelaide and some of their favourite places to visit, as well as why others should consider making the move. 

In this podcast episode we speak to Daniel Johnston who is the Chief Commercial Officer at the Adelaide Football Club. 

Dan has had a successful career in Australia and Europe as a senior marketing and business leader in the food and sports categories in major organisations including McDonald’s, Burger King, Arsenal Football Club, Goodman Fielder and the Adelaide Football Club. 

Dan talks about beginning his career journey in Sydney then his move to Europe for over a decade. He moved to Adelaide with his wife and newborn child to commence a new chapter, with the Adelaide Football Club, and has not looked back. 

He shares his passion for South Australia and states "I genuinely say it's progressive. From someone who didn’t grow up here, the comments are that we are conservative and don’t really move, but I think of what we do here, and we are really open to opportunity. A lot of the work the government is doing at the moment is saying let’s reset ourselves and be a destination city for the globe and not just Australia.....We, as a state, need to break the shackles and say we are open for business, we do have a flexible mindset and we are progressive in how we can do work"

Listen to hear more about this great podcast, as well as Dan's ideal weekend in Adelaide when not watching a Crows match (AFL). 

In this episode we speak to Nicola Stelfox who is the Senior Consultant - Marketing & Creative Practice Lead at Latitude IT.

Nicola first moved to Sydney when she decided to immigrate to Australia, until her VISA circumstances changed and she had to choose a *regional city to continue living in Australia under her VISA provisions. Nicola chose South Australia, however it was right in the midst of COVID. Her first experience of Adelaide was in quarantine in a hotel, looking out to the city wondering what the first thing she and her partner will do when they are out. 

Nicola shares her honest story about her VISA experience, searching for a rental, her ideal day in South Australia, and her career to date. 

On a fantastic note, since this podcast Nicola has now received her Permanent Residency (PR) status.

*Adelaide is classified as a designated regional area for VISA purposes

In this episode we speak to Nick Haslam, who has recently commenced as Managing Director, Australia at Performance54, the group responsible for the promotion and management of LIV Golf international events and partnerships, including Adelaide, 21-23 April 2023.

Nick talks about his time abroad, working with PwC in London and Sydney. Nick saw an opportunity in the sports industry which saw him move to Melbourne to work with the North Melbourne Football Club and Melbourne Storm. He has recently returned back to Adelaide, and has hit the ground running in his role at Performance 54.

Listen to hear what Nick's ideal weekend looks like in Adelaide - it is jam packed!

Nick's podcast recommendations include Fear and Greed and The Scorecard

#globalboomerang #LIVgolf #LIVAdelaide #events #golf #australia #southaustralia #adelaide#partnerships #media

In this podcast episode we speak to Joe Godsell, Managing Director of TBWA Adelaide and President of Adelaide Advertising and Design Club (AADC).

Joe shares his reasons for his move from the UK to Sydney and the fortuitous opportunity to setup TBWA in Adelaide, working for companies located in Adelaide, such as The University of Adelaide and on behalf of global companies, such as Apple.

When Joe is not busy working and volunteering his time, he enjoys time with his family and his personal passion, sprinting!

To learn more about TBWA clickhere
To learn more AADC click here

In this podcast episode, we speak to Michelle Howie, a global shaper advocate and aspiring sustainable technologist.

Michelle grew up in Adelaide and has family in South Australia dating all the way back to the 1830s. However, while studying engineering here at university, she won one of the federal government’s New Colombo Plan Scholarships and spent 18 months in Korea and Hong Kong. On her return, she was successful in obtain a role, setting up Telstra’s 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast. There were plans to move to Melbourne,  however when COVID hit, she decided to return to Adelaide.

Her latest international role included a 6 month contract with the World Economic Forum in 2022, which convened a diverse group of stakeholders to address the systemic barriers to scaling technology to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development goals.

Michelle is happily back in Adelaide, on a career back, working on her passions which include empowering youth in South Australia to level up her contribution to society and advocating for the sustainable practices we do in our state, such as the plastic bag ban and reducing our net zero emissions.

Michelle is excited for her future here in South Australia, promoting the wonderful place we live and work in.

To listen to the Global Shapers ' Shaping Futures' podcast that Michelle refers to - click here 

In this episode we speak to Dr Susan Stone, who moved to Adelaide in July 2022 to join the University of South Australia in a newly created role, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics.

Susan is an experienced economic analyst and communicator with a keen interest in how things work - especially when trying to juggle competing interests like growth and sustainability. She undertakes research and outreach on issues of importance to South Australians, notably that deal with the economy.

Susan has worked with international organisations, government officials, the business community and academics in countries as diverse as Australia, Bangladesh, China PR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand, USA, and in many EU member States providing advice and support for policy development.

Susan delves into why her husband and her chose Adelaide to live and work in, noting that lifestyle was an important factor for them.  Of all the places they have lived in, Adelaide is highly regarded, and one that they plan to stay in for many years to come. 

Thank you Susan for sharing your passion for this state. 

In this episode, we speak to Arrow Rachel Cotton, who is the General Manager - Commercial (SA/WA) at News Corp. 

Rachel shares her experience of moving from Sydney to Adelaide, with her Boomerang husband, and young family and how she is juggling the work/family balance. 

Rachel comments 'It's been quite the adventure, it hasn't always been smooth sailing, but there have been many highlights. The media industry is very different here to Sydney, but media is starting to thrive here in Adelaide' 

Rachel's passion for her work is evident in this episode. We hear about the perception of the media industry here in Adelaide, and how she seeks to improve this perception. 

We also hear about Rachel's ideal day here in Adelaide which is full of many adventures. 

In this episode, we speak to Arrow Charlie Hodgson about his move to South Australia and his appointment as CEO at the South Australian Cricket Association(SACA).

Prior to his move to Adelaide, Charlie was the interim CEO at the Surrey Cricket Club in the UK, and prior to that, the Commercial Director there. 

Charlie delves into the great elements of living here, such as working at one of the most beautiful ovals in the world and the shorter commute to and from work, which enables him to spend more time with his family. We also hear some of the challenges about moving to a new Country, such as finding property, the adjustment to work life here, and choosing the right school for his children. 

In episode two we speak to Alison Lloydd-Wright, Executive Director, Cabinet Office at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Alison shares her energy and passion for South Australia and the recent campaign her Department has launched to attract 20-40 year olds to South Australia.

We hear from Alison about the research behind the campaign, and why she thinks Adelaide is the place to live and work to grow and build your career.

Alison quotes "I want people to appreciate the experience of living and working in Adelaide. I was one of those people who left and came back.....I still encourage people to go abroad however, you now can have a global career right here in Adelaide".

We love this quote from Alison to round out her three key takeouts from the New State of Mind Campaign, "South Australia is a place for people who want to live with purpose, here you get to work on things that really matter, with a passion and purpose".

Click hereto learn more about the New State of Mind campaign

This Mini Episode (5 mins) is a quick overview to explain what the Adelaide Connected program is, what is a boomerang and an arrow and what we do to connect people with other likeminded individuals once they move here.

For more information please go to:
Adelaide Connected Website
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In this episode, we speak to Tom Rischbeith, a senior commercial leader with international experience across sport, entertainment and media, and engagement with stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

As Head of Commercial and Events at Football Australia, Tom manages all commercial revenues (including broadcast and media rights, sponsorship, licensing, ticketing and new revenue streams) as well as major event operations. In his time at Football Australia, Tom has led and delivered significant new commercial partnerships, including but not limited to Commonwealth Bank, Cupra, rebel, Cadbury, and major media rights relationships with 10 Paramount and The Walt Disney Company. He, alongside an incredibly passionate and dedicated workforce, has also overseen the delivery of live international football matches in Australia post-pandemic. This involved working intimately with government, stadia, footballing federations and other major event stakeholders.
Tom is proud to work for and be supported by an incredible team at Football Australia, which governs the game and is charged with its growth and development in Australia and beyond. He is thrilled that he can do his job, based in South Australia, where he grew up.

Tom joined Football Australia after seven years working in a consultancy in England for clients as diverse as the Rolling Stones, World Surf League, Kelly Slater Wave Company, Williams Racing, The Jockey Club, The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime, South Australian government, Dubai government, Surrey County Cricket Club and a number of sports technology and financing businesses.

Tom is a proud South Australian and co-founded The Mullagh Group while in London, a networking and support group for Australian expats working in the sports industry.

Tom's Podcast recommendations include:
Are you not entertained

Unofficial Partner - world of sports finance 

The Grade Cricketer

Ben Parkinson is the Managing Director of JLL in South Australia and has over 24 years’  experience in the Australian commercial property market.

Ben's experience is rich and diverse; having worked as a specialist Hotel and Leisure Valuer here in Adelaide then establishing a national pub brokerage business in Sydney before leading the Investment Management team at Coles Supermarkets nationally where he over saw a $1.9b retail and development portfolio. Returning back to real estate agency Mr Parkinson sat on the Australian Board of a publicly listed global real estate agency and headed up a national capital markets investment team prior to relocating back to Adelaide in 2020.

In his current role he oversees 138 team members in the South Australian business covering Capital Transactions, Leasing, Valuation, Asset Management, Project Management, Tenant Representation and Finance.  In addition to his local responsibilities he sits on the National Executive Committee for JLL Australia and New Zealand.

Ben's Podcast recommendation is The Motley Fool

Will Littleton is a not-for-profit executive and filmmaker with experience in business administration, fund development, organizational change, and producing. Originally a musician, he completed a Bachelor of Music at the Australian National University before playing in the Adelaide and Canberra Symphony Orchestras. He then studied Conservation and Land Management in Sydney and worked in bush regeneration, water conservation, and arboriculture in Sydney, the UK, and New Zealand.    

In 2012 Will transitioned into the not-for-profit sector, after undertaking a Bachelor of International Development, and also produced his first short film Snakes with writer/director Alies Sluiter. In 2015 he moved to New York City and worked managing the Nutrition and Food Access program at Kingsbridge Heights Community Centre in the Bronx, moving into the Director of Development role in 2016. Whilst in New York, he attended the Columbia University Business School to further develop his leadership, financing and business acumen, but spent his free time at the Columbia Film School producing shorts, reading as many screenplays as possible and sitting in on directing and screenwriting classes. 

To date, he has produced nine short films and executive produced, script edited and/or production managed on over 20 more. Most notably, his film Ayaan, is Academy Award Qualified®, and has been selected for over twenty festivals and won multiple awards. In 2021, Will produced Myth, commissioned by Gravity and Other Myths, which won 5 2021 SASA awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and Best Director, and will begin its festival run in 2022. 

Currently, Will is the Chief Social Investment Officer at Community Centres SA where he is working to diversify their funding, build strategic partnerships, and build the sectors capacity around fund development. He is also producing another short film, Boy on Fire funded by Mercury CX and the SAFC, and is developing afeature script as part of the 2022 SAFC Film Lab: New Voices Initiative, both in collaboration with Alies Sluiter.

Will's Podcast/YouTube recommendations are:
Sisters of invention
Principle of Charity – Emile Sherman, Lloyd Vogelman

In this episode we talk to Di Dixon, State Lead at Lot Fourteen about her move to South Australia, and her vision for the Innovation Precinct.

Di leads the development, delivery, governance, curation and operations of the 7ha ideas, innovation and cultural precinct in Adelaide’s CBD on behalf of the Government of SA. This involves overarching project management, development of governance and operating models, effective high level stakeholder engagement, strategy development and delivery in areas including investment and business attraction, technology and security planning, public art and marketing & communications, program curation of supportive activities and leading delivery of over $720m of key pieces of infrastructure including a flagship Entrepreneur & Innovation Centre, Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre and an International Centre for Food, Hospitality and Tourism Studies as part of the Adelaide City Deal.

Prior to this Di held a leadership role to drive the City of Gold Coast's economic agenda and a range of strategic projects including the development and delivery of the city’s Economic Development Strategy and projects including the city's international and precinct economic and innovation zone plans and projects.

She also led the Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) Precinct Delivery Team focused on identifying business, research and investment attraction opportunities on behalf of City of Gold Coast, Griffith University, Gold Coast Health and the Queensland Government.

This included delivering the targeted global investment attraction strategy and leading the initiation and outcome focused establishment of international investor, industry and development partnerships alongside global clinical and research collaborations to drive end user targeted facilities to create a world class knowledge hub driving employment, investment and economic outcomes.

Diane states "Lot Fourteen is part of a broader ecosystem , the state of SA has a really strong narrative to share with the world around its innovation ecosystem and its other hubs. We are also trying to work really closely with our other innovation district partners and focus on how we use the growth and attraction of having such a special precinct which are located so close to the CBD."

Di's book recommendation is Women in Leadership – Julia Gillard

Di's podcast recommendation is Bit of Optimism -  Simon Sinek

In this episode we speak to Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge,  both boomerangs, who came together to createIlluminate Adelaide. Shining a light on South Australia for the month of July, Illuminate Adelaide welcomes people from all walks of life to experience a program of free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists and companies.

Over a 25-year career in the arts, there isn’t much Rachael Azzopardi hasn’t done. From steering the musical spread of Barrie Kosky’s legendary 1996 Adelaide Festival program to overseeing the casting of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She has travelled around the world to work with the industry’s biggest names across virtually every form and market, from Hong Kong to Broadway.

After many years spent living and working away most recently in senior roles at Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Festival and Chunky Move, Rachael returned to her hometown with a purpose.

She saw incredible things happening across the state’s arts and technology sectors, and felt moved to break down old silos and expectations to give Adelaide something it had never experienced before; something accessible, immersive, city-wide. Something new.

Rachael has put her depth of knowledge and experience to work exploring unchartered territory to bring Illuminate Adelaide to life together with Co- Founder and Creative DirectorLee Cumberlidge.

After cutting his teeth with WOMADelaide and Arts Projects Australia, Lee spent the next ten years as a producer bringing major international artists and experimental independent works alike to audiences around the world as well as staging large scale arts events such as the Cultural Festival of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the World Theatre Festival in Brisbane.

In 2008 Lee and the company he co-founded,Insite Arts, were called upon by Brian Ritchieand David Walsh to bring a bold, untested vision of Hobart and Tasmania to life. More than a festival, Mona Foma became a Helpmann-winning experiment in reinvention, transforming the southern capital into an international arts destination.

In 2017, Lee returned to Adelaide, where his passion for working with artists and creating new experiences for audiences found new inspiration.

Lee produced the Adelaide iteration of the highly acclaimed experimental music festival Unsoundin Adelaide in 2017 and 2018 before rejoiningArts Projects Australia as a co-director to produce tours of international work. Most recently Lee has teamed up with Rachael Azzopardi to create Illuminate Adelaide; a new, city-wide winter event focused on art, light, music and technology.

Kieran McCann is an international arrow, who's  purpose and passion is creating engaging content that links to great conversations that drives revenue and relationship building opportunities. He follows that purpose and passion by overseeing Lumination’s marketing and communications strategy; sparking growth, electrifying the brand and igniting their presence.

Kieran’s loves connecting people with Lumination’s company’s brand narrative and has built a reputation over his international career as a trusted strategic comms and marketing advisor, brand builder and storyteller.

Prior to moving to South Australia, Kieran has worked in Sydney, and New Zealand, and grew up in the UK.

Kieran states " When I talk about Adelaide to friends and family, I call it the engine room of Australia. I feel that is what what Adelaide represents and what we are creating across multiple industries here.  The talent that exists here and what we are attracting to Adelaide is immense"

Kieran's book recommendation is Radical Candor

More about Lumination is here
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In this podcast, we speak to international arrow, Kirsten Bernhardt who is a venture capital investor with Artesian, an early stage VC Fund which manages the South Australian Venture Capital Fund.  

Kirsten has a passion for high growth technology startups, and is a strong advocate for supporting women in technology and finance.  Prior to joining Artesian, Kirsten spent time in San Francisco, working as an operator in strategic finance for a venture backed SaaS company. She also worked in technology banking, advising a portfolio of software, ecommerce, and online gaming clients on debt transactions up to $2bn.  Before moving to the US, Kirsten worked in technology commercialisation for the University of Adelaide, and Corporate Finance with Big 4 firms KPMG and EY.

Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide, and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kirsten's reading recommendation was Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

In this episode we speak to James Kitching, an international boomerang who has returned to Adelaide to raise his family and consult worldwide, advising the global sports industry on regulation, governance, integrity, and strategy matters.

He is an experienced senior international sports administrator, specialising in sports regulation and governance, with an expertise in football.

James was previously Director of Football Regulatory at FIFA where he managed a multinational and multidisciplinary subdivision with 5 departments and approximately 60 staff, which oversaw all aspects of the FIFA football regulatory framework. Among other matters, James was directly responsible for the implementation of 2 key projects aligned with the FIFA Vision 2020-23: the FIFA Clearing House, and the regulation of football agents.

In addition, his role encompassed oversight of all operational aspects of the football transfer system (e.g. enforcement of rules, assessment of applications, dispute resolution, regulatory policy), relations with professional football stakeholders, assisting the public affairs team in relations with international institutions, eligibility to participate for national teams, and implementation of FIFA governance standards in associations.

Prior to joining FIFA, James was the founder and managing director of a multinational consultancy specialising in sports regulation and governance. With offices and clients spread across Asia and Oceania, Kitching Sports serviced governments (national and regional), sports federations (international, continental, national and regional), leagues, clubs, players, and coaches.

James also spent 5 years at the Asian Football Confederation as Head of Sports Legal Services, where he helped modernise the sports and corporate regulatory framework, bidding processes for Asian competitions, and acted as secretariat to the AFC judicial bodies.

James is a regular lecturer and speaker at conferences, postgraduate and undergraduate courses, and webinars. James sits on several international and national sports tribunals.

Here are some recent articles on James since his return to Adelaide:
https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/item/sports-lawyer-in-the-spotlight-james-kitching

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/james-kitching-sets-up-new-sports-consulting-firm-after-twoyear-stint-with-fifa/news-story/9c859c8521158f715274b5ba3fb3f7ab

James' podcast recommendations include sports governance podcasts: 
- Price of Football - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-price-of-football/id1482886394
- Sports Unlocked - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sport-unlocked/id1550459674 

In this episode we speak with Katherine Cobb,  who is a Partner at PwC Adelaide, leading Governance, Risk & Compliance in the Assurance business, with a focus on Financial Services and Health. 

Most recently Katherine has been leading the Go-To-Market activities for PwC's Connected Solutions practice in the United States, where she would collaborate with senior stakeholders within organisations to build, manage and maintain a range of innovative and emerging technology solutions to solve risk and regulatory issues. From contract tracing devices for financial services and law firms during COVID, to employee rapid response buttons in hotels and casino resorts, to asset tracking/Real Time Location Services (RTLS) in hospitals – Katherine thrives in the intersection of risk and tech.

Previously Katherine advised on Internet of Things (IoT) implementations, change management, program implementation and evolving risk and regulatory issues. My passion for Risk and Regulatory Consulting was driven by her role as Chief of Staff to the US Risk & Regulatory Consulting Leader where she supported the Strategy, Operations and Go To Market approach of this practice.

Her dynamic experience across both the Australian and United States market, having worked at PwC in Perth, San Jose, New York, Washington DC and now in Adelaide has exposed her to various multi-faceted products, challenges and cultures which led to discovering multiple insights and creating new technology-forward solutions.

Katherine's book recommendation is the5am Club and her podcast recommendation is The Daily by the New York Times

Find out More about the PwC Skilled Service Hub here 

In this episode we speak to Nick Dunstone who is the co-founder of Light.

Nick returned to Adelaide in 2018 with his partner Sophie and their four children after 20 years abroad.

Nick is a lawyer and corporate restructuring professional. He has been a partner of 2 leading international law firms, and for the last 10 years has been a partner in an investment fund based in Hong Kong that specialises in corporate restructuring. The international travel embargo resulting from Covid meant that Nick and Sophie were able to focus on a new creative philanthropic opportunity in South Australia that is transformative to Australia’s performing arts culture which will pave the way for emerging creatives to engage with a new performance canvas.

Nick and Sophie have directed significant capital to establish Light Cultural Foundation to provide artists and tech creatives with the opportunity to harness immersive technologies to connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways. To house Light’s cultural and hospitality activities, they purchased and restored a four-storey heritage building at Light Square in the Adelaide CBD in July 2020. 

In 2021 Nick and Sophie were awarded the Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award presented by Creative Partnership Australia.

Light Social Channels
https://www.instagram.com/light_adl/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-adl/
https://www.facebook.com/lightadl

In this podcast we speak to Arrow Dr Jessica Gallagher, who recently moved to Adelaide in late 2021 to join University of Adelaide as the inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement). 

Jessica oversees a diverse engagement portfolio, with a focus on contributing to the growth and sustainability of the University through leadership of strategic partnerships, recruitment, community outreach and internationalisation initiatives. She is responsible for leading the strategy and delivery of the University’s key services in domestic and international student recruitment, global engagement, alumni relations and philanthropy, and industry and government relations. 

Jessica has significant senior management experience, previously serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship) at The University of Queensland. She has managed teams across multiple countries to establish and execute innovative global strategies that have fostered high performing partnerships. With extensive experience in business development and strategic partner engagement initiatives, Jessica is highly regarded for her global outlook and community mindset, working to better serve the University and its stakeholders through diverse engagement initiatives across private, public and academic sectors. 

Jessica makes some great insights into her time so far in Adelaide and quotes ‘You can study and have a great experience here in Adelaide, which leads to fantastic job opportunities here, we need more people to talk to that’.

Jessica is enjoying the open green spaces and flat running surfaces around the city and her family are very much embracing Adelaide. 

Jessica's podcast suggestion 'One's own with Julia Gillard'  is here https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-podcast-of-ones-own-with-julia-gillard/id1466658814

Mathieu Smeysters is a Belgian national and has been in Australia since 2017, and Adelaide since 2020. He is the owner of Smeysters Wine Consulting and currently the fine wine manager and head wine buyer at East End Cellars.

Mathieu's background encompasses General Management with 12+ years of experience working within the hospitality industry. He has worked at diverse venues over his career ranging from Michelin star establishments to casual eateries.

He is highly skilled in Food & Beverage, Restaurant Management, Operations Management, Wine Business and Import & Export.

Mathieu holds a Degree in Business Management as well as diverse wine accreditations from the wine university of Suze-La-Rousse in France, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and the Court of Master Sommeliers. Multilingual.

Mathieu quotes in this podcast "When I talk to people overseas, or interstate.... I mention that if you are a little bit entrepreneurial, in Adelaide , you will probably make it because there is so much opportunity here, and that is a way to attract people here"

In this podcast we speak to powerhouse CEO, Flavia Tata Nardini about her move to South Australia and her startup journey.

As co-founder and CEO of one of Australia’s most exciting space startups,Fleet Space Technologies, Flavia Tata Nardini and her team are preparing to launch 140 nanosatellites into space by 2027, which Fleet will use to ‘connect billions of sensors to track and change industries and ecologies across the globe'. A real-life rocket scientist, former propulsion test engineer at the European Space Agency, Project Manager at TNO and holder of two patents, Flavia has worked across a broad range of innovative space projects, from micropropulsion systems for CubeSats to space debris removal systems, experience that directly informs Fleet’s rapid progress towards their goal, having recently launched their sixth nanosatellite, and second this year. She has recently added Mission Chair of the Seven Sisters Moon Mission to her long list of achievements, Australia’s mission of discovery for Earth, the Moon and Mars.

This is a podcast not to be missed!

Links to Fleet Space socials:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fleet.space/ 
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fleetspace
LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fleet-space-technologies/

Recent Article: Fleet Space Technologies joins NASA's Artemis mission

This podcast takes us on a journey of Fiona Caulfield's career spanning over 25 years in global branding and innovation experience at the elite level. She specializes in ideas, branding, creativity and futurism. Fiona has extensive global experience as a branding and innovation specialist whose career has spanned Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, in roles such as President of BrainReserve (Faith Popcorn's consulting firm), Director of Innovation for FutureBrand in New York and Senior Partner and Executive Group Director at Ogilvy New York leading the IBM Server, Business Partner and Small Business verticals globally.  Prior to moving to the USA in 1999, Fiona was the Client Service Director for DDB Needham Sydney, one of Australia’s largest and most creative advertising agencies. She specializes in ideas, branding, creativity,futurism and continues to work in conjunction with New York consulting firms and works directly with some Fortune 500 companies.

Fiona's passion for travel and authentic experiences led Caulfield to an opportunity to create the Love Travel brand and creating the first luxury guides for India. The Love Travel Guides which are now acclaimed as the standard bearer in guides and ranked by Vanity Fair UK as one of the top three guides in the world. Fiona participates in Literature Festivals and has chaired sessions and participated in panels in Adelaide, Singapore, Bangalore and Ubud, Bali. Love Jaipur, Rajasthan was launched and went on to become the best-selling book at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Asia’s leading literature event.  

As well as being the founder and CEO of Love Travel Guides, Fiona writes for leading international titles. She is a contributor to Conde Nast Travellers Hot List and Gold list annually reviewing the best hotels in the world. Fiona has consulted to the Discovery Channel on a new travel TV series, the channel broadcasts to over 133 million households in 20 countries across Asia Pacific.  Fiona is on the judging panel for India’s Top Fifty Restaurants and also was profiled by Vogue India in their “Home and Away” feature as one of the expatriates who is integral to modern India. Fiona has a significant following on social media with over 23,000 actively engaged followers on Instagram.

In 2014 Fiona began creating extraordinary travel experiences for discerning private clients.  Fiona offers a ‘Made in India’ sourcing service to businesses and entrepreneurs looking to work with Indian artisans. More recently Fiona has expanded her travel design services to Sri Lanka, Bhutan and her home country, Australia. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic Fiona has been “parked” in her hometown of Adelaide.  She is a storyteller who believes that falling in love with a place is just as exciting as falling in love with a person. Through her travel writing, she has shared myriad stories of India. As of October 2021, through her carefully curated collection of Indian objects presented through Love India Home, she gives here audience the chance to bring those stories into your home. 

Fiona is a pioneer of both Conscious Travel and Conscious Shopping.

Contact:

Australia +61 424 252 022 

Fiona@lovetravelguides.com

https://lovetravelguides.com/

https://www.instagram.com/loveindia_travel/

https://loveindiahome.com/

https://www.instagram.com/loveindia_home/

Adelaide Connected Podcast Episode #10

We speak to Arrow, Oli Madgett of Platfarm, who is one of the founders of  Adelaide-based AgTech company that is leading the way in spatial tracking to enable all farmers to carry out work on their land with precision, all from your smart device.

Oli Madgett became a grower in McLaren Vale in 2015, after having previously co-founded WeR Interactive, an award-winning social games company based in London, UK. He runs the Adelaide AgTech Meetup, which brings together a community of more than 1,400 developers, farmers and entrepreneurs interested in the agricultural technology space. 

Here’s a video of what Platfarm are working on to make any tractor smarter, simply using everyday smart phones https://vimeo.com/502309769

Platfarm Socials:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platfarmagtech/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/platfarmagtech/

https://www.facebook.com/TheMadgettsBlock/ (Oli's vineyard in McLaren Vale)

In this podcast we speak to Thomas Mitchell of BiomeBank, an Adelaide-based company that is a global pioneer in an exciting new area of health science – microbial therapies.  Their mission is to produce therapies to treat and prevent various diseases – from digestive health issues to Parkinson’s – by replenishing the tiny microbes in your gut which are so important to your health and wellbeing.   

Thomas Mitchell is a global biotech executive with significant experience in both discovery and development of microbiome drug products. Previously, he occupied leadership positions at both Finch Therapeutics and Microbiotica, key microbiome biotech companies in Boston USA and Cambridge UK. Thomas has managed a portfolio of assets in multiple indications – IBD, oncology, infectious disease, and neurodevelopment. This also involved leading an IBD biomarker discovery program valued at $534m. Notably, Thomas managed some of the first drug development programs for microbial therapies resulting in positive readouts in phased clinical trials; a milestone for the microbiome field.

What is the microbiome?
The microbiome is the complex community of organisms in your gut which play a role in maintaining our health. This complex community has a 100-fold increase on genetic expression complexity compared with the human genome and is considered a malleable organ in human health. In modern society there has been significant loss of gut microbial species which carry function important for human health. This loss in function has led to an increase in chronic disease.

Social Channels
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomebank/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_biomebank/ 

Alys Daroy is the Artistic Director of Shakespeare South Australia, the State’s only dedicated Shakespeare company. Adelaide-born Alys has over 15 years experience in the UK, Europe and Australia in Shakespearean performance and research, including for Shakespeare’s Globe and the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival.

She is currently co-authoring a book with Professor Paul Prescott (Merced, California) titled ’Shakespeare, Ecology, Adaptation’ for Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare and completing her PhD in Shakespeare and Ecology at Monash and Warwick Universities.

Alys’s performance research investigates the intersections of environmental sustainability, biophilic design and Shakespearean theatre.

We enjoyed talking all things South Australia with Alys and her perception of South Australia now compared to what it was like when she lived her over 15 years ago. 

Tickets are available for Shakespeare South Australia’s upcoming production of Twelfth Night at Carrick Hill January 4-8 2022 at: https://events.humanitix.com/twelfth-night-g2eo2yby . 

Instagram: @shakespearesouthaustralia

Facebook: @ShakespeareSouthAustralia

Website: www.shakespearesouthaustralia.com

For more than 25 years, Craighas lived at the intersection of community and technology and explored the opportunities to connect people through innovative, interactive and intimate experiences. As part of his award-winning music technology, Looplabs, he’s built multiple online communities in the millions and Offline, Craig co-launched and curated FITC, Canada’s largest design and technology event as well as created and hosted technology unconferences in North America and Europe.

Since arriving in Adelaide Craig has helped turn around _SOUTHSTART , a struggling local startup event, into the nation’s leading innovation festival hosting technology, impact and investment leaders from across the country and beyond. As a long-time TEDster Craig also organised Adelaide’s first TEDx youth event at Scotch College.

Craig believes in prototyping the future and that if it’s not fun, exciting or affecting lives it’s not worth doing.

We enjoyed this podcast session with Craig to learn why he chose South Australia to live and work

#adelaideconnected #ichoosesa #liveinadelaide #workinadelaide #_southstart

Jodi moved to Adelaide in September 2019 from Sydney where she had been working at QT Sydney. Prior to this, Jodi worked in the Hotel Industry across Australia for the past 12 years across Albury Wodonga, Perth and Melbourne after studying in Canberra. In her younger years, Jodi lived overseas for most of her schooling as her father was the Consul General in the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Vienna and Hanoi.  
 
Jodi has lived across many countries and cities throughout her life and how important her experience abroad has led to her dream role right here in Adelaide.  

For more information about Eos by SkyCity click here Eos by SkyCity - Adelaide Hotel - SkyCity Adelaide 

We talk with Tyson Gundersen and Adam Morgan, both arrows and entrepreneurs who have worked all over the world, who have now chosen South Australia as a place to live and work in the start-up space. 

Melanie MacGillivray is the Brand Partnership Manager for Sweat based out of Adelaide, Australia.  Sweat is subscription fitness app and digital platform, empowering the world’s largest female fitness community.

Melanie re-located to South Australia from the United States last April with her husband and young daughter.  Prior to moving to South Australia, Melanie had an extensive career within the sports industry, specifically soccer.  While living in New York City, she worked for the US professional soccer league Major League Soccer (MLS) where she oversaw business operations and marketing for major international soccer events staged in major markets across the US.  From that role, she transitioned to leading global distribution of media rights for the League for all markets outside of the US and Canada.  

Following her stint at MLS, Melanie was appointed Head of Americas for Bundesliga International which serves as the media / marketing arm for the Bundesliga (Germany’s top professional soccer league) in international priority markets.  In this role, she led business operations, commercial and marketing strategy fort the League across the Americas.  

While Melanie is still fairly new to South Australia, she has already adopted a love for its beautiful food and wine culture, secluded beaches and comfortable city living.  She is enjoying the slower pace of life in regional South Australia, as she resides full-time in the Barossa with her family and enjoying a flexible work arrangement. 

Global networking expert  Serafina Maiorano discusses why we should harness the input of skilled migrants here in South Australia.  

Serafina works globally, and has played pioneering leadership roles in international organizations. Her unique skill set and diverse experiences as a global CEO, network builder, cultural intelligence leader, advisor and strategist have been applied in business, creative, community, impact and political arenas around the world.

Whether managing global membership organization of 50,000 leaders, innovators and change makers while based in New York; overseeing programs to help start ups scale globally, working with teams to provide the training and development plans for 45,000 personnel hosting the Asian Games; growing a business or impact enterprise in the Middle East and beyond; developing mentoring programs for government leaders and university students; to advocating and marketing Australian arts and cultural initiatives to the world. Serafina is able to see both the fine detail and the big picture. She has an extended network of friends and associates from all corners of the globe, and insightful knowledge of numerous world cultures, geography and politics that can only be learned by being there. Serafina is dedicated to high standards of performance and integrity.

Awarded the 'Top 100 Women of Influence' by the Australian Financial Review in 2012, her passion for a better world has focused on positive, systematic transformational growth.

Serafina's consulting firm, Our Global Table, has a website https://ourglobaltable.net 

Ben Mellows is the founder and owner of Polka https://www.polkadrops.com.au – which are an alternative to alcoholic drinks. He makes de-alc sparkling wine, and de-alc pale ale beer, made right here in South Australia – working with winemakers and brewers to make the perfect non-alcoholic option.  Ben also owns Frank Simple https://www.franksimple.com.au – a practical range of supplements that fit within your lifestyle using the best possible products and ingredients; think apple cider gummies, collagen beauty boost powder, plant protein powder, made here in Australia.

Ben is originally from Adelaide and lived in Sydney for over a decade. He has recently returned to grow his businesses right here in South Australia.