Positions

/ Lead a Defining Regulatory Reset

/ Shape the Investment Case for a Multi-Billion Dollar Work Program

/ Navigate Complex Regulation to Deliver Strategic Business Outcomes

This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of an essential South Australian organisation and lead a regulatory program of national significance. With strong executive support, you will shape the investment framework that underpins SAPN’s next chapter and the state’s transition to a more distributed, electrified energy future.

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SA Power Networks (SAPN) is a leader in South Australia’s energy industry, responsible for delivering electricity to over 1.7 million customers as the state’s sole electricity distributor. It’s about more than simply keeping the power on – SAPN is an innovator, focused on connecting South Australians to a better energy future, today. With a workforce of over 2,900, the business is investing in an increasingly critical network as electrification, distributed energy, batteries and electric vehicles reshape the way energy is generated, shared and consumed. The regulation function plays a central role in enabling confident investment, delivering value for customers and supporting South Australia’s energy transition.

As Head of Regulation, you will lead one of SAPN’s most strategically important programs - the development and delivery of its 2030–35 regulatory proposal. With the submission to the Australian Energy Regulator due in January 2029, you will shape the case for a multi-billion-dollar revenue requirement to support network renewal, reliability and the investment needed for South Australia’s changing energy system. Working across the organisation, you will bring together investment plans, business cases, regulatory strategy, economic and financial modelling, tariffs and pricing and customer and stakeholder engagement evidence into a compelling, integrated proposal. Beyond the regulatory reset, you will lead SAPN’s regulatory strategy, relationships, compliance obligations and reporting, and contribute to advocacy efforts, positioning regulation as a strategic enabler of the organisation’s long-term ambitions.

You are a highly credible electricity regulation leader with deep knowledge of the National Electricity Law, National Electricity Rules and relevant state legislation and codes. You understand regulatory price determination processes and inputs, regulatory financial constructs, tariffs and pricing and have led or held significant accountability for a regulation function. Strategic and commercially minded, you can connect complex regulatory settings to enterprise priorities and translate technical issues into clear choices and action. You are an influential communicator with the executive presence to engage Boards, executives, the AER, government, customers and industry stakeholders. Just as importantly, you are an empowering leader who can bring together a diverse team, build organisational capability and help the business find a way through complex regulatory matters.

This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of an essential South Australian organisation and lead a regulatory program of national significance. With strong executive support, you will shape the investment framework that underpins SAPN’s next chapter and the state’s transition to a more distributed, electrified energy future.

Applications should be forwarded to the attention of Julie Bennett in Word format. Confidential enquiries are welcome to Julie at Underwood Executive on (08) 8214 8020.

/ Senior Media & Communications Leadership Opportunity

/ Reputation, Issues Management & Strategic Communications  

/ High-Profile National Organisation

A rare opportunity to take on a highly visible and influential communications leadership role within a significant Australian organisation. Working closely with senior decision-makers, you will have the opportunity to shape corporate narrative and reputation and lead a broad communications agenda across Australian and international markets.

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A large and established Australian organisation with a significant national presence and international operations is seeking an accomplished media and communications leader to lead its media and communications team. Operating at considerable scale, the organisation has a strong profile and engages with a diverse range of stakeholders, markets and communities. This is an opportunity to shape its media and communications strategy, strengthen corporate reputation and work closely with the CEO and executive team.

Reporting to a senior executive and working closely with the CEO and broader executive team, the Senior Manager, Media & Communications will lead the organisation’s media, external and internal communications agenda. The role will provide strategic leadership across corporate communications, reputation and issues management, proactive and responsive media engagement, executive communications and internal communications. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping translate organisational strategy and complex issues into clear and compelling narratives for a range of internal and external audiences.

Leading a small, experienced team, you will set the strategic direction for the function while remaining comfortable working hands-on when required. You will manage key Australian media relationships, navigate sensitive and high-profile issues, support senior executives with media and external engagements and develop and oversee speeches public profiling and presentation, thought leadership and other strategic communications. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will ensure communications are timely, consistent and aligned, while identifying opportunities to strengthen organisational profile and reputation. The role also has direct responsibility for proactive issues management and providing communications capability during crisis situations.

A seasoned media and communications leader, you will bring significant experience across media relations and broader corporate communications within a large and complex organisation. You will have a demonstrated track record in issues and reputation management, strong established relationships across the Australian media landscape and exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Credible and confident operating at CEO and executive level, you will combine strategic thinking with the ability to execute at pace and bring the judgement, resilience and commercial pragmatism required to operate effectively in a highly visible role. Strong people leadership capability will be equally important, together with the ability to coach and develop a high-performing team.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a highly visible and influential communications leadership role within a significant Australian organisation. Working closely with senior decision-makers, you will have the opportunity to shape corporate narrative and reputation and lead a broad communications agenda across Australian and international markets.

Applications should be forwarded to the attention of Julie Bennett in Word format. Confidential enquiries are welcome to Julie Bennett on 0431 742 034.

/ Build & Lead a High-Performing Commercial Function

/ Shape Strategic Growth Across Major Energy & Infrastructure Opportunities

/ Drive Commercial Capability, Influence & Enterprise-Wide Change

This is a significant opportunity to build commercial capability within one of South Australia's most important infrastructure organisations.

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ElectraNet is South Australia’s electricity transmission network provider, delivering the critical infrastructure that powers the State and connects customers, communities and major industry to the transmission network. As the energy and infrastructure landscape evolves, significant growth is emerging across mining, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure and large-scale data centre development. Increasing market contestability and more sophisticated customer expectations are also creating the need for new commercial models, stronger customer partnerships and a more agile approach to major opportunities.

Reporting to the Executive Strategy, the Head of Business Development will lead a multi-disciplinary team spanning business development, commercial analysis, governance and customer management. This is not a traditional sales-led business development role. It is a senior commercial leadership opportunity focused on building the function, strengthening capability and shaping how ElectraNet identifies, structures and delivers complex commercial opportunities. You will work collaboratively to develop commercially sound solutions, evaluate risk, influence operating models and ensure customer commitments align with organisational capability. Equally important will be your leadership of the team including establishing clear standards, developing capability and creating a high-performing function.

A commercially astute and strategic leader, you will bring experience in complex, capital-intensive environments such as energy, utilities, infrastructure, renewables or major project development. You will understand commercial structuring, project economics and risk allocation, with the ability to translate complex opportunities into practical commercial outcomes. Your track record will demonstrate more than business development success; you will have built teams, developed capability and influenced significant commercial or strategic decisions. Quietly confident, credible and collaborative, you will know how to challenge thinking and drive change while bringing people with you.

This is a significant opportunity to build commercial capability within one of South Australia’s most important infrastructure organisations and influence some of the State’s largest future energy and infrastructure opportunities.

Applications should be forwarded to the attention of Julie Bennett in Word format. Confidential enquiries are welcome to consulting team on (08) 8214 8020.

/ Shape the Future of Data, AI & Commercial Innovation

/ Newly Created Executive Leadership Role

/ Drive Enterprise-Wide Data Governance, Commercialisation & AI Adoption

A rare opportunity with significant scope to define the function and shape how data and AI create value across a tech focused organisation.

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Land Services SA, together with Land Services WA, forms a leading property services group providing property information, valuation, technology and transaction services across multiple jurisdictions. Employing more than 250 people across South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, the Group delivers trusted solutions to government, financial and insurance institutions, legal professionals and the real estate sector. Recent acquisitions have further strengthened the Group's technology consulting, application development and managed services capability.

Reporting to the CEO and joining the Executive Leadership Team, the Group Chief Data Officer is a newly created role established to lead the organisation’s enterprise-wide data and AI agenda. Holding accountability for data governance, analytics, data platforms, AI strategy and data commercialisation, you will evolve the Group’s data and AI strategy while fostering a data-driven culture across the organisation. A key initial priority will be leading responsible AI adoption, establishing governance frameworks, standards and guardrails that balance innovation with risk management. Working closely with the Chief Information Officer and Chief Product Officer, this role sits at the intersection of technology, commercialisation and enterprise transformation, helping shape how data and AI drive growth, productivity, customer outcomes and future revenue opportunities, while identifying new ways to commercialise data assets and create value across the business.

A commercially astute and influential executive, you will bring deep expertise in enterprise data leadership, governance, analytics and AI. You will have a proven track record leading large-scale data functions, driving enterprise-wide transformation and unlocking measurable business value through data and technology. Experience commercialising data assets, building executive and Board confidence and navigating complex stakeholder environments will be highly regarded. Equally important is your ability to balance strategic vision with operational delivery, translate complex concepts into practical outcomes and build high-performing teams. You are a collaborative leader with strong commercial judgement and intellectual credibility, with the confidence to champion innovation and growth opportunities while maintaining disciplined governance and risk management. 

This is a rare opportunity with significant scope to define the function and shape how data and AI create value across a tech focused organisation.

Applications should be forwarded to the attention of Julie Bennett in Word format. Confidential enquiries are welcome to our consulting team on 08 8214 8020.

/ Lead Significant Executive and Leadership Appointments

/ Advise Boards, CEOs and Executive Leadership Teams

/ Join a Highly Regarded, Relationship-Led Consulting Firm

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative and ambitious firm where quality, relationships and reputation matter. You will be rewarded with attractive remuneration, performance incentives, flexibility and the opportunity to build a significant long-term career in executive search.

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Underwood Executive is a specialist executive search and leadership advisory firm with an established reputation for appointing CEOs, C-suite executives and senior leaders across South Australia. Our success has been built on deep market knowledge, rigorous search and, most importantly, trusted relationships with clients and candidates developed over many years.

We are seeking an experienced executive search consultant or senior talent acquisition professional to join our consulting team and take ownership of a diverse portfolio of executive appointments.

Working in partnership with Boards, CEOs, Directors and executive leadership teams, you will lead assignments from the initial client discussion through to appointment. You will take the time to understand each organisation, its strategy, culture and leadership requirements, shaping an approach that reflects both the immediate brief and the broader context in which the executive will operate.

This is a hands-on consulting role requiring strong judgement, disciplined project delivery and the confidence to provide clear advice. You will lead client briefings, guide research and market-mapping activity, engage senior executives, assess leadership capability and present considered recommendations. Throughout each assignment, you will manage relationships with professionalism, care and discretion, ensuring clients and candidates feel well informed and respected.

You may already be working within executive search, leading complex assignments and advising senior clients. Alternatively, you may be an accomplished internal talent acquisition professional with experience managing executive and critical leadership appointments within a complex corporate environment. In either case, you will understand how to identify and engage senior people who are rarely active in the market, navigate sensitive appointments and assess capability beyond the résumé.

For someone moving from internal talent acquisition, this opportunity offers the chance to apply your executive recruitment experience across a broader range of organisations, industries and leadership challenges. You will need to enjoy building new relationships, adapting quickly to different organisational contexts and taking a visible, advisory role with clients.

You will bring credibility, commercial judgement and a strong understanding of contemporary search and talent acquisition practices. Equally important will be your curiosity, ability to read people and confidence forming and communicating a considered view. You will value long-term relationships and understand that successful search is not simply about filling a vacancy, but achieving the right leadership outcome for the organisation. 

At Underwood Executive, you will have the autonomy to lead your own assignments while being supported by an experienced consulting and research team, established systems and a disciplined search process. As a specialist, owner-led firm, we offer direct access to decision-making, meaningful involvement in the business and the opportunity to work closely with some of South Australia’s most respected organisations and leaders.

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative and ambitious firm where quality, relationships and reputation matter. You will be rewarded with attractive remuneration, performance incentives, flexibility and the opportunity to build a significant long-term career in executive search.

Applications should be submitted in Word format to the attention of Nicole Underwood. Confidential enquiries are welcome on (08) 8214 8020.