Committee
Ashley Tippins
Chair
Ashley is a skilled project manager, event manager and marketer who runs her own business, Semaphore Public Relations. She is also the driving force behind the successful Semaphore Business Association. Ashley has a diverse career background including media, policy and governance. Ashley was the recipient of Mainstreet SA's Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2017 Mainstreet SA Awards.
Akarra Klingberg
Vice Chair
Akarra is the Coordinator of Business & Economic Development at the City of Unley with a background in the tourism industry before making the move to Local Government. Working closely with the Unley business community on economic development initiatives, she is also passionate about working with the four mainstreet trader associations and seeing their ideas come to life and precincts prosper.
Jesse Papargiris
Treasurer
Jesse is a Senior Business Advisor at Sims Richmond Chartered Accountants. Born and raised in Stirling, Jesse moved to Port Lincoln and Mildura before returning to Adelaide to study at Uni SA University where he gained his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Commercial Law. After completing university Jesse decided to stay and pursue his career in Adelaide as he and his wife enjoyed the lifestyle and opportunities it offered. With over 12 years experience in the accounting profession, Jesse enjoys using his specialist skills and knowledge to assist small to large businesses in their day to day management and providing a dynamic external force for growth and change. Jesse is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Adam Mrotek
Committee Member
Adam is passionate about supporting the vibrancy of mainstreets as social and economic hubs and tourism destinations. As a qualified practicing planner Adam has been involved in the preparation of numerous mainstreet master plans setting a vision for their revitalisation including Woodville Road, historic Aldinga Township and Willunga High Street.
Adam has also been involved in the development of new mainstreet, town and village centre concept plans such as Aldinga District Centre, St Clair and Bowden Urban Village. Adam has also led teams responsible for turning these concepts and visions into reality through major public realm upgrades, provision of business growth services and tourist attraction initiatives.
Lisel McLeay
Committee Member
Lisel is a Landscape Architect + Urban Designer and an Associate at Jensen PLUS. She has been a valued member of the team for ten years and has over 13 years experience working in the industry on a variety of high profile, award-winning projects throughout Australia.
As an Associate, Lisel manages and is deeply involved in all phases of the design process internally to Jensen PLUS, as well as project managing large, multi-disciplinary design teams on complex projects.
Lisel has a high level of understanding of the allied disciplines required to deliver public realm projects with exceptional client and community satisfaction.
Julie Thomas
Committee Member
Julie has passionately been involved with developing SA’s mainstreets for more than a decade and brings a broad knowledge base of experience across high street, shopping centre and precinct leasing, urban renewal programs and economic development for state and local government. Julie is currently leading Investment Attraction at the City of Prospect, was the general manager of Renew Adelaide’s property renewal and entrepreneurial program and been responsible for the local and national tenant retail mixing and leasing of several notable shopping centre’s and retail precincts throughout metropolitan Adelaide. Julie is passionate about effecting change and contributing to place and experience.
Ed Scanlon
Committee Member
Ed has in excess of 20 years of experience in the fields of economic development, business growth and marketing - having worked across many South Australian industries and sectors.
Ed’s philosophy is around working with local business to create strong precincts and industry clusters whilst giving businesses the individual support they need to grow and prosper.
Ed is currently employed as the Manager of Economic Development & Strategic Projects with the City of Unley.
Steven Sully
Committee Member - representing Mainstreet Australia
Steve is an urban planning and economic development professional. He has held senior executive roles in Local and State Government and has run his own consultancy. He has pursued his passion for main streets over the past 35 years becoming a seasoned advocate promoting the importance and value of main streets to the social and economic wellbeing of urban communities.
Steve has presented to many conferences and written extensively on the importance of main streets and the benefit of main street businesses working in a coordinated fashion towards their management and marketing, in partnership with local and state government.