COTA SA has appointed Adrian Skull as its new Board President, marking the end of Anne Edwards AO’s remarkable 14-year tenure leading South Australia’s peak body for older people.
Skull brings more than three decades of executive leadership, governance and change management experience to the role. His background spans CEO positions in local government, senior roles in hotel management education in Switzerland, defence industry experience, and consulting work across change, strategy and leadership.
He currently serves on the Green Adelaide and Green Industries SA Boards and is the immediate past Chair of the Adelaide Hills Region Waste Management Authority. His previous board experience includes the Australian Institute of Company Directors SA/NT Council, Tonsley Innovation Precinct Steering Group, Local Government Association Procurement Board, Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism and the Torrens Valley TAFE Board, which he chaired.
![Adrian Skull[80]](https://www.fiftyplussa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Adrian-Skull80.jpg)
Since joining COTA SA’s Board as Director in December 2025, Skull has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s new Strategic Plan.
“It’s a privilege to step into the role as COTA SA President, especially at the start of a new Strategic Plan, which will guide us over the next five years,” said Skull. “I would like to thank Anne Edwards for her extraordinary dedication and commitment to the organisation as the outgoing President, and I look forward to building on the many strengths COTA SA has established under her leadership.”
Anne Edwards’ legacy
After serving on COTA SA’s Board for over 18 years, with 14 of those as President, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO leaves a substantial legacy. She stewarded COTA SA through three strategic plans, two Chief Executive appointments, multiple changes of government, and an ongoing challenging funding and policy landscape.
A highly regarded sociologist and former Vice Chancellor of Flinders University, Edwards was instrumental in establishing COTA SA’s consumer research and engagement consultancy, The Plug-In, which now operates as a social enterprise with profits supporting COTA SA.
Under her leadership, COTA SA transitioned to a free membership model, broadened its reach into regional South Australia including the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas, and deepened its engagement with multicultural communities and the LGBTQI+ community through the now independent Rainbow Hub SA. She also represented South Australia on the COTA Australia Board for 13 years until her retirement in November 2025.
“Being President of COTA SA gave me the opportunity for participation in a challenging and rewarding area of significant social change,” said Edwards. “COTA SA’s strength lies in its active advocacy and engagement with older people themselves combined with evidence-based and targeted policy and services recommendations to government and other key organisations with influence over the lives of older people.”
COTA SA Chief Executive Miranda Starke paid tribute to Edwards’ achievements: “COTA SA has Anne Edwards to thank for the strong and influential position it finds itself in today. Her distinguished reputation and her absolute commitment to challenging ageism and advocating for older people’s voices to be heard loudly by decision makers has made COTA SA a highly effective advocacy body in our state and nationally.”
Of the incoming President, Starke added: “We are so pleased to be welcoming a President of Adrian’s calibre and someone who is so enthusiastic about our purpose and our ability to shape better lives for older South Australians.”
Adrian Skull officially commences his term as COTA SA’s President on 1 September. He will lead COTA SA’s experienced, skills-based Board together with Deputy President Alexandrea Cannon OAM.
COTA SA will host a public farewell event for Anne Edwards as part of its AGM in November.
More information: cotasa.org.au
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