Scouts South Australia (Scouts SA) is excited to announce Rebecca Wilson as the association’s Chief Executive Officer effective August 16th, 2021. 

Wilson joins the senior leadership team of Scouts SA President, Paul Dickson APM (recently retired Assistant Commissioner of Police) and Scouts SA Chief Commissioner, Jan Turbill.

Scouts SA is all about inspiring young people to excel in life through a broad program of adventure, fun, personal growth and environmental activities.  It has in excess of 6,000 youth and adult volunteers in 120 Scout Groups across the State. Scouts also employs over 240 staff in businesses such as Woodhouse Activity Centre, Scout Recycling Centre and Retail businesses Scout Outdoor Centre and Annapurna. 

Scouts SA has a turnover of $37.4M with profits supporting our young people excel in life. 

Experienced leader 

Wilson is an experienced leader with specific expertise in legal, governance, risk and compliance having worked across a diverse range of industries in challenging and changing environments including member organisations, private legal practice, local government, insurance and banking and finance as well as managing her own business. 

Wilson  also received the RMIA – Risk Management Institute of Australasia 2020 Risk Manager of the Year, won the inaugural Customer Service Awards for the Royal Society for the Blind and has been fortunate to have been involved in various committees and associations. 

This includes Make A Wish, Australia Day Council, Quarter Club, Local Government Professionals SA and Toastmasters International.  She is presently the Chair of the Plympton Bulldogs Junior Soccer Club.   

Wilson is a graduate of the Governance Institute of Australia and successful completed the Australian School of Applied Management Women & Leadership Australia Advanced Leadership Programme. She also holds qualifications in Laws and Legal Practice and has affiliations and memberships with the Australian Governance Institute of Australia, Risk Managers Institute of Australia and Behind Closed Doors Executive Membership.  

“We are extremely fortunate to have been able to secure Rebecca as our next CEO.  Her experience, qualifications and qualities will certainly be an asset to Scouts SA, Scouts Australia and the delivery of the strategic goals and growth of our Scouting Businesses in the Recycling, Leisure and Retail sectors as they forge ahead, particularly following the challenges of the past year,” said Paul Dickson APM, President Scouts SA 

We are also excited to have Rebecca work on the business side of scouting alongside Chief Commissioner, Jan Turbill whose focus is on the scouting side of our association. Interestingly, 46% of membership of Scouts SA is female with Scouting open and welcoming of every gender and diversity,” Dickson said.  

Meanwhile, Wilson expressed her eagerness to join Scouts SA.   

“I am very excited to be joining Scouts SA and I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to enhance Scouting over the next few years, set up Scouting and its commercial enterprises for growth and success and become a best practice youth organisation. One of my focusses will be growing our financial sustainability to help keep Scouting accessible for those who can benefit the most from our Youth programs,” she said.