ECH CEO Dr David Panter has agreed to become the chief executive of Minda, South Australia’s largest non-government disability service provider.

Dr Panter had been at the helm of ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home), which is now SA’s largest not-for-profit providers of integrated retirement living accommodation and care services, since 2015.

ECH last month opened Encore Apartments, in Modbury, 15km northeast of Adelaide, which is its third vertical village after Manson Towers in Glenelg and Bowden Towers in Adelaide’s CBD.

Dr Panter, who will begin his new role on 24 January, has more than 40 years’ experience in health, community and social welfare services in Australia and the UK. He has operated at CEO level for more than 26 years. In the UK he worked in the National Health Service across hospital, community and primary care services. In 2004 he was recruited to the South Australian public health system to lead reforms including the development of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

He is currently Chair of the SA Council of Social Service and a Board Director of the Australian Council of Social Service. He has a PhD (Developmental Psychology), and BSc (Hons) IIi (Experimental Psychology), said Minda in a statement.