CEDA has appointed Hamilton Calder (pictured) as its South Australian state director.

Mr Calder was formerly Senior Analyst Public Affairs with the RAA, the SA motorists' body. He  has a broad background in public policy issues and media relations within the SA government and in the private sector. He holds an economics degree from the University of Adelaide and is completing an MBA.

As state director, he is responsible for CEDA's program of public policy and business conferences, forums and other events in SA, oversees SA-related research and participates in the running of CEDA at a national level.

"Hamilton has the business and public policy expertise and energy to continue expanding CEDA's role in SA, and to help shape CEDA's national agenda," says CEDA Chief Executive Officer David Byers.

Says Mr Calder: "CEDA has an unmatched record as a national body focusing on the issues that will decide South Australia's economic development."

"In the past year CEDA has produced a major report on defence industries which was managed from SA and had its national launch here. CEDA has also produced the latest CEDA/Deloitte Pathfinders report on the views of young South Australians.

"And CEDA's continuing work on Australia's national water challenge is particularly important for SA's future."

Mr Calder succeeds David Shetliffe, who retired in March.