VICTORIA RACING CLUB LIMITED - Key Persons
Mr Michael Ramsden was appointed to the VRC Board in December 2012. Michael brings a strong background in corporate finance and in working with a broad range of companies across many industries.
Michael, a qualified lawyer, also holds a Bachelor of Economics, is the Managing Director of Terrain Capital Ltd and is a Chairman of several public companies.
As well as a strong finance background he brings to the Board a strong racing background to assist the VRC to maintain its preeminent racing position.
His father, Andrew Ramsden, was a former Chairman of the VRC from 1998-2003.
Katherine L Bourke was elected to the VRC Committee in July 2004.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws Degree, she worked as a solicitor for five years and for 19 years she practised as a barrister at the Victorian Bar. In December 2007, she was appointed a judge of the County Court of Victoria.
Her main areas of practise were personal injuries and administrative law including racing appeals representing both stewards and licensed persons in the various codes. Her racing experience has involved owning and breeding horses and between 2000-2007, she was the Chairman of the Bookmakers and Bookmakers Clerks Registration Committee.
During her term on the Committee, Katherine would like to ensure that as Club Membership grows, infrastructure and services are maintained. She also believes that care must be taken to balance the needs of new Members with the expectations of established Members who have contributed for years to the strength and profile of the Club. Outside of her work and racing, Katherine's main interest is the Hawthorn Football Club.
Job Titles:
- MEMBER of the BOARD
- Consultant to the VRC
- Sports Media Executive and Board Director
Dave Barham is a multi-award winning sports media executive and board director, known for innovating to set industry standards, advanced negotiation skills and leading teams to deliver commercially and critically successful major events and large-scale projects.
His key strengths are leadership, innovation, stakeholder relations, project management and change management.
Over a career spanning 35 years in television, including time with Network 10 and the Seven Network, Dave's experience and achievements in all areas of this media field have been extensive. The positions he has held are: Head of Cricket, Seven Network (2018), Executive Consultant, Head of BBL and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix for Network 10 (2015 - 2018), Head of Sport, Network 10 (2011 - 2015), Head of Production, Network 10 (2010 - 2011) and Managing Director and Owner, AFL Films (1991 - 2010).
His career highlights are as follows:
Leading all aspects of cricket coverage following the Seven Network's historic acquisition of media rights.
Leading Network 10's BBL coverage, which set new standards for sports broadcasts worldwide and won three Australian Sports Commission Awards and a Logie for Most Outstanding Sports Coverage.
Personally brokering a deal with former chief executive of the Formula One Group Bernie Ecclestone to secure Network 10 and Foxtel broadcasting rights for the F1 Australian Grand Prix.
Developing and executing the creative vision for the media coverage of numerous major sporting events including the BBL, the Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, AFL Grand Finals from 2001-2011 and the F1 Australian Grand Prix.
Head of Sport, Executive Producer or Producer of nine AFL Grand Finals between 2002 and 2011.
Establishing the AFL Film and Videotape Library (now known as AFL Media), regarded as the most comprehensive sporting library for any single sport in the southern hemisphere.
Dave has been a consultant to the VRC and provided incredible guidance and support to the club for its transition to the new Melbourne Cup Carnival broadcast partner Network 10.
Dave has been a thoroughbred owner for nearly 20 years.
Glenn Carmody has more than 31 years' experience working with EY, a leading global professional services firm. He has extensive experience in the areas of governance and financial reporting and holds a Bachelor of Business as well as being a qualified Chartered Accountant.
He has held a number of leadership positions with EY, including his current role of Oceania Managing Partner for Assurance. This role is commercially focused and includes responsibility for delivering current year revenue growth as well as implementing a strategy for future long term growth and sustainability.
Glenn is married with three children. He has a long-term interest in the racing industry and has been involved as an owner of racehorses for over 25 years. He and his wife also put together an all-female syndicate of friends and colleagues to buy horses at the Magic Millions sales. He is a long-time member of the VRC and a member of the MRC, MVRC, MCC and the Collingwood Football Club. Glenn is also the Chair of the Foundation for Very Special Kids which cares for children with life threatening conditions.
Throughout his professional career Glenn has developed strong financial and commercial skills. His previous role running the Consumer Products and Retail market segment required a detailed understanding of trends relating to customer experience. He brings all of these skills to the VRC to assist the Club in continuing its strong finance and governance focus, maximising its investment in world class infrastructure and providing the best experience possible for members and their guests.
Job Titles:
- MEMBER of the BOARD
- Banker
Michael Saadie is an experienced banker with over 30 years of experience domestically and internationally. He has held key roles at ANZ over 20 plus years leading businesses across Institutional Banking, Wealth Management, Private and Corporate Banking in addition to being appointed Managing Director of ANZ's Asian businesses in 2007.
He subsequently joined NAB in 2011 and was appointed General Manager NAB Corporate Australia with responsibility for all the major privately-owned companies and publicly listed ASX companies outside the ASX200.
In July 2014 Michael was appointed to lead the NAB UK & Europe operations with responsibility for NAB's global lines of business in the United Kingdom. This included responsibility for the Corporate, Institutional Business, Financial Markets , Structured Asset Finance, UK Commercial Real Estate as well involvement in the divestment of Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank.
Neil Werrett was appointed to the VRC Board in March 2018. Neil has extensive experience in the property industry and is currently CEO of Galileo Group. He founded Galileo Japan Funds Management Limited in 2006 and has been involved in the assessment of business and real estate opportunities in Japan since 1998. In Australia, he has been involved in the development of major residential projects in Sydney and Brisbane. Neil was employed for 24 years at AMP Global Investors. He is a Certified Practising Valuer.
Neil has strong horse racing interests, most notably ownership in undefeated mare Black Caviar and her progeny Oscietra and Invincible Caviar, Snitzerland, Go Indy Go and Scarlet Lady are among his other Group 1 winning broodmares.
He holds ownership interests in Tofane, Zaaki, Sir Dragonet and Masked Crusader, as well as horses in Ireland and Japan.
Neil is a part-owner of the highly successful Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley, which stands champion stallions Ole Kirk, All Too Hard and Star Turn. Neil is a member of the VRC Board's Racing sub-committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the VRC Board
- VRC CHAIRMAN
Mr Neil Wilson has been a member of the VRC Board since December 2012. He was elected Honorary Treasurer in February 2017, ahead of stepping into the Interim Chief Executive role in June 2017 and then serving as permanent Chief Executive from January 2018 to November 2020. He was appointed the 22nd Chairman of the VRC on 20 November 2020.
Neil is an experienced business leader and entrepreneur with corporate, start up, founder and public company experience.
As part of the various roles with the VRC, Neil has been heavily involved with the racing industry's media assets. He is a board member of global media business World Horse Racing (WHR) with Ascot and Goodwood in the UK, Breeders' Cup in the USA and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Neil is a board member of the Melbourne Cup Foundation.
He has had over 25 years' experience in the Information Technology industry working in corporate roles and as a founder of his own business (Charter Wilson) which was acquired by ASX listed company Oakton, a leading technology services company which employed over 1,300 people. He was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Oakton for nine years until it was acquired by Dimension Data in 2014.
Neil holds a Bachelor of Business and Information Systems, is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), Member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and sits on a number of private and public technology, media and sporting boards.
Neil has had racehorse ownership and breeding interests for more than 25 years.
Job Titles:
- CEO of the Club
- VRC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Steve Rosich commenced as CEO of the Club in November 2020. Steve has over 20 years' experience in sports administration including in senior executive roles at two AFL clubs that are market leaders in member-ship, partner engagement and growth.
Steve is leading a restructured Leadership Team at the VRC that is focused on delivering on the Club's new strategic plan to be the leader in world class racing and experiences.
Vin Cox has an international profile with significant expertise in racing, blood-stock, thoroughbred sales, business development and strategic growth.
He is currently Managing Director of Godolphin Australia following seven years as Managing Director of Magic Millions, which saw the Queensland business become the largest thoroughbred auction business in Australia.
He was instrumental in establishing the Gold Coast Carnival and the $10m Magic Millions Race day. He successfully negotiated a multi-million dollar grant with the Queensland Government, which increased tourism and brought economic benefits to the local economy.
He also managed the redevelopment of the Magic Millions Complex.
Prior to his time at Magic Millions, he set up and operated his own Bloodstock Consultancy for eight years, having completed 14 years with William Inglis as an Associate Director, Auctioneer and Bloodstock Consultant.
Vin was Chairman of the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers, where he led dynamic changes to include Hong Kong in the "Blue Book" for internationally recognised graded and listed races, while advancing Korea to be recognised for its Black Type racing.
He was the Australasian representative for Keeneland Association Kentucky USA (2003 - 2018) and currently serves on the Australian Pattern Committee in its various forms.
With horse welfare front of mind in the racing world, he recently joined the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group.
He has been a Committee Member for the Bligh Amateur Race Club since 1995, serving as its President from 2010 - 2014.
Job Titles:
- MEMBER of the BOARD
- Business Development and Sales Director at JLL Technologies
- Member of the MCC
Ms Sophie O'Kane (formerly Cornell) was elected to the VRC Board in December 2015.
Sophie has deep experience in Property technology and the use of dynamic and emerging technology as a strategic enabler for commercial innovation, digital transformation, growth, security and sustainability. Her work currently focuses on the intersection of real estate (physical) and technology (digital) and solutions that drive the reimagination of our workplaces and transform the built / real estate environment. Having lived and worked in Hong Kong and Asia for 10+ years, Sophie has a global market perspective; and an entrepreneurial mindset with delivery across commercial, technical and creative elements of business.
Sophie is a Business Development and Sales Director at JLL Technologies (JLLT) is a division of JLL, a world leader in real estate services, that helps organizations transform the way they acquire, operate, manage and experience space. Sophie works with owners and occupiers of space and the built environment to deliver JLLT's comprehensive technology portfolio of purpose-built solutions and leading venture-backed companies to exceed industry demands for better business intelligence, workplace experience and smart building platforms.
Sophie holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University and is a Solicitor admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Sophie is a member of the MCC, Women of the MCC, Women in Tech, the Carlton Football Club and is a proud mother to 5 boys.