Welcome to Newly Appointed Directors
Welcome from Mark Bradley
On behalf of the entire Equestrian Australia community, I would like to extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome our newly appointed EA Board Members; Tim Palmer, Jane Ballantyne and Chris Bennecke.
We are delighted to have their contribution to help shape the future of equestrian sports in our country, to promote and develop the sport at all levels.
Each Board Member will play a vital part in guiding our organisation towards success and ensuring that equestrian sports continue to thrive.
Equestrian Australia has a rich history and a promising future. Together, we will work towards creating a supportive environment for members, participants, coaches, officials, and enthusiasts alike. By fostering inclusivity, innovation, and excellence, we aim to enhance the experience of all equestrian participants and further elevate the status of our sport on the national and international stage.
Integral to the success of our organisation as a whole and we look to implement a new nationally aligned strategy and structure to ensure a long a sustainable future for the sport.
We look forward to continuing to work closely and collaboratively with all stakeholders in the industry and working together to creative a positive impact for Equestrian and its members.
Warm regards,
Mark Bradley - Chair
Equestrian Australia Board
Introducing new Board Members
Tim Palmer
Tim has had over 25 years in the corporate world with NAB, Macquarie, & Westpac leading technology, regulatory, and risk management operations with extensive experience delivering finance and technology programs, and regulatory interaction with APRA. He also has a 40+ year history in livestock management, horse welfare, sports participation & administration across rugby, baseball, and eventing.
Tim has a Bachelor of IT, MBA (Finance), and a post graduate in Applied Finance (Statistics). Tim spent two years working on scoring and logistics in preparation for the Sydney Olympics, and has written the software and administered the scoring for the NSW equestrian championships in the 1990s.
Tim has a strong connection to the equine industry coming from a family farming background which had over 6,000 sheep and 1,400 breeding cows where all stockwork was done on horseback. Tim’s wife has competed in state and national championships in eventing and dressage, and continues to participate in the industry.
Jane Ballantyne
Jane is a Business Executive and Sports Administrator with over 20 years of leadership, management and private consulting experience with leading brands and organisations, specialising in customer led growth.
Jane has held senior marketing, communications and commercial positions with Racing Victoria, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the Australian Football League, Nike and News Corporation
Jane grew up in South-West Victoria, attended Portland Pony Club and competed extensively across show riding and eventing.
Why did you apply for the Board?
"I believe that sport in all forms enriches lives and is one of the great social levellers and connectors. It is my privilege to bring my vast experience and passion together to serve on the EA Board and help take the sport forward."
Chris Bennecke
Chris is a senior risk and internal audit professional with over 20 years' international experience in governance, risk management and internal audit across a range of industries. He also has 4 years in corporate finance with a focus on organising Public Private Partnerships.
"I have built strong relationships with key stakeholders, been trusted as an advisor. I have developed sound foundations through risk and governance frameworks as well as strategic internal audit plans. I focused on risk based strategic, financial and operational auditing , integrating IT to improve business processes and controls. I trained staff from grad to manager level and enjoyed working with strong, high-performing teams and a culture of co-operation."
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