The board is made up of a chairperson, three deputy chairpersons and five other members.
Functions and powers
The functions and powers of the board are set out at section 95H of the Racing Act 1958.
They are to:
- Oversee relationships between the racing controlling bodies, Racing Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria, and their integrity staff;
- Endorse an annual integrity plan for each controlling body;
- Review and provide recommendations about integrity resourcing and the integrity budgets of controlling bodies;
- Advise and make recommendations to the controlling bodies in relation to integrity policy, participant licensing policies and licensing procedures;
- Review proposals for new or amended rules of racing as they relate to integrity and make recommendations in relation to the rules of racing as they relate to integrity;
- Receive complaints from a member or director of a board of a controlling body, an integrity manager, or the chief steward or deputy chief steward about integrity issues within a controlling body;
- Refer complaints to the Racing Integrity Commissioner (RIC) and liaise with the RIC and external agencies in relation to integrity matters;
- Maintain an effective working relationship with the boards of the controlling bodies;
- Consider and provide direction in relation to any form of disciplinary action that a controlling body proposes to take against a senior member of an integrity department in relation to internal integrity matters;
- Oversee the development of a memorandum of understanding or shared services agreement between the controlling bodies;
- Issue directions to the controlling bodies regarding integrity matters.
Board members
Her Honour Judge Katherine Bourke - Chairperson
Katherine has served on the County Court of Victoria since 2007 and prior to that practised as a solicitor and barrister, specialising in personal injuries and administrative law.
She also has extensive knowledge of the Victorian racing industry having served as a Director of the Victoria Racing Club for 18 years.
Mr Bryan Gurry - Deputy Chair
Bryan Gurry has had a successful career in law that includes establishing his own legal practice and being appointed as Partner of several national law firms. Mr Gurry was a Member of the Board of Directors of Racing Victoria from 2008 until 2017 and represented the Racing Victoria Board on the Racing Victoria Integrity Council.
Mr John Barrett - Deputy Chair
John Barrett is an independent management consultant. He is an experienced senior executive whose career spans both government and non-government sectors, and he has extensive experience in governance, business performance and innovation.
He is a former General Manager and Director of the Bookmakers Licensing Board (SA), Chief Executive of the Racing Industry Development Authority (SA), and an Independent Member of the Greyhound Racing Victoria Integrity Council.
Mr Tim Lyons - Deputy Chair
Tim has had 20 years experience in the trade union movement as an organiser, advocate, policy specialist and senior leader. He has been a member of Federal Government boards and expert working groups on workplace relations, taxation, superannuation, procurement and industry policy.
Tim has had Australian and international leadership experience in relation to superannuation and retirement incomes policy, ESG and capital stewardship. He has had a long-term work focus on governance, compliance and accountability issues as a director, manager and leader.
Dr Catherine Ordway - Member
Dr Ordway is an internationally recognised expert in sports integrity, with over two decades of experience specialising in anti-doping policy. She is currently an Associate Professor in Sports Management at the University of Canberra, where she lectures in Sports Integrity, Ethics & Law, and Leadership in Sport.
Dr Ordway earned her PhD by Publication in 2019, focusing on anti-corruption strategies in sport. She has taught sports law and management at several leading Australian universities, including the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, and UNSW. She continues to lecture in the University of Melbourne’s Masters of Law program and holds the title of Senior Fellow.
Dr CJ (Kate) Savage - Member
Kate Savage is an equine veterinarian and internal medicine specialist. She has worked in Australia, the USA and at the Beijing Olympics. Dr Savage is the past President of the World Equine Veterinary Association and was a member of the Harness Racing Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
Ms Megan Hughes - Member
Megan Hughes is a lawyer, writer and policy adviser with experience working in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She has strong expertise in racing and administrative law, governance and integrity and has advised a range of racing bodies in Australia and Europe, most recently on animal welfare and social licence issues.
Megan has worked on a number of significant justice and regulatory reforms, including the governance overhaul of the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry. She is currently a Senior Adviser, Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Innovative Justice at RMIT University.
Legislation and publications
Racing Act 1958
Annual reports
Policy
Updated