Racing Victoria (RV) Acting Chairman, Mike Hirst, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Minister for Racing, Anthony Carbines, that Tim Rourke and Mark Player have been appointed to the RV Board.
Mr Rourke joins the RV Board with extensive business experience and is the current Chief Executive Officer of CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy. Mr Rourke also currently serves as a director on the boards of Energy Networks Australia and United Energy.
Prior to his current appointments, Mr Rourke has held various senior positions across the energy sector since 1995 and is also an active thoroughbred owner and breeder.
Mr Player has been a highly respected member of the international thoroughbred racing and breeding industry for more than 25 years, working in senior positions at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing and RV.
Mr Player founded International Thoroughbred Solutions in 2011, an independent thoroughbred consultancy business whose clients have included the HKJC, Ascot, Newmarket and Goodwood Racecourses (UK), Breeders Cup (USA) and Goffs. In addition to his consultancy, Mr Player is the Executive Chairman of Macedon Lodge.
Mr Hirst said: “We congratulate Tim and Mark on their appointments to the Board and believe their skill sets will be of great benefit to Racing Victoria and the broader industry.
“Both Mark's extensive international equine and racing expertise and Tim's business acumen and passion for the industry will make them invaluable additions to the Board.
“The members of the Board look forward to working with Tim and Mark and are confident that they will play a key role in fostering the ongoing success of Victorian racing.”
Mr Rourke and Mr Player will commence their respective terms immediately, with Mr Rourke appointed for a term of four years, and Mr Player for a term of two years.
The Minister for Racing advised in his announcement that he had finalised his appointments to the RV Board.
On this basis, as per the RV Constitution, the RV Board will now nominate a Director to be the RV Chair for the Minister’s approval and will also select a Deputy Chair.
The Board’s next scheduled meeting is Friday, 21 June and it is anticipated that both roles will be resolved at or before that meeting.