Administrators hand the reigns over to Equestrian Australia’s new board

Equestrian sport in Australia is on the cusp of a new era following its exit from voluntary administration. Here’s what the changes will look like.

Administrators KordaMentha have returned the management of equestrian sport in Australia back to its members and a new, nine-person board.

THE future of equestrian sport in Australia lies with a new board and its 18,000 members after a turbulent eight months of voluntary administration.

Administrators have this month handed back control of the organisation to a new, nine-person board that will take the reins reforming a fractured governance model largely run by six state branches.

The national sporting body was plunged into chaos in June last year when its four remaining board members shocked grassroots riders and its state-based equestrian bodies alike by calling in administrators KordaMentha without consultation after it was revealed Sports Australia would be pulling its core funding in protest over years of governance issues.

While in voluntary administration, EA’s constitution was changed to dilute the power of the state branches and extend voting rights to every member.

The change means a quorum of 5 per cent of the membership must be present, with 75 per cent of those members and five of the six state branches in agreeance on a proposed change for it to proceed.

Bitterness remains over the sizeable bill incurred while in voluntary administration of $670,000.

Former chair Ricky MacMillan, an Olympic dressage rider, said there remained unanswered questions about who would foot the costs, but she held optimism for a new model that would benefit grassroots members. “The cultural changes that are necessary have a real chance of being realised with members supporting a unitary model … savings have to be made and service delivery must improve,” she said.

Board chair Mark Bradley said the new board was committed to guiding EA into a new chapter based on transparency, open communication and inclusivity.

“The voluntary administration process created an opportunity to address concerns about the effectiveness and stability of the EA board with the appointment of an entire new board, free of any legacy of involvement in the administration of equestrian sport prior to voluntary administration,” Mr Bradley said.

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