Leadership renewal in WA racing
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) welcomes new leader Karen Farley and farewells long-serving Board Chair Jeff Ovens.
Karen is a Senior Appeals Consultant at Legal Aid WA and has taught at UWA, Notre Dame and Murdoch University law schools.
She is a member of the Peppermint Grove Shire and chairs the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal, from which she will resign to avoid potential conflict of interest with her new role.
She is the third Board Chair in RWWA’s 20-year history and the first woman to take the role.
Retiring Chair Jeff Ovens has served the WA racing community for 11 years, 10 as Chair, covering a period of enormous change and evolution, including the transformation of the wagering sector, animal welfare improvements and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has overseen RWWA funding for WA racing increase from just over $100 million a year to the most recent announcement of more than $200 million for 2023.
During his tenure, the strong performance of the WA TAB and creation of wider revenue streams has led to a robust and successful racing sector in WA.
“I am proud of the resilience and perseverance of the racing fraternity, in recent years especially, as we navigated through the pandemic to maintain racing and ensure our people remained in employment and our animals well cared for,” Jeff said.
“Our hard work paid off and RWWA remained in a strong position throughout, recently announcing our largest-ever funding commitment to WA racing.
“We can be proud of the continuous improvement achieved over the last 10 years in our standards of care for racehorses and greyhounds, both in racing and into retirement. They are not only the stars of our sport but are central to the lives of everyone in racing.
“The excellent financial position that RWWA finds itself in is testament to a strong racing product and the continuing performance of our WATAB. I feel it is the right time to allow the organisation to continue to thrive under new leadership.
“My thanks go to the racing community for their support and dedication, and I look forward to watching the further growth and success of WA racing from the sidelines.”
Chief Executive Officer Ian Edwards wished Jeff well for the new stage in his life.
“Jeff brought a strong corporate background from a range of sectors to the RWWA Board, including experience as a former CEO and Commissioner of the West Australian Football Commission,” Ian said.
“The wagering landscape has transformed during his tenure, with the rise of international operators and online betting, yet the WA TAB has been very successful and held its own in the face of tough competition.
“Meanwhile, the WA racing sector has widened its revenue streams with the race fields framework and other funding sources, which have led us to enjoy the current period of high confidence as a racing community.
“Jeff’s experience and focus on clear strategy and strong performance have seen RWWA deliver significant positive improvements across the racing community.
“I look forward to continuing our strong performance and further supporting the racing industry under Karen’s leadership in the years to come.”
Incoming Chair Karen Farley has been appointed by Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti for a three-year term from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2025.