Stressful times for Equestrian Australia as CEO departs

Equestrian Australia has announced the departure of its chief executive, Paula Ward, at a stressful time for the Olympic sport, which is under siege from social media campaigns against alleged bullying and opposition to a vaccine to combat the deadly Hendra virus.

EA recently severed a two-week-old sponsorship with global pharmaceutical company Zoetis, manufacturers of the vaccine, following opposition from four state branches of the sport as well as vitriolic comment on social media.

However, after two-and-a-half years leading EA, Ward is expecting her first child and will leave the Homebush-based sport when her current contract expires at the end of June.

EA chair Judy Fasher lauded her role in commissioning an economic impact study that revealed the sport contributed $1143 million to the Australian economy.

Ward also enhanced the sport’s anti-doping culture and increased its digital engagement. Improved pathways led to a lift of 14 per cent in coaches and officials, as well as a 625 per cent growth in 12 months of school students introduced to the sport.

EA has been named as an intermediary in a $53 million class action in the Federal Court against Zoetis for the side effects of the vaccine. However, Fasher insists EA was not aware of this when the sponsorship was agreed.

Furthermore, she rejects the speculation, spread on social media, that the commercial relationship involved sharing of the personal information of members.

“I can confirm that at no point, did EA, in any capacity, provide any confidential member, horse or state branch information to Zoetis at any stage,” she said.

Zoetis supported this in a statement from its Equine Business Unit Director, Dr Stephanie Armstrong who said: “Equestrian Australia approached Zoetis early in 2018 to partner in advancing equine health education because we are the only manufacturer of vaccines for horses in Australia and we focus heavily on education, research and development.

“The Hendra vaccine is an example of successful local scientific collaboration between the CSIRO, US researchers and our global animal health company producing a product vital to the future of the Australian equine industry.

“It is a proven, safe and effective vaccine used by the owners and trainers of multi-million-dollar racehorses and treasured family ponies.

“The educational sponsorship with Equestrian Australia was for $25,000 per year over two years. It contained no sharing of database or contact information.”

EA faces a further stressful time later this year with a coronial inquest into the death of two young riders.
Fasher praised her departing CEO for making the sport safer “following the two devastating in-competition fatalities in 2016”.

“Paula has guided the sport through a difficult and challenging time. She oversaw the agreement to instigate the EA Making Eventing Safer Fund which came from the generous donation of Terry Snow.

“This safety fund has enabled the employment of EA’s first National Safety Officer and the subsequent implementation of frangible devices across the country to reduce risk and optimise the welfare of our horses and the safety of our riders.”

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Sydney Morning Herald