Director - NZTR Board

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New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is the regulatory and governing authority for the sport of Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. We are on a mission to create a sustainable and successful Thoroughbred Racing Industry for Kiwis to enjoy for many generations to come!
 
Racing is a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy, accounting for a remarkable $1.9 billion in value-added GDP and directly employs more than 13,000 individuals.
 
At NZTR, we oversee and regulate all aspects of Thoroughbred racing, from licensing and registrations to setting the races, race promotion, and ensuring the wellbeing of our people and horses. Following the recent appointment of CEO Matt Ballesty, NZTR is undergoing a period of bold and transformational change. Together, we are driving the initiatives that will see racing thrive for many years by attracting new talent and engaging a new demographic of punters, owners, and racing enthusiasts.

Join us at NZTR and be part of a team that is at the forefront of this exciting period of transformation in the New Zealand's Thoroughbred racing industry!

About the Role
While we are committed to our vision and strategy, the journey ahead demands skilful leadership. Due to the scheduled annual retirement of directors and a recent resignation, we extend an invitation to individuals with previous governance experience and a passion for Thoroughbred Racing to consider joining the ranks of the NZTR Board of Directors. 

In collaboration with fellow Board Members, the appointed Director will share the responsibility of steering the governance of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing towards its strategic objectives. Additionally, this role will play a key part in ensuring the organisation's corporate performance aligns seamlessly with its overarching goals. 

The commitment expected for this role amounts to approximately 300 hours per annum, including attendance at nine Board meetings, participation in the NZTR Annual General Meeting, and active involvement in relevant Board Committees.

In your role as Director, you will:

• Ensure that NZTR goals are clearly established and approve strategies to achieve them.
• Set policies and practices to strengthen the performance of NZTR including ensuring that Management is proactively seeking to build the organisation through innovation, initiative, technology, new products and the development of its capital.
• Monitor the performance of Management.
• Appoint the CE, set the terms of the CE’s employment contract and, where necessary, terminate the CE’s employment with NZTR.
• Decide whatever steps are necessary to protect NZTR’s financial position and ensure it has sustainable reserves to meet its debts and other obligations when they fall due.
• Ensure that NZTR’s financial statements are true and fair and otherwise conform with the law.
• Ensure that NZTR adheres to high standards of ethics and corporate behaviors; and
• Ensure that NZTR has appropriate risk management/regulatory compliance policies and practices in place.

About the Team
The Board of Directors currently consist of 6 members with a diverse skillset, including business management, information technology, finance, racing operations, marketing, and legal. We are enthusiastic and like-minded individuals who share a passion for driving our industry forward. We are looking for someone who understands the industry and can add to our skillset. Review our Board of Director profiles here.

If you're someone who has a passion for our industry, strong governance experience and looking to drive the change we all want to see in Racing, then we want to hear from you! Join our team and let's work together to drive our industry forward.

About the Person
The ideal candidate will have an understanding and/or passion for Thoroughbred Racing! You will have proven experience at Board level as a director in one or more large businesses or national sport organisations, including setting strategic directions. Success in this role will require a proven ability to make sensible decisions and recommendations and demonstrated entrepreneurial talent for contributing to the creation of Stakeholder value. You will have an ability to see the bigger picture and have commercial, relationship management and organisational change experience. 

Your high ethical standards and personal integrity will enable you to earn respect and trust from those around you while making a positive impact on the Thoroughbred Racing Industry. Desirable but non-essential skills of applicants include:

•    Experience in property development and/or property management
•    Experience in Project Management 
•    Experience in marketing, including digital marketing.

Applications can be submitted to Jill Gregory at [email protected] by no later than Friday 29 August 2025.