Grant Baldock steps down after 5 years at the helm

The Board of Equestrian Australia (EA) wishes to announce that it has accepted with regret, the resignation of EA CEO Grant Baldock.

Mr Baldock has occupied the CEO’s position since April 2010 and will officially finish with the organisation on 10 November. 

Equestrian Australia Chair Judy Fasher said the board was disappointed to be losing Mr Baldock but said he leaves the sport in strong shape having led widespread and positive change in his five and a half years as CEO.

“Since Grant’s appointment in April 2010 EA has developed very significantly, resulting in improvements across all aspects of the sport,” said Ms Fasher.

“In the last five years our revenue has increased by 72% to be $6.2 million last year and this has seen a rise in funding for High Performance, sport development and participation. 

“The expansion of our sponsorship portfolio has also attributed to the overall revenue increase, with EA’s sponsorship revenue rising by 402% since 2010. And our marquee event, the Equestrian Grand Final is now an established equestrian event within Australia, attracting commercial interest and a national television broadcast.

“There’s also been more funding for grassroots with new initiatives such as the club development grants and club travel subsidy to attend the EA conference directing $70,000 back to the coalface of the sport.

“Under Grant’s leadership EA has developed stronger and more meaningful working relationships with industry stakeholders and we now have MOUs in place with Pony Club Australia and Riding for the Disabled.  These relationships are crucial to the ongoing development of the sport and will be a strong legacy of Grant’s time as CEO.

“A joint submission to the Australian Sports Commission between EA and PCA resulted in the securement of participation funding for the first time.  We now receive upwards of $250,000 annually to support development programs including Ready Set Trot which has given over 3,000 more young people the opportunity to experience equestrian sport. Our inclusion as a sport in the new Australian Sports Commission’s Sporting Schools Initiative is another feat that will deliver long lasting benefits to our sport. 

“Perhaps one of the biggest overhauls to occur during Grant’s tenure is the change to EA’s membership structure. After a two year process we now have a unified structure which delivered an 8% percent membership growth in the first year, and further increases are forecast in 2014/15.”    

Ms Fasher said the EA board is extremely grateful for the very significant and meaningful contribution that Mr Baldock had made in his time as CEO and that he had served the membership well.

“Grant has agreed to remain in the position of CEO for the next three months in order to provide an orderly transition for Equestrian Australia to a new CEO.  Further he has offered to be available, on contract, in the short term, to assist the EA Board in areas where he may be needed.

“The board will be advertising the position to recruit a new CEO in the immediate future. Details of the position will be available on the EA website shortly,” Ms Fasher said.