EA is strengthening governance — what this means for you

Dear Members,

Late last year, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) commissioned an independent governance review of Equestrian in Australia.

Independent governance reviews are regularly used in Australian sport to test governance settings, identify improvements, and support long‑term sustainability of funded sports.

While the ASC has advised that their report would only be sent to the EA Board and cannot be shared beyond the Equestrian Australia (EA) Board, we can confirm the review focused on areas that directly affect members, including:

• Board governance and accountability
• Relationships between EA and State Branches
• Risk management, integrity and complaints handling
• Clearer roles, responsibilities and decision‑making

What has EA done in response?

The EA Board has approved the Governance Workplan 2026–2028, setting out how the review’s recommendations will be delivered over the next three years. Implementation has already begun, with more than 20 of the 80 foundation actions completed and many more underway.

What does this mean for you as a member?

Stronger governance is not just about board processes — it directly affects the member experience. As this workplan is delivered, members will see:

• Faster, fairer and more transparent complaints handling
• Clearer responsibilities between EA and State Branches
• Stronger and more consistent support for disciplines
• A national strategy built around member consultation and feedback
• A more inclusive, accountable and sustainable sport

In short, this work is about making EA easier to navigate, more responsive, and better aligned nationally — so the sport works better for everyone.

EA will report progress to members every quarter, including actions completed, actions underway, and what each phase means for members.

The Q1 2026 Governance Workplan Status Report will be shared with members soon.

The ASC’s position

The ASC has confirmed that it supports the review recommendations presented and believes that they provide a compelling roadmap for the improvement of critical governance, risk and integrity practices within EA and across the equestrian sports community.

The ASC’s Executive General Manager of Sport & Community Capability, Richard McInnes, commented, “The intention of the Review was to ensure that EA has the appropriate governance structures and practices in place to deliver safe, inclusive and enjoyable experiences for participants, to achieve high performance outcomes, and to safeguard the future of the sport.

These critical changes cannot be achieved by EA alone and the ASC strongly encourages all EA members and stakeholders to support the board and management of EA to implement this roadmap. The review, delivered through the Workplan, provides the opportunity for the Equestrian community to engage collaboratively, in good faith and with goodwill, to implement enduring structures that are in the best interests of Equestrian sport.

We are encouraged by the Board’s commitment to delivering the recommendations and look forward to working with and supporting EA to deliver this critical project for Equestrian sport in Australia.”

Thank you for your continued engagement and support as we strengthen EA for the future of the sport.

Nicholas Ballard
Chair
Equestrian Australia