Harness Racing SA Board Email: board@saharness.org.au
Carlo D’Ortenzio
Chair
Director
Dr Carlo D’Ortenzio is an experienced board director and senior executive with more than thirty years’ experience across private and public sector organisations. His work at board and executive level has centred on governance, risk oversight, financial stewardship, and long-term organisational sustainability.
He brings experience in strategic planning, performance monitoring, and executive decision-making, with a strong understanding of regulatory and accountability frameworks. His background enables him to contribute constructively to board deliberations, particularly in areas of finance, risk, audit, and organisational assurance.
- Commenced 1/10/21
Chris Illman
Marketing Director
South Australian born and bred, Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics (Flinders University) and a Master of Marketing (Melbourne Business School). With over 30 years of experience in FMCG and Liquor, Chris has led senior Sales, Marketing, and Hospitality roles at global blue-chip companies including Kraft Foods International, Constellations Wines Australia, Fosters Group, Southcorp, and most recently as Head of Sales, Marketing & Hospitality at the Bickford’s Group of Companies.
Chris brings deep expertise in brand building, strategic growth, and entrepreneurial leadership within the Food & Beverage sector. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Maggie Beer Holdings Ltd, contributing to governance and strategic direction. He is also a Board Director with Harness Racing South Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Passionate about community engagement, Chris is an Executive Committee Member of the Mount Lofty District Football Club, serving as Sponsorship Executive, and is a Level 2 accredited AFL coach, supporting grassroots development.
- Commenced 1/10/22
Jasen Murray
Legal Director
As the Legal Director for HRSA, Jaysen is a seasoned legal professional with over 20 years experience, in providing legal, risk, governance and probity advice to complex organisations including local councils, state government departments, Energy, Utilities, Water, Transport and Mining.
Roles have included Legal Manager and General Counsel responsible for providing strategic legal advice.
- Commenced 1 February 2023
David Stobbe
Finance Director
Alison Surjan
Business Director
Sarah Coligan
Business Director
Sarah Coligan is a strategic communications and governance professional with 25+ years’ experience, including two decades in marketing communications for the thoroughbred racing industry and work across telecommunications, energy, aged care, and finance. She has led high-impact campaigns and crisis communications for clients such as NBN Co, FedEx, Neoen, Thoroughbred Racing SA, Homestart Finance, Samsung, and Helping Hand Aged Care.
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sarah also holds qualifications in communications, public relations, marketing, and financial planning.
She serves on numerous boards and committees across sport, education, aged care, and community organisations, bringing collaborative leadership and strategic clarity to every role and looks forward to contributing to the Harness Racing industry.
- Commenced October 2025
Susan Cox
Business Director
Susan is an experienced board director and senior executive with 40+ years’ experience across professional services, membership organisations and sport, in both the private and public sectors. Her executive management experience includes advising clients looking to build structures and strategies that consistently attract, engage and invest in the best people. A former lawyer, now consultant, Susan conducts cultural and governance reviews and works with clients to develop HR and business leadership frameworks to enable people to thrive at work.
From a sporting governance perspective, Susan has many years of experience on sporting boards, including governance, nominations and audit and risk sub-committees. Her background includes working at both a state and national level. Holding qualifications in law, Susan is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, completed with a grant for Women Leaders in Sport, through the Australian Sports Commission.
- Commenced October 2025
Harness Racing SA Executive
Heath Pocock
Chief Executive Officer
hpocock@saharness.org.au
Derek Kordick
General Manager, Integrity & Corporate
dkordick@saharness.org.au