About Us

Mr Brendan Parnell, Chief Executive Officer, Racing Queensland

Brendan Parnell has been at the helm of Racing Queensland since his appointment in mid 2018.

Prior to joining RQ, Brendan held the position of Chief Operating Officer, Wagering, of Tatts Group, which operated UBET prior to Tatts Group’s merger with Tabcorp in December 2017.

He also held senior roles at Tabcorp and Sky Channel in international wagering and broadcast media.

Brendan has a lifelong love of horses, Thoroughbred breeding and racing which began during his upbringing in rural Queensland.

Ms Natalie Conner, Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission

Natalie has held many executive leadership roles in Government and the private sector including the Chief Operating Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; General Manager of Integrated Planning in the Department of Transport and Main Roads; and Network Planner at Virgin Australia. Along with Natalie’s past executive leadership roles, she also has a Bachelor of Science – Multidisciplinary (Honours). She has executive leadership experience with a focus on organisational transformation and stakeholder engagement.

Mr Basil Nolan Snr, President, Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association

Basil Nolan Snr has been both a member and President of numerous racing and breeding boards during his life-long career in the Queensland racing industry. He has served on the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association since 1969, only five years after joining his parents in the operation of their stud, Raheen, which they established at Warwick in 1957. It is one of Queensland’s oldest and most respected Thoroughbred studs and is a true ‘family business’.

Basil was President of the TBQA 1980-1991 and returned to that role in 2010. He has served on the board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia since 2005 and was appointed President in 2014. Basil was one of the founding members of the Queensland Principal Club (QPC) and served on that board for three years from its inception. He was also a delegate to the Australian Bloodhorse Breeders for 13 years.

Mr Daren Garrard, President, BOTRA Queensland

From his early years, Daren Garrard has been passionate about horses and everything Harness Racing.

He has had a long and proud association with the sport. Daren currently trains, owns and breeds Standardbreds.

Daren is Director of Garrard’s Horse and Hound – a business that proudly sponsors Harness Racing and supports the industry and its participants.

He has dedicated his life to the sport, and his support and knowledge of Harness Racing will help ensure its success well into the future.

Mr Kelly Schweida, Vice-President, Australian Trainers Association - QLD Branch

Kelly Schweida has been active in the racing industry since 1971, giving him 50 years of experience. He started his career as an apprentice jockey and moved into training in 1981 when he took out a trainers license.Kelly has had great local success with his horses, including training two Group 1 winners, as well as international success. Kelly has always been a supporter of ensuring retired racehorses have a good life once their racing careers are over, which is why he joined the Queensland-Off-The-Track Board.

Dr Mandy Paterson BVSc (Honours), PhD, MEd, Principal Scientist, RSPCA Queensland

Mandy has held the position of Principal Scientist, RSPCA Qld, for 12 years. She has a keen interest in animal welfare, policy development, exhibited animals, shelter animal management, wildlife and many other areas within the RSPCA. She represents the RSPCA on government committees including kangaroo management, injured koala care and Fraser Island dingoes, just to name a few.

Mandy is also involved in research in collaboration with the University of Queensland (UQ) and Sunshine Coast University, and teaches veterinary science students. She holds the position of Adjunct Senior Fellow at the UQ Veterinary School. Mandy serves on the board of ANZCCART and the QOTT, and is a Deputy Editor-in-Chief for the journal Animals.

Mr Cameron Partington, Representative, Thoroughbred Alliance

Cameron Partington grew up on Sunshine Coast, with his family connection to horse racing being through jockey Sid Curran, Toowoomba Turf Club Chairman of many years Linsley Thorpe and trainer/ breeder Deb Handford. Cameron worked for trainer Les Ross for four years from 2007-2010 as his Foreman and Racing Manager and has been the State Executive (Qld) of the Australian Trainers Association since 2009.

A Jockey Manager in Queensland for the past 10 years, Cameron currently manages Jim Byrne, Mark Du Plessis and Michael Rodd. Cameron is the current spokesperson of the Thoroughbred Alliance in Queensland on behalf of participants, trainers, jockeys, breeders and owners.

Mr Briston Toft, Chief Executive Officer, Equestrian Queensland

Briston Toft is an experienced executive and non-executive director who has worked across government, sport and not-for-profit sectors.

With strong connections within the horse sport industry, Briston brings to the Queensland Off-The-Track Board a diverse range of skills and a depth of knowledge gained from a professional career spanning more than 15 years.

Briston is the Chief Executive Officer of Equestrian Queensland, the current Chair of the Queensland Horse Industry Alliance and is also involved in number of Queensland Government industry working groups including Horse Biosecurity Market Access Liaison Group, which is coordinated by Biosecurity Queensland. 

Dr Holly Lewis BVSc MANZCVSc (Equine Med & Surgery) CMAVA, President, Equine Veterinarians Australia

Holly graduated from the University of Sydney in 1998. Following several years working in mixed practice interstate and in the United Kingdom she returned to her hometown of Adelaide. Holly joined the Morphettville Equine Clinic in June 2008. Holly was awarded her memberships to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Medicine in July 2010 and Equine Surgery in July 2012. Her equine medicine interests include respiratory, gastrointestinal disease and intensive care. She also has extensive experience in racetrack and performance work with a special interest in lameness and respiratory issues. She is an official race day veterinarian, and she is an Official FEI veterinarian regularly attending Adelaide Horse Trials and major interstate FEI horse events. She is currently president of Equine Veterinarians Australia. She has been a director of Horsemed SA since 2012. Her interests outside of work include show jumping, polo, snow skiing and travel.

Queensland Off-The-Track Program Administration Assistant

Jo Johnson

Jo’s knowledge and experience of both the equestrian and racing industries, combined with her genuine commitment, care and desire to advocate on behalf of Standardbred and Thoroughbred aftercare, makes her a great asset to the Queensland Off-The-Track Program.

Personally, Jo has owned horses and been involved in the domestic horse community her whole life. Professionally, following many years of administrative experience with Local Government, Jo worked as Office Manager for Glen Haven Park in 2009/10 when they procured, trained and transported 38 horses to Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games. She then worked for seven years with Inglis as Content and Communications Manager for the Horsezone website. In 2017 Jo joined Racing Queensland, working in marketing, events and ownership. Jo joined the QOTT team in 2021 and loves her role supporting the QOTT Program and making a difference to the lives of retired racehorses.