The Victoria Racing Club has confirmed that director Dave Barham has resigned.
Barham, an experienced sports media executive, has been an influential presence on the VRC board, which he joined in 2020.
He has Chairman of the VRC Media Sub-Committee since 2022, playing a key role in the strategic decision to sell the club’s Melbourne Cup week media rights to the Nine network for six years from 2024 until 2029.
“We have been fortunate to have had Dave’s experience, skills and passion at the Board table for almost five years,” VRC Chairman, Neil Wilson said.
“Dave has contributed to the club on many fronts and his specific involvement and impact in the media and broadcast rights initiatives have been critical to the global media positioning and financial future of the club.”
Barham said his personal circumstances had changed, which made it difficult for him to commit the time that his role on the board required.
“It has been a great honour. I am grateful for my time on the board of the VRC. I have the utmost respect for my fellow board members and want to thank them, and the members of the Club, for giving me this opportunity,” he said.
“A recent move to the country has meant that the travel time, to and from the club, has become difficult to manage, with the demands of my other board and professional roles. I wish the club, the board, and the executive continued success.”
Among his other responsibilities, Barham is also President of Essendon Football Club.
The VRC didn’t commit to a timeline to filling Barham’s saying it “will consider the future requirements of the board and consider options to appoint a new director to the position that is now vacant.”
“A casual vacancy appointment will be made with the new director required to nominate for the 2025 election process,” it said.
