AUSTRALIAN KARTING ASSOCIATION APPOINT INAUGURAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The National Karting Council (NKC) of the Australian Karting Association Ltd (AKA) has elected the inaugural Board of Directors during a Special General Meeting on January 24, 2013.

This election follows a recruitment process by Hender Consulting that began following the decision by the NKC to implement a new management model for the AKA last August.

These elected board members are as follows:
Finance Director – Mr Philip Smith
Phil Smith has accumulated over 25 years experience working in the financial services sector spanning a number of people leadership and client facing roles in the small business, commercial, corporate and private wealth market segments.
Phil started his career in financial services as a Graduate Trainee with Barclays Bank London in 1985 and graduated with a Batchelor of Business (Hons in Economics and Marketing) in 1989. Over the ensuing 20 plaus year journey, he has enjoyed many roles with three of the four major trading banks in Australia across many states and experienced work and life in different countries such as South Africa, New Zealand and America.

Administration Director – Ms Melissa Holzberger
Melissa Holzberger is a Commercial Lawyer with extensive experience in advising multinational and Australian corporations on all legal aspects of business operations and projects, including commercial law, risk management, international and national regulation and compliance, and corporate governance. Prior to founding Sloan Holzberger Lawyers, Melissa was in-house Legal Counsel at BHP Billiton providing legal and strategic commercial advice to its global petroleum and mining businesses.

Melissa holds a Master of Laws in Resources Law & Policy from the University of Dundee, Scotland (Chevening scholar); a Graduate Diploma in International Nuclear Law from the University of Montpellier, France; Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide; and a Company Directors Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Melissa is a past winner of the Telstra (SA) Young Business Women’s Award. She is currently a member of the Australian Government’s Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council.

Competition Director – Mr Mick Doohan
Mick Doohan is a former 5 times World Champion Moto GP (1994, 95, 96, 97 & 98) with further experiences as the General Manager of Racing for Honda Racing Corporation for five years and a consultant, from 2000 through until 2008, to Dorna Sports, the owner of Moto GP and now Superbike series. Mick is aiming to use his experience to take this opportunity to assist the Australian Karting Association in the field of Competition.

Technical Director – Mr Bradley Collins
Brad Collins joins the Board of the AKA after a professional career spanning more than 12 years in the motorsport industry.
Brad commenced an Automotive Apprenticeship in 1995 before following his passion for motor racing, the young mechanic tried his hand at competition engine building, mainly for the Speedway and Super Speedway classes.
Early last decade he joined the renowned Larry Perkins’ V8 Supercar squad as engine builder where he gained vast experience in all facets of V8 Supercar race engine design, engineering and competition vehicle preparation.
Since joining Ford Performance Racing (FPR) in 2005 as a Damper Technician he moved into FPR’s Engine Department alongside famed engine builder Robbie Benson following a year of torrid results with engine reliability proving to be the team’s Achilles heel. He thrived in this environment and he was promoted to become FPR’s Engine Department Manager.
Together with his team, they managed to turn around FPR’s reliability woes, ultimately developing one of the most powerful and reliable powerplants within the category.
Brad is currently Race Operations Manager taking care of the daily operational and development activities in the workshop, most recently jointly managing FPR’s Car of the Future design and build program.

Promotional and Marketing Director – Mr Sam Moreton
Sam Moreton brings more than 15 years strategic communications, marketing, business development and corporate affairs experience with government, leading Australian companies as well as the not-for-profit sector to the AKA. Sam looks forward to working with the Board and membership of the AKA to raise the profile and commercial success of Karting while supporting the sports’ great strength – local community clubs. Sam holds degrees in Law and Government from UNSW and lives in Western Sydney.

Each of the Board Members will chair a sub – committee covering their elected area of expertise, being Finance, Administration, Technical, Competition and Marketing.

The Board of Directors will operate in conjunction with the current National Executive and NKC until August 31, 2013 when the complete restructure will be finalised.