NEWLY announced chief executive officer of Wangaratta Turf Club, Emma Merlo, is excited about expanding the club’s presence in the event sphere and community engagement.

Following the resignation of former CEO Sean Barrett, who was in the position for almost four years, Merlo beat out scores of other candidates from within the racing industry and elsewhere.

Merlo, a former project manager with Beyond Housing, said she wanted to promote the turf club as not only a premier venue for race days, but for a wide range of events.

“I’ve been watching the Wangaratta Turf Club grow over the last 30-odd years of my life, I’m a local girl and have been involved with many of the race days growing up,” she said.

“I watched how much potential it actually has from an events perspective and a community engagement perspective, and really wanted to get involved, connect the community, and provide some strategic growth from a hospitality and events side of things.

“I can bring quite a lot of other growth with community connection, I’m heavily involved in Project 365, so there’s a very strong community connection side for me, but also being able to deliver quite large-scale events.

“I just think, looking around, it’s such a great venue not only for amazing race days, which they already do here, but for bringing in extra things, bringing in music and events, bringing in the King Valley Balloon Festival that we already did, and different field days.

“I want to provide that level of expertise to the club and show some growth for the community and put it on the map for the community as well.”

An admitted outsider to the nuances of horse racing, Merlo said she was eager to learn, supported by local trainers and the committee.

“I have a very keen interest in it, but there is definitely a lot to learn,” she said.

“There are some amazing leaders in our club already that I can learn from who are willing to teach.

“It’s great to have Neil Membrey as president, it means we can bounce off of each other.

“We’re both relatively fresh but we work very similarly, we’ve both got a lot of passion, drive and determination to take the club to the next level.”

Membrey took over the role of president of the turf club in October from Bill Carlile, who served in the role for the past 17 years.

Membrey said he and the board of the Wangaratta Turf Club were overjoyed at having found such a qualified person for the position of CEO locally.

“With the resignation of Sean Barrett, an opportunity presented to really look at someone, a true local candidate who’s going to partner and work with the community,” he said.

“We had a big field of candidates, but Emma was the clear standout candidate.

“We had international applicants, applicants from the racing industry throughout Australia, but to have someone local with community engagement and passion for the broader aspects of the club is something we’re really looking forward to.

“The turf club needs to be better connected to the community and known as Wangaratta’s and the broader North East’s asset.

“The turf club’s economic benefit to Wangaratta and surrounds is in excess of $65m a year, so it’s a significant asset for the region, and something we want to look after but also grow and give back to the community.

“It’s their club - it’s not our club or Emma’s club, it’s Wangaratta and the broader community’s club, and we want to make sure everyone knows it’s here for them to use and enjoy the facilities we’ve invested in.

“We look forward to growing for them.”

Merlo will officially take over the role of CEO on January 6, 2025.

The club will host their final race day for the year on Monday, December 23.