Earlier this month, the Australian National Drag Racing Association was thrilled to welcome two new members to its board: Ian Brown and Katie Cassar, both from Victoria.
These appointments bring the ANDRA Board to seven members: Nathan Peirano (QLD) – Chairman, Murray O’Connor (WA), Grant Wilson (SA), Paul Stephen (NSW), Grant Hamon (NT), Katie Cassar (VIC) and Ian Brown (VIC). You can learn more about the ANDRA Board members by clicking here.
Brown returns to the board after serving previously from 2019 – 2021, before being forced to step down due to health concerns. Now back in full health, Brown brings not only extensive experience in drag racing as a competitor, a bracket marshall and a Division Director to the table, but also more than 40 years of high-level corporate experience. He is also currently serving as the caretaker CEO for ANDRA.
“Drag racing is the best sport in the world and I love it to death,” Brown said.
“We competed for years and years with reasonable success, including back-to-back championships in Super Stock and multiple records. After a slight hiatus we had a look at Pro Stock and then got a new car and deal together and were looking like we were heading in the right direction, when I had a brain haemorrhage and decided to sell off everything and devote time to my family, while serving the sport in other ways as a bracket marshall and then later as a Board Member.
“In October of 2021 I was forced to step away as I went through chemo, but I have been in remission since January of 2022 and recently put my hand up to come back. With my extensive high-level corporate experience, I am hoping to contribute to a genuine strategic plan for the Board – in my view this is ultra important and will dictate where we are going and how we get there.
“We need to be proactive, not reactive, and that is why I put my hand up for the Board – I think I can make a good contribution in this area.”
Katie Cassar has more than 20 years of experience working with both State and Federal governments, and a high level of expertise when it comes to managing large organisations, including being the Deputy CEO of the County Court in Victoria for more than seven years.
She brings extensive knowledge and skills in organisational development, human resources, customer service delivery, stakeholder engagement and management, strategic planning, change management and systems design. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, having completed the Company Directors Course, and has a long history in the sport of drag racing.
“I am excited to join the ANDRA board and contribute to leading the future of the organisation for the benefit of members and the drag racing community,” Cassar said.
“I have been involved in drag racing since 1996 and have a good understanding of what is involved as a participant, having crewed for my husband, Rob Cassar, for the last 27 years.
“Combined with my wide ranging skills in government and large organisations, it is my hope that I can bring value to the ANDRA Board and ANDRA’s membership base.
“ANDRA is celebrating 50 years in 2023, and together I hope we can ensure that it will enjoy a prosperous future for another 50!”
To learn more about the ANDRA Board Members, go to https://www.andra.com.au/about-us/andra-board/
To learn more about ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
