Peter V’landys

Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) - 1984

Peter VlandysPeter V’landys is one of those fortunate people who are able to combine their passion with their profession.

As chief executive of Racing NSW, Peter oversees the state’s massive thoroughbred racing industry – the ideal job for someone who has been passionate about racing since childhood.

Having just led the industry through the Equine Influenza crisis, Peter is enthusiastic as ever about racing.

“Racing attracts participants and patrons from all demographics, so it’s a job where you meet an incredibly diverse range of people,” Peter says. “Racing is also a vibrant and entertaining sport so it is not just my profession, it’s my entertainment and passion.”

Peter grew up in Wollongong, and studied accountancy on the advice of his mathematics teacher at Keira Boys High.

“The education I received at university was invaluable and a major factor in my career path’” Peter said. “I was very impressed with the relaxed atmosphere and the social life, but coming from an all-boys school I remember feeling quite intimidated sitting next to girls, because I didn’t know the etiquette.”

Peter worked part-time for a Wollongong accountancy firm throughout university, then joined a multinational mining company in Sydney after he graduated at the end of 1984. Within 12 months he was promoted to company secretary, but the lure of the racing industry was irresistible.

In 1988, he accepted the role of chief executive of the NSW Harness Racing Club, which runs harness racing at Harold Park and Menangle. At age 27, he was the youngest-ever racing industry chief executive.

“The club had made a significant loss of over $1 million, so it was a major challenge,” he says. “And the club took a risk with me because of my age and the fact I had come from outside the industry.”

Peter was so successful turning the club around that in 2004 Racing NSW Chairman Tony Hartnell head-hunted him to run his organisation.

Peter took over the top job at Racing NSW in February, 2004 and immediately set about developing a Strategic Plan to address problems within the industry. While the plan has been successfully implemented, last year Peter faced his biggest test when Equine Influenza hit NSW for the first time.

“The Equine Influenza crisis was certainly the most challenging aspect of my role,” he says. “There are 40,000 people who directly or indirectly earn a living from the thoroughbred racing industry in NSW. In representing them I had to ensure they remained financially viable while the industry was in complete shutdown.”

Peter met then Prime Minister John Howard and negotiated a $235 million rescue package, an outcome he describes as a “very satisfying result”.

Last reviewed: 23 December, 2008