Equestrian Queensland 2025 Annual General Meeting & Members Forum
The 2025 Equestrian Queensland (EQ) Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Monday 23 March 2026 at Sports House, Milton and via Zoom, with members attending both in person and online.
The AGM provided an opportunity to reflect on the past year, formally consider the organisation’s performance and engage with members on key issues impacting the sport.
Chair’s Address
EQ Chair, Emily Coggan, opened the meeting by acknowledging and thanking the many volunteers, officials, clubs and participants who contribute to the sport across Queensland. At its core, equestrian sport continues to be driven by the dedication and passion of its community. The Chair recognised the increasing pressures facing members, including the rising cost of participation, travel and horse ownership, alongside growing compliance and operational demands on clubs and volunteers. At the AGM the EQ Chair reaffirmed the EQ Boards commitment to:
- Delivering value to members through practical support for clubs
- Investing in education and development opportunities
- Maintaining strong focus on participant safety and horse welfare
- Advocating for improved access to quality equestrian facilities
The importance of collaboration at both state and national levels was also emphasised, ensuring Queensland members continue to have a strong voice in shaping the future of the sport.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
The meeting included the presentation and adoption of the 2025 Equestrian Queensland Annual Report and the audited financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2025. The Annual Report highlighted a year of steady progress, delivered in a challenging environment marked by rising costs, increasing regulatory expectations and ongoing change across the national equestrian landscape. Financially, EQ reported total income of approximately $2.37 million and expenditure of $2.48 million, resulting in a modest operating deficit. Importantly, EQ maintains a strong financial position, with approximately $1.10 million in cash reserves supporting ongoing operations and future initiatives.
Honorary Life Membership
Special Resolutions were considered at the AGM to confer Honorary Life Membership on two outstanding contributors to equestrian sport in Queensland. Following a secret digital ballot, members supported the resolution, with Kay Paulsen and Graeme Watts awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of their distinguished and long-standing service to the sport.
Election of Board Directors
As the number of nominations exceeded available vacancies, an election was conducted for the EQ Board. The following members were elected to the Equestrian Queensland Board for a three-year term:
- Emily Coggan
- Danaë O’Keeffe
In addition, Karim Cham has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Equestrian Queensland Board. This appointment has been made in accordance with the EQ Constitution and reflects the recent Board election process, ensuring continuity of governance and the ongoing capability of the Board.
Sport Committee Appointments
Elections for Sport Committees were uncontested, with the following members elected unopposed:
Dressage Queensland
- Racheal Spring
- Sally Devlin
Eventing Queensland
- Kirani Heeremans
- Richard Mitton
Jumping Queensland
- Brock Everingham
- Jessie Knight
Interschool Queensland
- Tania Titman
Show Horse Queensland
- Diana Bradley
- Toni Harper-Purcell
Vaulting Queensland
- Karen Foran
- Lily Tamai
Any remaining vacancies across the EQ Board and Sport Committees may be filled by appointment in consultation with the relevant committees.
Members Forum
Following the formal AGM proceedings, members participated in an open Members Forum, providing an opportunity to engage directly with EQ and Equestrian Australia Chair Nick Ballard and Director Brett Cantle. Discussion topics included:
- Affordability and participation challenges
- Governance and national alignment
- Communication improvements
- Horse welfare and safety
- Future strategic priorities, including planning towards Brisbane 2032
The forum reinforced the importance of ongoing engagement with members and the value of open dialogue in shaping the future direction of the sport.
Equestrian Queensland thanks all members who attended the AGM and Members Forum and acknowledges the continued contribution of our community in supporting and strengthening equestrian sport across the state.
Newsletter
