The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is honored to announce the appointment of its first woman president at its recent AGM and to handing over the reigns to the first female duo, to lead the HTBA as President and Vice-President.
The HTBA is proud to announce that Ms Liesl Wickson and Mrs Alison Hush have been unanimously voted in as President and Vice President of the HTBA.
“I would like to thank outgoing president Barley Ward-Thomas for his efforts and leadership over the last 2 years. He has been an approachable and patient mentor that I will continue to lean on as I move into his sizeable shoes," said Liesl Wickson.
Both of these very talented women bring life long passion, experience, and dedication to the thoroughbred industry.
With qualifications and a career spanning over 25 years in the horse industry, Ms Liesl Wickson brings a wealth of domestic and international expertise to her role as President of the HTBA.
Ms Wickson has been with Cressfield since 2006 and is currently Operations Manager responsible for some of the most valuable and best performed racehorses in Australia. Her passion for horses started at the tender age of 3, when her parents bought her her first pony, “Tanzy”.
By the age of ten she won the “youngest rider” trophy at her first endurance event. And the stage was set for a life long passion and love of the horse that saw her work in Abu Dhabi and New Zealand before settling in Scone to pursue her stellar career in the thoroughbred industry.
With qualifications in Applied Science Equine Studies (with Distinction) Liesl’s interest and expertise are in foaling, neo-natal care and horse welfare. Liesl is the recipient of a host of awards, including three times Deans Award for Academic Excellence, Scone Equine Hospital scholarship recipient to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky; recipient of the HTBA Employee of the Year Award – Leadership; and the Australian Stud and Stable Staff – Leadership Award winner. Ms Wickson has been a member of the HTBA Committee for 3 years and Vice President for the past two years.
Mrs Alison Hush grew up in the north western suburbs of Sydney. Her passion for horses was innate and persistent from a very young age, starting with her first sighting of a grey on a walk to school and her first pony ride. She leased her first horse in her early high school years, worked her way through the pony club ranks and took up employment at a dressage stable as soon as she graduated high school.
While maintaining her employment, Mrs Hush also competed at Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) dressage levels and completed a degree in Communications majoring in Journalism and Public Relations. For over two decades Mrs Hush has worked in the thoroughbred breeding industry preparing yearlings for sale and managing agistment farms.
Over a decade ago the opportunity presented itself to branch out with her husband, David, to open their own operation, Davali Thoroughbreds. From a farm of 7 mares and 3 weanlings in 2014 Davali has grown to see many thoroughbreds go through their operations to sell well and succeed at the racetrack. Mrs Hush has been a member of the HTBA for 20 years, and a member of the HTBA Committee since 2017.
The HTBA would also like to record their heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing President Mr Barley Ward-Thomas for his leadership and dedication to our industry, and to our ongoing Officer Bearers, Treasurer, Mr Paddy Power and Secretary Mr Ross Cole, for their wise counsel and commitment to the development, preservation and growth of our industry and to the entire HTBA Committee for their embodiment of our mantle, “Breeders of Champions and Champions of Breeders”.
HTBA Release
