John Messara


John Messara is an Australian thoroughbred horse breeder and owner who served from 2011 to 2016 as the chairman of Racing New South Wales, a body established under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 to control and regulate the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry.
He was elected deputy chairman of the Australian Racing Board in June 2012, and served as chairman from January 2014 to December 2016. Messara has also been a Member of the Australian Pattern Committee.
Messara formerly chaired the boards of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse Marketing

Personal life

John Messara was born in Alexandria, Egypt and emigrated in 1958 to Sydney, Australia where he was educated at St Ignatius College, and the University of New South Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a certified public accountant. He married his wife Kristine in 1973 and they have four adult children: Louise, Paul, Michael and Susanne.

Career

Messara began his career with Edwin V. Nixon & Partners, chartered accountants, before joining the firm of Ralph King & Yuill, Member of the Sydney Stock Exchange, and establishing their European Branch in Geneva, Switzerland.
He returned to Australia, was elected a Member of the Sydney Stock Exchange in 1973 and established J. M. Messara & Co., Stockbrokers. He retained membership of the Stock Exchange until 1992.
In 1985, Messara established the thoroughbred racing and breeding business Arrowfield Group Limited.
In 1993 he took up a position as executive chairman of the then Stock Exchange-listed company, Arrowfield Group Ltd.
In August 2000 he privatised the Arrowfield Group and became the sole shareholder and chairman of the company.
In 2018 he was commissioned to prepare a report for the New Zealand Government in respect of the New Zealand racing industry’s governance structures, and provide recommendations on future directions for the industry which was then used as a basis for Government reforms.

Career achievements

Through his leadership and management of Arrowfield Stud, Messara:
Messara's work within, and on behalf of the Australian thoroughbred industry has been recognised with several awards including:
recognising "distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing."
for "outstanding service and leadership."
for "an exceptional contribution to the NSW and Australian thoroughbred breeding industries in leadership, innovation, achievement and excellence.”
for "services to the thoroughbred horse racing industry, particularly through the introduction of best practice initiatives in the areas of reproduction and stud management.”
for efforts on behalf of the industry as Aushorse chairman and Thoroughbred Breeders' Association President.
for outstanding contribution to the Equine Influenza Eradication Campaign.
Messara was ranked 40th on the 2013 list of the Top 50 Most Powerful People in NSW.