The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced the appointment of Katie Carr as Head of Environmental Sustainability and Tom Baker as Head of Social Impact.
Supported by the Racing Foundation and overseen by the Industry Programme Group, these new roles are designed to advance British horseracing’s long-term strategy by boosting the sport’s positive influence on local communities and addressing environmental challenges.
Katie Carr, formerly with the Goodwood Group where she managed sustainability across their 11,000-acre estate, will lead the development of a comprehensive industry-wide approach to tackle current and future environmental issues. Her role will focus on mitigating climate risks, adapting operations to meet evolving legal and public expectations, and leveraging expertise in environmental management to ensure a sustainable future for racing and breeding.
On her appointment, Katie Carr said, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to help shape British racing’s approach to addressing and adapting to the various environmental challenges we face. Racing and breeding have a direct relationship with the natural environment and I know how much activity is already underway in this space, as well as the extensive expertise that exists.”
Tom Baker joins the BHA on a year-long secondment from The Jockey Club, where he led community and social impact strategies. With a background in Olympic and Paralympic sports, where he forged partnerships to drive positive change, Baker will collaborate with organisations such as Racing Together and Racing to School to define and enhance the social and community impact of British racing. He will join the cross-industry Racing Together sub-committee group and work alongside the Racing Charities Group. Both roles aim to strengthen racing’s contributions to local and wider communities while considering a socially responsible approach’s moral, reputational, and commercial advantages.
Tom Baker said, “From initiatives that open up development opportunities in our sport to underrepresented groups, to partnerships that help address loneliness in our communities, British racing and breeding already has a positive impact across the country. These are activities that have a direct benefit, but also help us attract the more purpose-driven recruits, participants and fans into the industry.”
The Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact initiatives are funded by the Racing Foundation, with additional support for the social impact role provided by Racing Post and Godolphin for an initial year. Both positions will be part of the BHA’s Strategy and Change directorate and will be overseen by the Industry Programme Group.
BHA Director of Strategy and Change, Alison Enticknap, said, “I’m very pleased to welcome Katie and Tom to their new positions. Both bring subject-specific knowledge, understanding and expertise, alongside valuable experience of working in the racing industry – essential qualities for these cross-industry coordination roles.”
Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, Tansy Challis said, “Environmental sustainability and community engagement, and the way they are inextricably linked to the wider social impact agenda, are two of the Racing Foundation’s four key areas of focus alongside equine welfare and racing’s people.”