Morrison a Man on a Mission of Unity

When Aaron Morrison stepped into the role of Racing Victoria’s chief executive, he inherited an organisation on edge. Appointed in late September last year, he had barely settled in before facing a volatile gathering of Victorian racing stakeholders at Epsom Rd. According to racenet.com.au, less than two months into the job, the boardroom became a pressure cooker of frustration, where emotions ran high and tempers flared. For Morrison, the encounter became a defining moment that shaped his approach to leadership in the industry. “I really saw the raw emotion on display from people,” Morrison told the Herald Sun in a candid interview marking his first 12 months in the position. “It’s fair enough and it’s helpful for me and my team and my directors to understand it. What we do directly impacts peoples’ livelihoods, it’s not a hobby. They’re all in, fully invested.” Ironically, the heated meeting had been convened to discuss the Australian Black Type Guidelines, a matter outside RV’s control, but it became a catalyst for change. From that point, Morrison implemented quarterly roundtables to engage directly with those most affected by racing decisions. He recalls the initial encounter as “a real lesson and education in the importance of consulting and understanding the impacts from a real, raw and personal perspective.” That experience underscored his determination to ensure big decisions are shaped in consultation with the people who pour their “blood, sweat and tears” into the industry. “They’re the people we’re trying to look after and deliver outcomes for now, but also make sure they are sustainable and their businesses continue to thrive and survive in the next five to 10 years.” Morrison had been appointed interim chief executive in May following Andrew Jones’s resignation, stepping into the role during an “uncomfortable” board spill and subsequent executive overhaul. “Racing Victoria was the common enemy of all the stakeholders at the time,” he admitted. “While we had a vote in our favour, at the end of the day, it was still a very uncomfortable time. I’d like to think, now, we’re not the common enemy.” Twelve months later, Morrison sees a shift. “The temperature has cooled a bit,” he said, noting that the once-fiery exchanges have given way to a “good amount of respect” in Epsom Rd forums. Transparency, he believes, has been key to rebuilding trust. “We’d lost confidence of our stakeholders … managed to steady the ship through consultation and engagement … they feel included and are generally supportive.” For Morrison, the goal remains clear: leverage the strengths of Victorian racing from grassroots to elite level, maintain its standing as Australia’s premier jurisdiction and ensure the industry continues to thrive through evolution rather than revolution.