Ray Horsburgh AM

Since November 2004, Ray has been Independent Non-Executive Director of the Toll Group and Chairman since September 2007. He is also Chairman of Calibre Global Limited, a diversified engineering services company delivering infrastructure, systems and support to take projects from concept to high performance assets.

Ray began work with Australian Consolidated Industries Limited (ACI) as an Engineering Cadet at the Spotswood glass plant and held a range of senior positions over 31 years with ACI including Chief Executive ACI Glass Packaging Group, responsible for operations in Australia, New Zealand, U.K., Indonesia, Malaysia and China. Ray also held directorships of Nylex Malaysia, ACI Shanghai Glass and Guangdong Glass in China, and PT Kangar, Indonesia.

In 1994 Ray joined the Smorgon Steel Group as CEO of their steel business, and was Managing Director and CEO of the Company from 1998 to 2007.  He is a former Chairman of National Can Industries Pty Limited and former Non-Executive Director of CSR Limited and of Traffic Technologies Limited.

Ray is a former Chairman of the Essendon Football Club, a member of the Business Council of Australia, and Past President and member of the Board for 30 years for the Westbourne and Williamstown Grammar Schools.  Ray currently serves on the Board of the Ponting Foundation.

In 2007, Ray's contribution to Australian business and to the community was recognised when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Michael Salter

Michael is a Solicitor with the firm of Christopher Bunnett Lawyers in Melbourne and also finds time to run his farm in rural Victoria.

He is a former President of the Bill Hutchison Club and a walking encyclopaedia on the history of the Essendon Football Club..

June Kane AM

After a career in university teaching and journalism, June moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1992 as Director of Information for the International Red Cross. Two years later she began working in an advisory capacity with United Nations agencies involved in humanitarian coordination and post-conflict reconstruction and in 1995 was appointed by UNICEF as Spokesperson for the first and second World Congresses against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Since 1996, June has worked with UNICEF and with the International Labour Organization on issues related to labour exploitation, including through child labour and human trafficking. From 1996 to 2007 she was the European Commission’s Expert on Violence against Children, Young People and Women, and in 2007 was Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children. Since 2010, June has also worked as a member of an international team evaluating projects across the globe supported by the UN Democracy Fund.

June has been a Board Director of ENT-FM, TOP-FM, CARE Australia, CARE International, Women’s Health West, BPW Australia and BPW International. She has been on the Board of the Bill Hutchison Foundation since 2007 and in January 2015 took on the role of Managing Director (ad interim).

In 2007 June was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her work in the international community. She is also a recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Medal for Humanitarian Action.

Bruce Freeman

Bruce began his career at a large accounting firm in 1977.  After eight years working in the audit division at that firm, Bruce moved into corporate accounting and general management.

For the last 28 years Bruce has worked in the financial services industry, in particular for companies providing superannuation and investment services and products. Bruce has been an executive director for over 14 years and company secretary for more than 20 years for companies in the financial services industry. He is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Xavier Campbell

Xavier Campbell is CEO of the Essendon Football Club.  Before joining Essendon, Xavier worked for Dynamic Sports and Entertainment Group and global sports marketing company Octagon.

He has significant commercial and sports management experience, and a background in marketing and commercial strategy consulting. He has also worked for the South Australian Government as an economic analyst. Xavier is a SANFL premiership player with Sturt Football Club and has a Bachelor of Business and Economics as well as a Diploma in Accounting.

Darren Harris

Darren has more than 20 years of experience across the sport, government and education sectors and currently is a member of the Essendon Football Club (EFC) Executive holding the position of General Manager – Community, Academies and Women’s Football Development.

He has been responsible for developing the club’s Academies Strategy, creating pathways for talented footballers in EFC’s Next Generation Zones (Tiwi Islands, West Arnhem Land and the North West Metropolitan Melbourne area) and is a current board member of the Tiwi Bombers Football Club.  Darren has led EFC’s Women’s Football Strategy that saw it bid for an AFLW license in 2017 and an EFC VFL Women’s team for the 2018 season.

Darren previously held an executive position with Cycling Australia, was Chief of Staff to the Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation, and held a number of senior management positions with the Australian Sports Commission.

He is passionate about genuine engagement of children to be more physically active, particularly in structured community sport, that leads to enhanced health (physical and mental), social and community outcomes.

Jess Newman

Jess started work at the Essendon Football Club in 2014 and is currently Manager, Stakeholder Relations.

In this position, she oversees the club’s fundraising programmes, including major gifts and capital works, bequests, match day, member fundraising and coteries.

Jess is also responsible for the club’s extensive heritage collection and key stakeholder relationships including donors, coterie members and past players.

Jess holds a Bachelor of Media and Communications, majoring in Public Relations.