QRIC Announces Key Stewarding and Veterinary Appointments
12 September 2025
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) is pleased to announce the appointment of several highly experienced and respected industry leaders to critical stewarding and veterinary roles.
QRIC can confirm the following appointments:
- Neil Finnigan – Chief Steward – Harness
- Andrew Spence – Chief Steward – Greyhound
- Dr Peter Curl – Chief Veterinary and Animal Welfare Advisor
QRIC Commissioner Catherine Clark called the appointments an “excellent outcome” with the recent recruitment processes attracting high calibre applicants from the industry.
“Getting the right people on board and building a high performing team is essential to delivering great outcomes for racing. These appointments reflect our commitment to implementing our strategy and safeguarding trust and confidence in the racing industry. Peter, Neil and Andrew bring extensive racing knowledge and expertise from within Australia and around the world which speaks to our ambition to set the standard in racing integrity,” she said.
Neil Finnigan brings nearly 25 years of stewarding experience across multiple racing jurisdictions and codes to QRIC. He has extensive knowledge of the integrity landscape and has previously held senior roles, including Senior Stipendiary Steward – Harness and Acting Deputy Chief Steward – Harness, and was formerly a QRIC Stipendiary Steward from 2016 to 2022. Currently the Chief Steward – Harness with Tasracing, Neil will commence on 7 October 2025.
Ms Clark said: “Neil’s passion for Harness racing combined with his broad experience and knowledge of the Queensland racing environment will be invaluable as he steps into this leadership role. We are sincerely grateful for the dedicated service of Norm Torpey for his exceptional leadership as Acting Chief Steward and we are delighted he will continue as part of the leadership team having been appointed as Deputy Chief Steward.”
Andrew Spence has been appointed to the role of Chief Steward – Greyhounds, commencing immediately. Andrew is proudly a home-grown talent, beginning his career in Queensland a decade ago as a cadet steward. Spending several years honing his craft with Greyhound Racing Victoria and rising through the ranks, Andrew returned to Queensland in 2024. Having held Acting Chief and Deputy Chiefs roles in recent years and playing an integral role in guiding the launch of The Q facility at Purga, we are delighted to see Andrew take up the post as Chief Steward – Greyhound.
“Over the 12 months the new Commissioner team has been in place, Andrew has consistently demonstrated his leadership credentials. He is both an extremely talented and respected steward, but for this role, his focus on his team-mates and building the entire stewarding team is what really showed us he was ready to step up. Andrew is an asset for QRIC and for the greyhound racing code in general,” said the Commissioner.
In addition to the Stewarding appointments, QRIC also announced Dr Peter Curl was joining the organisation on a six-month contract, working alongside the Veterinary Services and Animal Welfare Team.
Ms Clark said: “Animal welfare must be at the core of everything we do, and we will be relentless in our commitment to continually review and improve. That is why we have engaged Dr Peter Curl. He brings a wealth of international and domestic experience and knowledge to ensure QRIC is best positioned to safeguard animal welfare in racing”.
Dr Curl is internationally recognised as a preeminent regulatory veterinarian due to previously holding critical veterinary roles with the British Horseracing Authority, The Hong Kong Jockey Club as Executive Manager of Veterinary Regulation and Welfare, as well as the Chief Veterinary Officer with Racing NSW.
Dr Curl will focus on reviewing QRIC’s current structure and developing a strengthened framework to support high quality veterinary service delivery and animal welfare outcomes across Queensland.