ROA Team

Louise Norman

Chief Executive Officer

Louise joined the ROA as part of the Executive Team in January 2020 after 20 years working for Weatherbys primarily in the VAT Service area before heading up the Racing Bank team as Senior Manager.  Prior to this Louise worked for HMRC on the VAT inspection side, gaining an insight into the working world of VAT and Tax.  Louise has enjoyed many years working for, and alongside, Racehorse Owners which enables her to understand the importance of Owner engagement with the ability to drive improvements in the overall customer experience.    

Favourite horses:  Denman and Gatflax

Kate Freeman

Head of Ownership

Kate has been with the ROA since October 2024, joining from the BHA where she worked for 3 years within the Strategy and Change team.   Her professional background prior to joining the racing industry was spent working for two large multinationals, joining Mars Inc on their graduate scheme from university and then moving to Coca-Cola and remaining there for 21 years, gaining a breadth of experience across a variety of sales, commercial and marketing roles.   Kate is passionate about horses and horseracing, is a keen rider and has some experience of working in a small National Hunt yard, albeit many years ago! 

Favourite horses: Many Clouds, Thistlecrack, Lil Rockerfeller & Sire De Grugy.

Roxie Walmsley

Executive Assistant

Roxie joined the ROA in October 2023, bringing a knack for seamless organisation and a passion for efficiency to the team. With over a decade of experience as a senior Executive Assistant, she has a blend of professionalism, adaptability and a keen eye for detail. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for integrity and the highest standards of confidentiality.

Roxie is a relative newcomer to the joys and intricacies of horse racing but managed to back a 4/1 winner with her first ever bet on her first visit to a racecourse after joining the ROA.

Keely Brewer

Digital Executive

Keely joined the ROA in 2004 after working for five years as a PA in the charity sector. In this capacity, she worked for two organisations, two years at a charity which specialised in securing young people training and employment within the Creative industry, and three years at the National Family and Parenting Institute, which helped develop family policy within Government.

She had previously studied English Literature and Business Studies at Roehampton University, before becoming an NVQ Assessor in Computer Skills and Customer Service.

Interested in racing from a young age, during her studies she spent weekends helping out at Terry Mills’ Epsom yard. Since joining the ROA she has become involved in racehorse ownership, firstly through the Betfair Club ROA initiative, and latterly taking part shares, and administering the partnerships, for two fillies with contrasting fortunes – Oaks runner Champagnelifestyle, and the mercurial Rich And Reckless.

Favourite horses: Dancing Brave, Champagnelifestyle, Rich And Reckless, Cornus, Norton and Monkerhostin.

Rebecca Bowtell

VAT Solutions Administrator

Rebecca first joined the ROA in 2017 as subscriptions secretary having completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Management at the Royal Agricultural University. For the past few years, she has worked with the ROA as a trainer liaison alongside O&T work at numerous racecourses, and now has moved over to the VAT team as a part-time VAT Solutions Administrator. 

First interested in horse racing from a young age riding out at local racing yards, Rebecca now has her own retired racehorses who, along with various rescued animals, keep her busy outside of work! 

Davina Grewal

VAT Solution – VAT Senior Executive

Davina joined the ROA VAT Solution in June 2021, bringing 12 years of finance and business experience to the VAT solution.

After graduating from City University with a postgraduate diploma in law, Davina lived in Arusha, Tanzania for 7 years. During her time in Arusha she worked in the finance department of Simba Trucking Co Ltd, a road haulage company with a fleet of over 300 vehicles, hauling goods all over East Africa for multinational corporations. After gaining an insight into trading in East Africa, she formed Blacksheep Media, overseeing the day-to-day operations and finances.

In 2017, Davina returned to the UK with her family and now lives in South Oxfordshire.

Glen Hillsmith

VAT Solution – VAT Senior Executive

Glen joined the ROA VAT Solution in July 2021. He is steeped in racing VAT having worked for the previous seven years at both the BHA Sponsorship and VAT desk, and Weatherbys VAT Services. Prior to this he lived and taught English in Budapest, and had an eight-year stint at Barclays International Trade Services.

His grandparents took him on first trip to a racecourse at the age of six, to their nearest jumps course, Worcester, and he has been hooked ever since.

Favourite horses: Big Buck’s, Inglis Drever, Sprinter Sacre

Sarah Holton

Ownership Executive

Sarah first was interested in racing aged 12, after watching her mum win money on Commander In Chief’s win in the Derby - twelve months later, after having backed every winner on the card, she was hooked for life! 

A BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Science from Imperial College preceded two years work at Satellite Information Services (SIS) on the ATR Teletext service. After a year at Ladbrokes, getting the Ladbrokes Xtra service off the ground Sarah returned to SIS as a Data Co-Ordinator for a further five years. 

The opportunity to work for the ROA proved too good an opportunity to miss though, and Sarah has been a member of the staff since November 2011.

Favourite horses: The Minstrel (despite being before her time), Flake, Whitbarrow, and Kauto Star.