The Wild Horse Gala 2026

Jessica Jordaan, Mrs. USA 2022, is an international equine advocate, author and lifelong horsewoman. Her advocacy has taken her around the world, from championing America's wild Mustangs to supporting the welfare of working horses surrounding Egypt's Giza Pyramids.

Jessica has also written multiple children's books supporting equine causes, using storytelling to inspire compassion and awareness in the next generation. Through advocacy, education and philanthropy, she continues to use her global platform to create a better future for horses around the world.

Mark Latham is an Independent Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, former federal Member for Werriwa and former Leader of the Opposition, as well as an author, columnist and political commentator. Throughout his time in the NSW Parliament, Mark has consistently raised questions about the management and welfare of Australia's wild horses, including brumby numbers, trapping, removals and control methods in Kosciuszko National Park. He has brought the issue of brumby welfare and heritage directly into parliamentary debate and continues to be a strong and outspoken voice on the future of Australia's iconic brumbies. Mark brings to the conversation decades of public life, parliamentary experience and a willingness to challenge established positions on issues he believes matter to Australians.

Growing up in outback Australia, Sian Whitewolf has shared a lifelong connection with the Australian landscape, its people and its wild horses. Through personal experiences with wild horses throughout her life, she has developed a deep passion for protecting their welfare, preserving their place in Australia's cultural and natural heritage, and ensuring they have a future.

As President of Wild Horse Protection Australia (WHPA), Sian is a passionate advocate for humane, evidence-based management, animal welfare, land stewardship and the preservation of Australia's unique wild horse heritage. She believes the future of our wild horses must be shaped not by division or destruction, but through compassion, collaboration, science and practical pathways that protect both the environment and the animals who call these landscapes home.

Craig Carpenter Downer is an internationally recognised wildlife ecologist, conservationist, author and passionate advocate for wild equids. He is President of the Andean Tapir Fund and Wild Horse and Burro Fund, dedicated to protecting horses, tapirs and rhinos in their natural habitats.

A member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Tapir Specialist Group, Craig has published extensively on wildlife conservation and is the author of The Wild Horse Conspiracy. Through decades of research, fieldwork and public advocacy, he continues to champion the protection of wild horses and burros and the restoration of viable, free-living populations worldwide.

Carolyn J. Einig, MSc specialises in ecosystem restoration, carbon markets, and nature-based solutions.

After conducting research on free-ranging horses in Guy Fawkes River National Park NSW, Carolyn gained 20 years of international experience helping to shape and deliver large-scale ecosystem restoration initiatives spanning biodiversity conservation, ecological rehabilitation, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.

Her work has supported governments, investors, corporations, and conservation organisations in mobilising finance toward high-integrity environmental outcomes.

Carolyn brings strategic insight into biodiversity stewardship, ecosystem restoration, and climate finance — bridging science, policy, and implementation.

Carolyn has also been involved in the protection of wild horses in the USA and Mongolia.

Vanessa Thurner is a professional horsewoman, horsemanship trainer, author and illustrator whose work centres on understanding horses, building trust and giving even the most challenging horses the opportunity to succeed.

As the founder of Coolabah Equine, Vanessa has built her career working with horses from all backgrounds — from young and unhandled horses through to troubled and difficult horses requiring patient retraining. Her approach is grounded in communication, confidence and connection, with a strong belief that good horsemanship begins with understanding the horse in front of you.

This philosophy brought Vanessa together with Banksy, a wild Barmah Brumby whose story became one of the most significant chapters of her horsemanship journey. What began as the challenge of developing a relationship with a completely wild horse grew into an extraordinary partnership — through patience, consistency and trust, Vanessa transformed Banksy from an untouched Brumby into a willing and confident partner.

Their journey inspired Vanessa to write and illustrate her debut children's book, Banksy the Brave Brumby, bringing the story of the Barmah Brumby to young readers through the eyes of a real wild horse.

Today, Vanessa uses her platform as a trainer, educator and author to advocate for thoughtful conversations surrounding Australia's wild horses and their future — bridging the gap between horsemanship, education and advocacy, while demonstrating the remarkable adaptability, intelligence and potential of the Australian Brumby.

Leslie Scott is an Australian author, horsewoman and lifelong lover of the Australian bush, whose remarkable connection with two wild brumbies inspired her memoir, Once Were Wild, published by Allen & Unwin in 2022.

Growing up with horses and learning to "read" the bush from her father, an experienced bushman, Leslie developed an intimate understanding of horses, wildlife and the Australian landscape. Those skills became invaluable when she discovered two brumbies, Milo and Lucy, living unexpectedly on Mount Beckworth in Victoria.

Concerned for their welfare, Leslie spent months patiently gaining their trust and searching for a way to bring them to safety. Their extraordinary story became Once Were Wild — a deeply personal account of compassion, determination, wild horses and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their arrival.