Vale Ray Horsburgh AM

The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ray Horsburgh AM, following his recent passing.

Ray was a highly regarded Australian businessman with vast experience in the steel industry. So much so that he was awarded an Order of Australia in 2006 for service to the steel industry and service to disadvantaged youth.

At the time of his passing, Ray was Acting Board Chairman and lead Independent Director of InfraBuild, and served on the LIBERTY Steel Group Board and GFG's Global Advisory Board.

GFG Alliance Executive Chairman, Sanjeev Gupta said, “Ray will be remembered as a much-loved member of our family. He was not only a great supporter of GFG in every way possible, he was also a friend, mentor, and father figure we all relied upon. It feels like a great light has suddenly gone from our lives.”

“Ray was a passionate advocate of the Australian steel industry and Australian manufacturing, and a true ambassador for our business in every sense of the word,” Sanjeev said. “He was a giant of our industry and we are incredibly grateful for his service to the business and the positive contribution he made to the careers of many of our staff.”

Ray was also the Chair of Arbitrium Capital Partners, AFL Victoria and the Bill Hutchinson Foundation, and an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Ponting Foundation—the organisation established by former Australian Test cricket captain Ricky Ponting to help in the fight against childhood cancer.

A HIGHLY DECORATED CAREER

Ray had a highly decorated 30 year career with Australian Consolidated Industries. He started his career as a chemical engineering cadet at the ACI Glass factory in Spotswood. When Alan Jackson took over ACI in 1998, he appointed Ray as his Chief Executive. Under Ray's management, ACI expanded rapidly, including into international markets.

Ray then served as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Smorgon Steel Group for 15 years, which in 2007 joined the group of businesses that later became InfraBuild.

Mark Vassella (Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BlueScope Steel) worked with Ray at Smorgon Steel. Quoted recently in The Weekend Australian, Mark said, "[Ray] was a remarkable man - generous, funny, smart, down to earth, supportive. A slap on the back and a 'she'll be right mate' was his standard pick-me-up. He loved his family, his footy, his cricket and helping people."

"He had a knack of seeing the big picture more than most, which I think many people underestimated. It wasn't only about the short term. He had the vision to put the pieces in place to create significant value in the long run. And he had the patience and confidence to back you over that longer term."

Ray Horsburgh AM

"From a business perspective I've never met a better connected guy. Everyone loved being around him and knowing him. He was larger than life. It didn't matter what you needed, he had a contact somewhere and given his generosity, most were in his debt and only too happy to help. He could operate at the very highest level and yet when he was in a less environment, with our people, engaging directly with them - telling stories, listening to them - he was masterful," Mark said.

Later in his career, Ray transitioned into the role of company director seamlessly, taking on roles such as Chair of ASXlisted Toll Holdings and Calibre Group, and Independent Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed CSR, Pact Group and Traffic Technologies. Ray was also well known in Australian Football League circles. A longstanding, passionate and dedicated Club benefactor, Horsburgh joined the Essendon Football Club board in 2003 and served as President from late 2005 to 2009.

Ex-Chief Executive Xavier Campbell extended the Club’s condolences to the Horsburgh family. “A proud Essendon man, Ray will be truly missed by the entire red and black family,” Xavier said. “Our club is a better place for the service of passionate individuals like Ray. Ray brought plenty of joy to a lot of Essendon people in the way he went about his involvement at the Club. He will be terribly missed by so many within the four walls of the club."

Source: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/australian-industryheavyweights-mourn-onceinageneration-leader-ray-horsburgh/news-story/0ec18 3c442bc660b034ddd5494dd6faf