Meet the Team: Tim Harvey

Tim Harvey on his 20+ years at Ultradata, and the side-project that took him to this Year’s Melbourne Cup

Tim's journey with Ultradata is marked by both professional achievements and personal significance. He first joined the company in 1993, starting in the Support team before transitioning to Consulting Services, where he became a subject matter expert in Ultradata's financial technology solutions. Tim's initial tenure concluded in 2004, but not before he met his wife, Anabel, making his time at Ultradata all the more meaningful.

Tim re-joined Ultradata in 2014 as Manager – Business Solutions. In this role, he collaborates with the Client Engagement and Emerging Markets teams, focusing on driving new business development and strengthening relationships with existing clients.

Outside of work, Tim and his wife Anabel share a passion for horse racing. Together, they own seven racehorses, including a three-year-old gelding, "Big Swinger," who competed in the Amanda Elliot race – the race after the cup - on Melbourne Cup day.

The work front

Q: What led you to joining Ultradata (the first time)?

Before joining Ultradata, I was living in Bendigo, working for an old Ultradata client: Sandhurst Trustees. When the opportunity to join Ultradata came about, I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to see the other side of the technology I was already familiar with, so I took the job and moved to Melbourne.

Q: What was different about Ultradata and fintech back then compared to now?

Comparing the technology of back then to now is like chalk and cheese. For financial institutions and their customers, everything was still paid for with either cash or card, and you had to go to a branch to do your banking. So naturally, a lot of the security and regulatory considerations we have now – which are driven by digital banking - didn’t exist.

Company wise, it was very different too. When I started, we had about 30 people. There was only one salesperson, and no Client Engagement team. While a lot has changed, there are still some familiar faces from back then.

Q: What prompted you to go and work with Transurban?

After 11 years at Ultradata, and even more working with Ultradata’s technology, I was keen to broaden my horizons, by working in a different industry and with new technologies. This led me to Transurban, where I spent six years, and then I went onto work at NAB, where I spent a little over three years.

Q: What were the key drivers that bought you back to Ultradata after a ten-year absence?

The opportunity to work with Tim Rapp again. But also, with the Ultradata office being close to home, this job allowed me to spend more time with my kids as they grew up.

Meeting Anabel

Q: No doubt, the most significant part of your 20+ years at Ultradata was meeting your wife Anabel. How did this come about? Care to share?

Back then, the Support Team would have a receptionist who would triage support calls from our clients. The regular receptionist went on leave, and Anabel come on board as a temporary receptionist to cover for them.

We didn’t work together very much but clearly there was a spark, and we started dating after she left. Unfortunately for Ultradata, it meant she had to turn down the offer of a permanent role when the opportunity came about a few months later!

Q: What does Anabel do for a profession now?

She has had many different roles over the years, spanning administration and childcare. She currently works as an administrator for a Catholic Parish which holds three churches, which is a very rewarding role. The Parish banks with CDF, so I get to hear about My Viewpoint all the time.

Q: How many children do you share?

We have two children, Liam, who is 22, and Mia, who is 20.

Horses in the Family

We are aware that the Harvey family has a few beloved furry companions – and now we can add seven racehorses to the mix!

The spotlight is currently on Big Swinger, who has made a strong debut in his first year of racing.

Q: How did you get into horse racing?

I wasn’t really interested in Horse Racing when I was younger, I barely even had a bet on the major races. A friend actually introduced me to race horse ownership, so it started as a social activity, and evolved from there. As an owner, even if you just own a small percentage of a single horse, you get to be part of the action on race day, which is certainly worth the money. 

I’m part of a syndicate that owns 5% of Big Swinger. A syndicate, by definition, is a group of people that share a stake in a horse. Big Swinger has a lot of owners. There are another 5 syndicates and around 10 individual owners. They couldn’t fit us all in the winner’s room after his first winning race!

Q: Big Swinger is an interesting name, what’s the story behind it?

His Dad was named Trapeze Artist, so Big Swinger seemed a natural fit to continue the family legacy. He takes after him too. When one of the owners saw him come off the float for the first time, he was swinging around!

Q: How would you describe Big Swinger’s personality?

He is quite immature and flighty, which is a word used to describe Horses that scare easily and are quick to run away from any perceived threats. This trait is not necessarily a bad thing for a racehorse (as it gives them a sense of urgency they can channel when competing). But at three years old – he is young, so we of course expect him to mature somewhat as he gets older.

Q: What are Big Swinger’s biggest strengths when it comes to racing?

With race horses, you often can’t pinpoint their strengths until they’re older. However, Big Swinger has a fantastic big natural stride, which is a huge advantage in racing. Because of that, his trainer is confident he will develop into an elite horse.

Q: Big Swinger recently ran at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. How did he go? And what was the experience like for you?

It was an exhilarating experience. Big Swinger had only recently made his racing debut in Ballarat, where the crowd numbered just around 50. Competing at the Melbourne Cup, in front of 100,000 spectators on a hot day, was a significant step up. For those unfamiliar with racing, the track is watered on the morning of race day. With this race scheduled for later in the day, the conditions were more challenging than what Big Swinger was accustomed to.

All in all, to see him finish 5^th and pull up well after the race was a fantastic result. I was really happy with the way he jumped out of the starting gates and the way he settled, so that was all good. He just didn't quite recover the way as he has in the past, so that was the sign for him to have an extended rest straight after the race.

Q: Where is a race-horse accommodated during their racing career and where do they wind down post a race carnival?

They stay alongside other horses at a paddock, where they are looked after and prepared for racing by a trainer. Horses are herd animals, so race horses will live and interact with one another.

Q: What's next for Big Swinger? And how do you hope his career will pan out from here?

After an impressive performance on Melbourne Cup day, he’s now enjoying a well-deserved break. We're aiming for his return early next year at Sydney's Autumn Racing Carnival, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Q: Would you recommend owning a horse race to those considering it?

I would. And ownership is much more accessible than many people think. You can be part owner of a Horse for as little as a few hundred dollars a year. That annual fee goes towards the horse’s accommodation and training – you don’t have to do any of that!

Q: How big is the prize money?

Although ownership gives you a share of the horse’s prize money, don’t expect to make much, if any, money – as the expenses pretty much so outweigh the winnings. It’s more for the enjoyment that comes with being part of the spectacle of racing. But as we know some owners strike it rich and big time – but there are so many variables at play. We just love everything that owning a race horse brings with it.  

Q: What happens to race horses when they retire from the track?

Looking after the welfare of horses, both during and after their racing career, has become an increased focus of the racing industry, which is fantastic to see. Horses receive great support after they finish racing, remaining in familiar surroundings at a paddock.

While racing, Horses follow a diet and training regime that keeps them healthy and gives them the best chance of success. Like any career that requires a specific lifestyle, it can be hard to acclimatise to life after it ends. There are great programs now that help ex-racehorses slowly and safely transition away from racing and to the next stage of their life. 

Some horses, if they still crave an active lifestyle, will go on to do equestrian or police work. Although, I’m not sure Big Swinger’s flighty personality is built for any of that! But who knows what the future holds.