Victoria regulator appoints Suzy Neilan as new CEO
Confirmed today (11 March), Neilan replaces Annette Kimmitt, who is stepping down after three years as CEO. Kimmitt was also the first individual to hold the role at the Victoria regulator.
An experienced senior executive with nearly 20 years of expertise, Neilan has worked in both the public and private sectors. She is currently executive director for strategy within the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) organisation.
Prior to this, she had spells in senior roles with the Victorian Building Authority, including executive director of service delivery. She also spent six years with Tenix Solutions, which specialises in infrastructure maintenance and engineering products and services.
Neilan backed to ensure integrity and fairness
VGCCC chair, Chris O’Neill, said that Neilan will bring significant senior leadership experience in regulation, transformation and customer service. He also noted her track record in delivering large scale technology and legislative change programmes in regulated settings.
“As the VGCCC enters the next phase of the programme of transformation we began three years ago, Suzy’s experience leading digital and technology transformation, and her deep understanding of education, enforcement and compliance will continue to ensure the Commission is well placed to meet future challenges and ensure the integrity, safety and fairness of the gambling industry,” O’Neill said.
“Suzy’s commitment to achieving regulatory outcomes that benefit Victorians makes her a strong leader to support the Commission and head the agency’s executive leadership team.”
O’Neill also paid tribute to the outgoing Kimmitt, noting she has been instrumental in the regulator’s evolution.
“Annette’s holistic vision and tenacious drive led the Commission’s transformation in its first years. And with strategic focus, determined how we would work with the industry to ensure that our mandate to regulate in the public interest would be met.”
Regulator clamping down in Victoria
The appointment comes amid a flurry of regulatory activity at the VGCCC. In recent weeks, the regulator has handed out a series of fines to operators that have breached rules in the state.
Last week, the Peninsula Club in Dromana was fined AU$7,000 (£3,406/€4,040/US$4,396) for underage gambling. The club allowed a child to enter its gambling area on two occasions on 10 June 2023.
During the second visit, the child used a poker machine for approximately five minutes before staff intervened.
In February, fines were also issued to two other Victoria venues, concluding a long-term separate investigation into how an underage, neurodivergent boy was able to gamble at several locations.
Correct Bet, operator of the Coburg TAB outlet, was fined $3,000, and Supreme Edinburgh, trading as the Duke of Edinburgh in Brunswick, $2,500. Both venues pleaded guilty to underage gambling charges.
The VGCCC announced its first fines in relation to its underage gambling crackdown in September 2023. In total, almost half a million dollars in fines were handed out to a host of venues.