Continuing on from yesterday’s first four winners for iGB’s Most Influential Women 2025 campaign, here are another three inspiring figures championing change in the sector.
These women present various crucial roles across different markets and sub-sectors within gaming, but they share deep values and a fierce drive to continue progress through their careers.
You can find the first batch of winners’ write-ups here.
Kate McCormick
CEO, WH Partners UAE
During her career of almost 20 years in gaming, McCormick has worked for giants such as Bwin.party, Superbet, Playtech and William Hill, the latter of which saw her serve as director of compliance for the UK online division.
In 2020, McCormick launched her own consultancy, KMC Consultancy, primed to capitalise on the newly regulating UAE market, before joining Maltese law firm WH Partners as CEO for the UAE.
Throughout McCormick’s career, she has observed real progress in the sector’s DEI efforts. “When I started, there weren’t many women in powerful positions in the industry,” she tells iGB.
“In terms of the other women who I count among my peers, we’ve all been championing each other for a long time. I’m always part of a lot of groups where we’re trying to encourage each other into those positions.
“Women have become so much more prevalent now compared to when we all started out, and we’ve all come through together.” She’s also been an active member of the non-profit organisation Girls in Tech.
A lack of female representation in tech
This is an area in which McCormick feels the gambling sector is still lacking representation of women. “We’ve done a lot of work trying to encourage women into not just gaming, but the technology industry,” McCormick adds. “I think it’s about making sure that everyone gets the same sort of education.”
McCormick has been based between Gibraltar and Dubai, and now that the UAE is opening up, she is excited for the opportunity that lies there in terms of shaping the regulation through government collaboration.
“[The UAE is] what everyone’s talking about,” McCormick says. “It’s great to be in a position where we can work with the governments, the regulators and the operators. It is also interesting to see how that market grows now.
“I’ve been there for three years, and it’s taken a while to build, but I believe we’ll see a lot of change in the Middle East. It’s really exciting to be at the forefront of that. For the next couple of years, I think it’s going to be full steam ahead on the UAE.”
Marie-Noëlle Savoie
Chief Compliance Officer, British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)
Marie-Noëlle Savoie has emerged as one of Canada’s most influential leaders in regulated gambling. Recognised in iGB’s Most Influential Women Campaign for 2025, Savoie combines operational expertise, strategic vision and a deeply people-focused leadership style.
She oversees a broad portfolio spanning player health, legal services, compliance, anti-money laundering, privacy, investigations, data governance and security – roles where her influence has been transformative. Since joining BCLC in 2020, Savoie has led initiatives with both local and national impact.
She spearheaded the introduction of mandatory identification requirements across BCLC’s products in 2023. This measure reduced security incidents by roughly 20%, blocked access for minors and banned players, strengthened enforcement of public safety bans and encouraged staff to engage patrons more deliberately.
Pivotal in stamping out the black market
She also co-led a coalition of five Canadian lottery jurisdictions to advocate for federal action against illegal gambling websites, a coalition that contributed to the landmark Bodog case, affirming that only provincial Crown corporations may legally operate iGaming in parts of Canada.
Savoie’s leadership extends to anti-money laundering and responsible gambling. She modernised BCLC’s AML programme, including a new transaction-monitoring system across casinos and PlayNow.com, and guided the legal team in launching a federal appeal defending the organisation’s rigorous procedures.
She also oversees the internationally recognised GameSense programme, licensed in 11 jurisdictions including MGM Resorts and BetMGM, which secured its fifth consecutive World Lottery Association Level 4 certification under her guidance. Reflecting on her career transition from finance to gambling, Savoie says: “I had a whole career in the financial industry before, then I decided to go into gambling, which is way more fun.”
She also notes the complexity of the sector: “We have casino, online casino, land-based and lottery. I still learn every day because it’s such a complex industry.” Her dedication to mentorship and diversity is evident in her long-term involvement with BCLC’s AIM committee and Global Gaming Women, where she credits the latter with helping her “find some friends” and build her network when entering the industry.
‘She’s going to tell all her friends’
Amid these professional achievements, Savoie reflects on the personal significance of her work. Sharing the news of her recognition with her daughter, she recalls: “That is what makes the long days worth it.” It is a glimpse into a leader whose drive for operational excellence and industry impact is matched by her dedication to mentorship, integrity and family.
In a sector where safety, trust and accountability are paramount, Savoie stands out as a transformative leader – redefining safer play, raising standards for compliance and shaping the future of responsible gambling in Canada and beyond. Savoie says she’s most excited about how proud the recognition made her teenage daughter. “When I told her she was like, ‘This is amazing’. That’s when I got really excited. I thought this is actually pretty exciting. She said she’s going to tell all her friends.”
Marzia Turrini,
President iGaming & Cybersecurity, BMM Testlabs
Marzia Turrini plays a pivotal role in her company’s continued survival. Cybersecurity is not the sexiest sector, but it is one of the most crucial to the vast expansion of the digital world. With more than two decades of leadership experience, she has built BMM’s digital and cybersecurity divisions into global powerhouses.
Leading the certification body, she has transformed BMM’s Digital Centre of Excellence in Barcelona, growing a 120-person team that has increased digital testing revenues by 40% over five years. She also led BMM’s expansion into Brazil’s newly regulated market this year, where only a handful of certification bodies were approved to operate.
Turrini’s colleagues say she is a champion of diversity and inclusion within BMM and the broader industry, actively guiding younger colleagues and promoting female leadership in STEM and gaming technology.
Expansion into Brazil
Expanding BMM Testlabs into Brazil is a highlight. During the long journey to regulation in the market, Turrini worked closely with regulators in Brazil’s Ministry of Finance to advocate for fair and responsible standards for the market.
“She spearheaded BMM’s efforts to open an independent test lab in São Paulo,” her colleagues note. “Under her direction, BMM became one of the first labs testing and certifying for Brazil’s new gaming market, reinforcing trust among regulators, operators and suppliers while protecting players.”
This project not only underscores Turrini’s deep industry relationships and her compliance expertise, but also her commitment to ethical growth, industry education and innovation. Turrini also supports women entering the STEM sector, providing mentorship across the gaming world. She is a leader who cares deeply about diversity and advocating for a fairer industry.
A huge thank you to the panel of judges that helped make this year’s iGB Most Influential Women 2025 list happen. You can read more about the annual campaign and our esteemed judging panel here.
The next three iGB Most Influential Women 2025 winners prove they are indispensible to the sector’s compliance work.