Annette Kimmitt, the head of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, has decided to step down to devote more time to her family.
Kimmitt took on the role at the Australian state’s regulatory body in March 2022, having succeeded interim CEO Scott May. A former top executive at MinterEllison, the largest law firm in Australia, she is set to vacate her position in March 2025. She will, however, continue to serve on the boards of Trawalla Group and Mirrabooka Investments as a non-executive director.
The VGCCC stated that Kimmitt decided to end her full-time executive career to focus on personal commitments. Her leadership has seen significant regulatory actions against operators, most notably Tabcorp. In August, Tabcorp received a record fine of A$4.6 million in Victoria for ongoing responsible gambling breaches. This was in addition to a A$370,000 penalty for allowing an underage individual to place bets in a retail location, and another A$262,000 fine for online betting violations.
In a conversation with *The Guardian Australia*, Kimmitt explained: “I have my first grand-daughter due in January, and my mother is ageing and requires more support. It feels like the right moment to step away from full-time work.” She expressed pride in the organization’s accomplishments over the past three years, describing the VGCCC as now being recognized as the nation’s strongest gambling regulator. “We’ve held the industry accountable, imposing nearly A$260 million in fines since January 2022 and initiating 88 disciplinary actions last year alone,” she noted.
Fran Thorn, the chair of VGCCC, praised Kimmitt’s leadership and focus, highlighting how these qualities were crucial to transforming the commission post-Crown Royal Commission and revitalizing the state’s gambling sector. Thorn noted, “The VGCCC, under Annette’s guidance, devised a pioneering risk-based, intelligence-led regulatory approach for Victoria’s gambling industry. This marks her lasting legacy.”
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Originally published on EGR Intel, the announcement regarding Kimmitt’s resignation can be found on their website.