VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt Announces Early Resignation

A transformative leader in gambling regulation, Annette Kimmitt, is stepping down as VGCCC CEO two years early.

During her tenure, the VGCCC became Australia’s toughest gambling regulator, enforcing $260m in fines and 88 disciplinary actions in 2023 alone.

Discover how her leadership reshaped the gambling industry and the reasons behind her decision to focus on family commitments.

Learn about Kimmitt’s legacy and the challenges ahead for the VGCCC as it seeks a new leader.

VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt Resigns Early, Leaving a Legacy of Stronger Gambling Regulation in Victoria

Key Points

1. Annette Kimmitt will step down as VGCCC CEO in March 2025, citing family commitments as her primary reason.
2. Under her leadership, the VGCCC imposed $260m in fines and pursued 88 disciplinary actions in 2023.
3. Kimmitt leaves behind a legacy of accountability, reshaping Victoria’s gambling industry post-Crown Royal Commission.

Annette Kimmitt, the trailblazing CEO of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), has announced her resignation. She will leave her role in March 2025, two years before her term’s conclusion. Kimmitt cites personal reasons, including the arrival of her first grandchild and caring for her ageing mother, as driving factors in her decision.

Transformative Leadership in Gambling Regulation

Kimmitt took the reins of the VGCCC in March 2022, inheriting what she described as an “under-resourced regulator on the retreat.” Despite the challenges, her leadership transformed the VGCCC into a force to be reckoned with, now recognized as Australia’s strongest gambling regulator.

In her three-year tenure, Kimmitt’s impact was profound.

• The VGCCC enforced $260 million in fines, setting a new precedent for accountability in the gambling industry.
• In 2023 alone, the regulator initiated 88 disciplinary actions, holding operators to stringent compliance standards.
• The VGCCC adopted a risk-based, intelligence-led approach, strengthening its oversight of Victoria’s gambling landscape.

Reflecting on her time at the helm, Kimmitt stated:

“I am really proud of what the organisation has done in three short years. We are now recognised as the nation’s strongest gambling regulator. We have really held the industry to account.”

Praise for Kimmitt’s Leadership

Fran Thorn, VGCCC Chair, also departing the organization, commended Kimmitt’s contributions:

“Annette’s leadership, drive, and laser-like focus were fundamental to transforming the VGCCC following the Crown Royal Commission and, by extension, the state’s gambling industry. Her risk-based regulatory framework will be her enduring legacy.”

Challenges Ahead for the VGCCC

Kimmitt’s resignation comes as the VGCCC continues to enforce reforms sparked by the Crown Royal Commission, which exposed significant failings in Victoria’s gambling industry. Her departure, coupled with Thorn’s, leaves the VGCCC at a crossroads, with the need for strong leadership to sustain its trajectory of rigorous enforcement and public accountability.

What’s Next for Kimmitt

While stepping away from full-time executive roles, Kimmitt plans to remain active in governance, joining private boards where her expertise in compliance and strategy will undoubtedly be valued.

Annette Kimmitt’s tenure as CEO of the VGCCC has been nothing short of transformative. She leaves behind an organization that has redefined gambling regulation in Australia, with a legacy of accountability, innovation, and leadership.

As the VGCCC searches for her successor, it faces the challenge of maintaining its momentum in safeguarding Victoria’s gambling industry. Meanwhile, Kimmitt embarks on a new chapter, focusing on family and contributing her expertise to private boards.

Her departure is a poignant reminder of the balance between personal commitments and professional excellence—a testament to a leader who reshaped an industry while staying grounded in her values.