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THE STAR SYDNEY’S LEADERSHIP TEAM ACHIEVES EQUAL GENDER REPRESENTATION

Published

4 years ago

November 15, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Star Sydney leadership team has reached a 50/50 split of men and women following two recent appointments to
the executive group reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The Star Entertainment Group has a target of 45% women and 45% men representation in leadership roles across its
properties in Sydney and Queensland, while the remaining 10% reflects scope for any gender identity, including non-binary gender identities.

The result also signals the success of an ongoing commitment to improvement in gender representation. Five years
ago, the equivalent leadership team at The Star Sydney comprised 23% women.

The Star Sydney’s COO, Damian Quayle said that achieving gender equality in the leadership team was the result of a
focused effort including the development of a talent acquisition and recruitment pipeline, fostering an inclusive and
diverse work environment and implementing a group-wide gender equality strategy.

“I am incredibly proud to say that my leadership team reflects a more balanced representation of genders, of our
workforce, of our community and the millions of guests we welcome each year,” Mr Quayle said.

“I wholeheartedly believe that equal representation drives better teamwork, a wider base of experience to drawn upon
and ultimately greater performance.”

The Star Entertainment Group’s Chief People and Performance Officer, Kim Lee added, “We recognise that diversity –
of genders, different cultural backgrounds, experiences and ideas is critical to creating a welcoming environment for
our guests and team members. With more women being elevated to senior roles than ever, The Star is on track to
meet its targets.”

Following the appointments of Sandra Thefs and Christina Lambert, the team now comprises three women and three
men.

Speaking of the two appointments, Mr Quayle said: “Sandra adds over 25 years’ experience in the gaming industry to
the team. She most recently spearheaded delivery of Sovereign, The Star Sydney’s $250 million premium
entertainment and gaming venue.

“Since taking on the role as Director of Hotels, Christina has truly excelled. She has led The Darling Sydney in
maintaining its pre-eminent position as the only luxury hotel to receive the coveted Forbes’ Five Star award. She is now
also responsible for developing a program that ensures that level of service and guest experience is delivered across
our entire property.”

Sandra Thefs, who has been with The Star since 1995 – first as a dealer at Treasury Brisbane, then venturing south for
the launch of ‘Star City’ in 1997 said a strong network of advocates were key to her progression.

“Throughout my time with The Star, I have always been supported in my ambitions to progress my career by my peers
and my managers,” she said. “They instilled the confidence I needed and encouraged me to take up opportunities I
might not have otherwise pursued.

”As Chair of Balance at The Star, our gender equality network, I have seen firsthand the progress we have made in a
short space of time.

“Although there is more work to be done to achieve parity across the board, we have clear direction from our Executive
team, a newly released gender equality strategy to help our targets and a committed workforce all working towards the
same goal.”

The Star Sydney’s Director of Hotel and Guest Experiences, Christina Lambert, said she is thrilled to be part of a
leadership group that values equity, diversity, and inclusion.

“I have had the pleasure of leading The Star Sydney’s hotel team over the last two years, and excited to extend my role
into guest experience across the property,” Ms Lambert said.

“It is important for me to see a balanced representation of genders in our teams, and I’m grateful to be part of that and
ensuring it is reflected across all levels of The Star’s operations.”

Sandra and Christina join Samantha Apps on The Star Sydney‘s leadership team.

Ms Apps joined The Star Entertainment Group in 2017 as General Manager, Group Procurement where she led the
transformation of that function, increasing benefits delivery by 150% over her first two years.

She moved into The Star Sydney’s leadership team in February 2021 as General Manager, Hospitality and Group
Supply Chain. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Ms Apps is an active ally and member of the ‘Proud at
The Star’ committee that champions a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBTQI+ team members and
guests, and NSW state representative on Chief Executive Women’s Connect Committee that supports the pathway to
the C-Suite for talented women across Australia.

Brasilia

BiS Brasília focuses on responsible governance for Brazil’s gaming and betting future

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

bis-brasilia-focuses-on-responsible-governance-for-brazil’s-gaming-and-betting-future

BiS Brasília is confirmed for June 2–3, bringing a strong focus on responsible governance and the future of the gaming and betting industry in Brazil.

The event will take place on June 2–3 at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada hotel.

The event will gather key stakeholders, authorities, and industry leaders to discuss major developments shaping the sector.

In its second edition, the event expects a 20% increase in attendance compared to last year.

“Reaching the second edition of BiS Brasília represents the consolidation of an essential space for dialogue between the private sector, authorities, and experts at a decisive moment for the Brazilian market.

Brasília is the center of the country’s major regulatory discussions, and bringing together key ecosystem players in the federal capital reinforces the event’s commitment to building a more transparent, responsible, and sustainable industry,” said Alessandro Valente, the cofounder.

Tickets are available at: https://brazilianigamingsummit.com/brasilia/

About BiS Brasília

In its second edition, BiS Brasília is an event dedicated to the iGaming and betting ecosystem, fostering dialogue between the private sector, public authorities, and society on the development of Brazil’s regulated market for gaming, casinos, and lotteries.

The event brings together business leaders, regulators, and industry experts to discuss key strategic topics such as Brazilian regulation, taxation, integrity, innovation, responsible gaming, compliance, AML / anti-money laundering, licensing, sports integrity, government relations, advertising, and CONAR standards.

BiS SiGMA South America is part of the SiGMA World events portfolio, one of the leading global platforms for B2B business networking and events focused on the gaming and betting industry.

The post BiS Brasília focuses on responsible governance for Brazil’s gaming and betting future appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AML

BiS Brasília ya tiene definido tema central para el próximo evento

Published

4 hours ago

May 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

bis-brasilia-ya-tiene-definido-tema-central-para-el-proximo-evento

El BiS Brasília ya tiene definido el tema central para la próxima edición y será la gobernanza responsable para el futuro de los juegos y las apuestas en Brasil.

El evento se celebrará los días 2 y 3 de junio en el hotel Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada.

BiS Brasília está confirmado para los días 2 y 3 de junio, con un enfoque en la gobernanza responsable del futuro del sector de juegos y apuestas en Brasil.

El encuentro reunirá a autoridades, líderes y expertos para debatir las principales novedades del sector.

En su segunda edición, el evento espera un crecimiento del 20% en la asistencia en comparación con el año anterior.

“Llegar a la segunda edición del BiS Brasília representa la consolidación de un espacio esencial para el diálogo entre el sector privado, las autoridades y los especialistas en un momento decisivo para el mercado brasileño.

Brasília es el centro de las grandes discusiones regulatorias del país, y reunir a los principales actores de este ecosistema en la capital federal refuerza el compromiso del evento con la construcción de un entorno cada vez más transparente, responsable y sostenible para la industria”, destacó Alessandro Valente.

Los interesados pueden adquirir sus entradas en: https://brazilianigamingsummit.com/brasilia/

Sobre BiS Brasília

En su segunda edición, BiS Brasília es un encuentro dedicado al ecosistema de iGaming y apuestas, promoviendo el diálogo entre el sector privado, el poder público y la sociedad sobre el desarrollo del mercado regulado de juegos, casinos y loterías en Brasil.

El evento reúne a líderes empresariales, autoridades y expertos para debatir temas estratégicos como regulación brasileña, tributación, integridad, innovación, juego responsable, compliance, AML / prevención de lavado de dinero, licenciamiento, integridad deportiva, relación con el Gobierno, publicidad y CONAR.

BiS SiGMA South America forma parte del portafolio de eventos de SiGMA World, una de las principales plataformas globales de negocios y organización de eventos B2B enfocados en la industria de juegos y apuestas.

The post BiS Brasília ya tiene definido tema central para el próximo evento appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Boomerang Partners

Boomerang Partners reveals first Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 leaders in the race for Wimbledon

Published

5 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

boomerang-partners-reveals-first-golden-boomerang-awards-2026-leaders-in-the-race-for-wimbledon

Boomerang Partners has shared the first leaderboard results from the Kickoff stage of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026. One month into the tournament’s third season, the first frontrunners have appeared in the race for the stage’s main prize – a trip to the Wimbledon Championships.

The race for Wimbledon starts to take shape

The Kickoff stage has started at a fast pace. After the first month, the leading team has reached 256 points. The rest of the top five currently stand at 218, 156, 142, and 100 points, followed by teams with 93, 62, 30, 26, and 20 points in the top ten.

The early gap is not only about traffic volume. The top teams are also actively using boosts, special tasks, and stage-based opportunities. For the rest of the field, leaving those mechanics unused can quickly turn into lost points.

For now, the top ten are closest to the stage’s main prize – a trip to the Wimbledon Championships, taking place from June 29 to July 12, 2026. But the Kickoff stage runs until June 9, and May leaves enough room for movement. Several major sports events are still ahead, giving active teams more opportunities to earn points before the stage closes.

The Mystery Box draw looks ahead to football summer

Boomerang Partners is also running the first Mystery Box draw during the Kickoff stage of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026. This mechanic is separate from the leaderboard: five active participants have already been selected at random, with another five to be named by the end of the month. The first Mystery Boxes go to Zitora Agency, AskGamblers & Gentoo Media, alfa:search, Gdc group, and AskBonus.

The Mystery Box is tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026, although Boomerang Partners is not revealing the full contents in advance. For now, the company is only hinting at exclusive football items connected to national teams competing in the tournament.

The next stage of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 will run during one of the busiest football periods of the year. By then, the Mystery Box will have a direct connection to what many fans will be watching most closely – the FIFA World Cup.

May brings more room to move

May is the busiest part of the Kickoff stage. The month brings the decisive rounds of European football competitions, the NBA and NHL playoffs, Roland Garros, and other events that tend to concentrate audience interest around key match days.

For affiliate teams, this is where planning becomes important. A steady flow of traffic is useful, but the bigger gains are likely to come from choosing the right days to push, completing additional tasks, and using the remaining point-earning opportunities before June 9.

The first month has shown who started strongest. May will show who can keep that pace – and who can use the final stretch to move closer to Wimbledon.

Kristina Shkredova, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, commented: “The first month has shown that teams are treating the Kickoff stage as a real competition, not just a short campaign. The leading positions are already backed by a clear strategy: teams are using boosts, planning around sports peaks, and staying active across different mechanics. But this is exactly why the stage is still open. In May, one well-timed push can change a team’s position quickly, so consistency and timing will matter as much as the current point gap.”

The road to London remains open

The Kickoff stage of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 continues until June 9. Until then, the leaderboard remains open, with updates on the stage results, the remaining Mystery Box winners, and the race for the main prize in London available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

References to Wimbledon, FIFA, and other third-party brands are made for descriptive purposes only. Boomerang Partners is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to these entities in any way.

Boomerang Partners acts as an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. Any experiences related to AC Milan are provided within the scope of this partnership.

The post Boomerang Partners reveals first Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 leaders in the race for Wimbledon appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.