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THE STAR SYDNEY’S LEADERSHIP TEAM ACHIEVES EQUAL GENDER REPRESENTATION
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.
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BETER, the award-winning provider of fast-betting content, data, and odds for esports and sports, has strengthened its global team with the appointment of Miguel Valdes as Business Development Manager for the Asia–Pacific region.
Miguel is an experienced business development manager, having previously worked at prominent companies including SiGMA World, among others.
In his new role, Miguel will be responsible for driving BETER`s growth by creating new opportunities with operators, platform providers, and aggregators, helping the supplier expand its presence across the APAC region.
This includes establishing strategic partnerships and nurturing existing relationships with local partners as part of BETER’s broader efforts to scale quickly in APAC, mirroring its rapid growth in markets such as Latin America and Europe.
Miguel’s efforts will support BETER’s expansion into various APAC markets by leveraging the region’s strong demand for its fast-betting content. He will also lead the development of a local team focused on strengthening BETER’s footprint in the area.
Chuck Robinson, Chief Revenue Officer at BETER, commented: “Miguel is a strong addition to our team and will lead BETER’s development in the APAC region. He brings valuable experience to the table, and we are delighted to welcome him on board.
“We have ambitious plans for the region and with our various portfolio of esports and sports products, we’re perfectly positioned to meet the needs of the next-gen bettors there.”
Miguel Valdes added: “I’m excited to join BETER, especially at a time when the demand for fast-paced content is rapidly growing. This trend is evident not only in APAC but worldwide, with BETER driving that movement.
“The region holds enormous opportunities, not only for BETER but also for the operators and aggregators who are open to leveraging fast-betting potential. I look forward to contributing to BETER’s growth and exploring new markets across APAC together.”
The post BETER Names Miguel Valdes as Business Development Manager for APAC appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Booming Games proudly announces the launch of its slot titles on Starcasino.nl, one of the Netherlands’ rapidly emerging online gaming platforms. This collaboration represents a key milestone in Booming Games’ continued growth and presence in the Dutch market.
Starcasino, a well-established casino and sportsbook brand with deep roots in Belgium, is now live in the Netherlands under a license from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit). Known for its secure, responsible, and high-quality iGaming experience, Starcasino is quickly gaining traction among Dutch players.
As part of the partnership, Starcasino players can now enjoy a selection of top-performing Booming Games titles, including Tasty Bonanza, 64 Gold Coin Hold and Win, Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000, Ronaldinho Spins, and Dynamite Trio.
Booming Games continues to grow its global footprint, and this new partnership reflects its commitment to entering regulated markets with trusted local operators. With a shared focus on integrity, entertainment, and compliance, Booming Games and Starcasino are set to deliver exceptional value to players in the Netherlands.
This partnership is effective immediately, with integration efforts already underway to ensure seamless access to Booming Games content for licensed operators across the region.
Simona Lanzoni, Commercial Director at Booming Games, said: “Partnering with Starcasino marks a significant step in Booming Games’ expansion within the Dutch market. Starcasino’s strong reputation for responsible and high-quality entertainment aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional slot content to regulated markets. We’re excited to bring our most engaging titles to Dutch players and to continue growing our presence alongside a trusted and dynamic partner.”
Pieter van den Bos, Director at Starcasino, added: “We are thrilled to go live with Booming Games on Starcasino, bringing a fresh selection of innovative games to our platform. This launch offers our Dutch players even more choice and entertainment in our growing casino portfolio.”
The post Booming Games Expands Its Presence In the Netherlands Through Starcasino Collaboration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ICONIC21, the in-demand iGaming content provider, officially went live with Aardvark Technologies, the omni-solution provider for online and retail betting.
With this integration now complete, ICONIC21’s titles are fully available across Aardvark’s aggregation platform, expanding access for operators and players throughout key regions.
ICONIC21 has ramped up its content rollout in recent months, launching new titles across multiple verticals. Highlights include Gravity Plinko, which introduced its first-person games line, Wild Gold Mine among its latest slots, and standout live casino experiences such as the Gravity Series or recently-released Oasis VIP Blackjack. The upcoming Knock Knock game is also generating strong anticipation, with more information to be released soon.
Bringing this portfolio to Aardvark’s platform means operators now benefit from seamless access to ICONIC21’s unique content, enhanced by Aardvark’s compliance support and distribution reach.
Alina Popa, CCO at ICONIC21, shared: “Our content moves fast, and we need partners that can keep pace. With Aardvark, we’ve found a team that gets it. Their market presence and flexibility are a great match for our ambition, and we’re excited to see how this launch performs across their network.”
Arijus Denisovas, Commercial Director at Aardvark Technologies added: “ICONIC21 has built serious presence. Their titles are in demand, and we’re proud to bring them into our aggregation portfolio. This launch strengthens our offering and gives our partners even more tools to attract and retain players.”
With the integration now live, both companies are focused on delivering performance, reach, and value to operators seeking standout content in fast-moving markets.
The post ICONIC21 Content Now Live via Aardvark Technologies’ Aggregation Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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