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How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position?   I originally started my career in Sydney in publishing at SRA then McGraw-Hill Book Company where I designed brochures and catalogues. From there I moved into a Finance support role then a Marketing role within Polaroid Australia. I had also completed study in the area of IT and was able to help support Polaroids team move into Microsoft Office products at the time. My husband was part of a teaching scholarship which took him to the Newcastle Region. It was there I began with Aristocrat and the Gaming Industry. With Newcastle being a regional office, I was fortunate enough to have exposure to all areas of the business including sales order management, inventory, installs and logistics which gave me a cross functional view of the company and the gaming industry. With that exposure and my ability to pick up on IT software application processes quickly I was seconded to train the sales team with the Configuration tool and CRM and from their enlisted to work on a Project to incorporate the Australian National Sales Support Function into one team which resulted [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position?   After graduating university I started my career in IT in the dairy industry. One of my first roles was as a project co-ordinator doing administration – budgets, minutes, supporting project and programme managers in anything they needed. I really enjoyed working in a project environment, fast paced and focused on delivering specific outcomes. I used that time to learn as much as I could, I spent a lot of time listening, asking questions and observing different management and leadership styles and after a few years I moved into a project management role, managing a range of small-medium IT projects. I then got the opportunity to work on a large transformation programme, replacing the system we used for core business processes (HR, procurement, finance, supply chain and sales) across multiple countries in Asia. This was a steep learning curve for me, I had my first experience being part of a high performing team and in 18 months we had rolled out the system to five countries. Following that I decided to take some time off, and spent six months travelling overseas.  When [...]

“At first I was afraid, I was petrified” Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive Amy Ayoub, The Zen Speaker, told me that the best way to start a speech is with a quote, a fact or a question. I think I can apply the same principle to this article and I can think of no better quote that sums up how I felt on the first day of the Executive Development Program. I don’t remember when I first heard about the Executive Development Program. I do remember that I was a Customer Service team member, working at the Premium Gaming Room reception desk at Treasury Casino in Brisbane, so it must have been about ten years ago. I had heard that one of the Casino Duty Managers had gone to Lake Tahoe in Nevada USA for a development course that was specifically for leaders in the gaming industry. I set myself the goal that one day I would attend. As I write this, I’m reflecting on one of the most challenging, exhausting, difficult and rewarding experiences of my career and my education. A joint initiative of the University of Reno and the University of Las Vegas, The Executive Development Program [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position?   I started working at Zagame’s Caulfield at the age of 18. I had no idea how to pour a beer and I certainly wasn’t ready for the grave yard shift as my induction to hospitality and gaming. At the time Zagame’s Caulfield was the number one performing venue in Victoria and I relished the vibe of the organisation, the comradery of the team, the vision of the leadership, and the thrill of working the public bar and taking note of the horses that impressed at trackwork that morning at Caulfield Racecourse. I was hooked! Since then I’ve worked at what is now The Glasshouse, Caulfield and then on to Tabcorp in a training role followed by a private RTO in a Hospitality Executive position. I have been at the Australian Hotels Association (Vic) for 6 years, firstly as the Manager for Membership and now as the Senior Manager for Membership and Industry Engagement. What has motivated you to get involved in being an advocate for change? (for gender equality) Having now been in the industry for (ahem) 23 years, I see [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? I worked as a waitress in Wests Leagues Club whilst studying mathematics at university. After graduating, I landed a graduate position at Aristocrat and have worked my way up to my current role as Game Design Lead. So, I have experience working for a club and a gaming manufacturer in completely unrelated roles. Why is Women in Gaming & Hospitality so important to you? Women in Gaming & Hospitality is so important to me as it has provided a range of opportunities for me to develop professionally. I have attended Step Forward Events, Networking nights and most recently, I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Emerging Speakers Program. I always leave these events feeling inspired and energised. As part of the Emerging Speakers Program, I attended the Gaming, Racing & Wagering Australia conference along with the 3 others selected for the program (Ainslie, Kimberley and Janelle) and we were coached by Josephine Dalton (General Manager - People Services, People & performance at The Star Entertainment Group). This was a wonderful opportunity to meet other women in various parts of [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? Initially I was drawn to the hospitality industry specifically towards hotels. I was studying accounting and had hoped to get a finance job in a hotel chain that could open up the possibilities to work abroad. To get experience in the industry I applied for a Gaming Attendant role at Parramatta Leagues Club, which I was successful in. To this day I still have fond memories of comradery amongst the staff from entry level to senior management. The more training I underwent the more avenues presented with the option to pursue a career within this industry. It was the moment I decided this would be my future that doors started to open for me. I underwent a quick succession from gaming attendant to loyalty host and then safe operator. I was presented with the opportunity to look at some small Gaming Admin tasks and quickly found a passion for Gaming. It was from here I looked to further my progression and find a role in my new found passion. I bid Parramatta Leagues Club farewell and stepped into a Gaming Analyst [...]

How do you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? I started in the industry when I was in the penultimate year of an arts/law degree and I certainly started at entry level.  My first role in the gaming industry was a casual Gaming Machine Attendant/Cashier at Crown Melbourne.  I had been working a variety of hospitality and other roles whilst studying and I was impressed by both the great conditions on offer and the flexibility offered by the shift work.  I actually knew little to nothing about the industry itself (or about gambling) when I took that first role and never imagined at the time that I would still be working in an industry role over two decades later.  Upon completing my studies I took a role in management with the Crown Gaming Machines Department and in subsequent years I worked in responsible gambling, including as Manager of Crown’s Responsible Gambling Support Centre.  I moved to my first role with the Australasian Gaming Council – an industry funded NFP that focuses on industry sustainability and responsible gambling – in 2008.  I found the role at the AGC through networks established [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? The first beer I ever poured was at Eastlake Kaleen in 1990. It was an exciting experience accompanied by lively banter, new friendships and a position that was all care and no responsibility. This was my “second job” – something to increase my spending money and help me pay off a car loan. It certainly wasn’t a career choice. Fast forward a decade, three licensed clubs and add in some international hospitality experience and I secured a role with the industry peak body in Canberra, ClubsACT. I spent 14 years with this organisation including my last position as Policy Manager. This position included lobbying for legislative change, developing gambling harm initiatives and working with industry stakeholders to ensure we had a thriving club industry. A key aspect of my role was to bring industry along with any regulatory changes – as Canberra is one of the strictest gaming jurisdictions in Australia, this was sometimes a challenge. During my tenure at ClubsACT I was heavily involved in a wide variety of government committees including the gambling harm advisory committee, gambling industry consultative [...]

Anne-Maree Ross Group Marketing and Business Development Manager Licensed Club Management – Club Kilsyth and Club Ringwood How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? Like many school leavers, hospitality offered the flexibility to work nights and weekends around my university study. I commenced my employment at Club Kilsyth in 2003 as a waitress in our bistro, whilst studying a double degree in Art and Science. Over the following 2 years I worked across multiple areas including as a function host, working behind the bar and as a bistro team leader. In 2005 the Club was razed by a devastating fire and I found myself suddenly unemployed. Whilst the Club rebuilt, I completed my studies and in November 2006 when the time came for the Club to reopen, I jumped at any opportunity to re-join the crew and found myself as a full-time reception supervisor. I can still remember the opening day and the line of people going out the door to renew their membership! In August 2007, our licensee opened a second venue, Club Ringwood, and an opportunity arose for me to apply for a trainee management position. [...]

How did you find your start in the industry and how did you arrive at your current position? I started my hospitality career as a waitress in Sydney 17 years ago while I was putting myself through Performing Arts College. At 22, I moved to London to continue with my performing arts career and whilst there I continued to work in restaurants, which is where my career blossomed. I worked my way up through the ranks quickly progressing from a waitress, head waitress, Assistant Restaurant Manager to Restaurant Manager, Assistant General Manager and finally to General Manager. After 7 years in London and establishing myself in the industry, I was head hunted to move to Hong Kong and work for a restaurant group that were planning to open up 7 restaurants. After 3 years in Hong Kong, successful openings and franchising the business to Jakarta I moved back home to Australia. I was offered the position of Business Development Manager at Crown Melbourne, developing labour efficiency models in order to reduce labour and other expenses. With 3 years in this role, I applied and was successful in obtaining the position of General Manager – Events and Conferences where I [...]