The Commission is tasked with statutory decision making under gambling legislation. It also sets our strategic direction and provides oversight of our organisation.
On the recommendation of the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, the Governor in Council appoints the Commissioners. The Chair convenes and presides at Commission meetings and is also the public service body head under the Public Administration Act 2004. Decisions are made at convened meetings or by conducting inquiries.
Download the Commission Charter below for more information on the Commission's role and responsibilities.
Chair
Fran Thorn
Ms Thorn is a former senior public servant with the Victorian Government and a former Partner of Deloitte Consulting Australia.
Throughout her career, Ms Thorn has consulted with governments around Australia (Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia), as well as in Hong Kong and New Zealand. She specialised in social service delivery (education, health and human services) and central policymaking in state governments.
Ms Thorn’s 27-year career within the Victorian public sector included 3 roles as Secretary (Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development; Department of Human Services; and Department of Health), and 4 years as Deputy Secretary, Policy in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she was responsible for policy and governance.
Ms Thorn’s appointment as our inaugural Chair was announced in November 2021 and commenced on 1 January 2022.
Acting Chair
Chris O'Neill APM
Mr O’Neill was previously Assistant Commissioner with Victoria Police where he was a member of the Victoria Police Command.
During 45 years of service with Victoria Police, Mr O’Neill held a diverse range of corporate, strategic and operational roles until September 2022. He has extensive experience on various national and state government committees.
With a passion for community service, Mr O’Neill has earned a reputation for his strong people, safety and culture leadership, which includes successfully implementing a broad range of modernisation programs.
Mr O’Neill’s qualifications include a Master of Business Leadership and a Graduate Diploma of Business from RMIT. He is a Williamson Community Leadership Program Graduate with Leadership Victoria and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Program.
In 2010, Mr O’Neill was awarded an Australian Police Medal (APM) in the Australia Day Honours Awards in recognition of his distinguished service to policing and the community. He was appointed to the Commission in September 2022.
Deputy Chair
Dr Ron Ben David
Dr Ben-David is a Professorial Fellow with the Monash Business School. Between 2008 and 2019, Dr Ben-David served as Chair of Victoria’s economic regulator, the Essential Services Commission. This followed his heading of the national secretariat for the Garnaut Climate Change Review, and a decade in senior roles in the Victorian Departments of Premier and Cabinet and Treasury and Finance.
Dr Ben-David sits on the boards of ClimateWorks Australia, the Consumer Policy Research Centre and the Regulatory Policy Institute. He is also a member of various advisory boards and panels. Dr Ben-David is the Principal of Solrose Consulting. He was appointed as Deputy Chair of the VGCCC in July 2022.
Dr Ben-David holds a BSc (Optometry), BComm (Hons), PhD (Economics), and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Ben-David was appointed to the Commission in July 2022.
Deputy Chair
Andrew Scott
Mr Scott is a former President of the Law Institute of Victoria and has practised as a lawyer in the private sector for more than 40 years. He specialises in business and sports law. Mr Scott is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Scott was previously Chair of the Victorian Liquor Licensing Panel and has served as a member of the Victorian Legal Services Board, Netball Australia, Swimming Victoria and YMCA Victoria.
He was appointed to the Commission in December 2019.
Commissioner
Claire Miller
Ms Miller has more than 25 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer and extensive leadership and operational experience in a range of industries, including infrastructure, property, mining, energy and utilities. She is an experienced corporate governance professional with legal, compliance, risk and regulatory expertise.
Ms Miller’s directorships include Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority, Central Gippsland Health Service, Australian Radiation Protection and the Nuclear Safety Agency Audit and Risk Committee. She is also a State Council member of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Ms Miller holds an LLB/BA and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance.
She was appointed to the Commission
in July 2022.
Updated