Appointment of Commission Members
The Commission’s governing board consists of four non-executive members made up of the Chair, Deputy Chair and two ordinary members. The Commission’s Chief Executive Officer is also a member of the governing board. Non-executive Board members’ appointments are approved by the Minister for Racing and Gaming. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts is consulted on all non-executive member appointments in accordance with section 228 (Consultation with appropriate Assembly Committee) of the Legislation Act 2001.
The term of appointment for Commission members is three years. Members are eligible for re-appointment at the expiration of that term. The Chief Executive remains as a member for the duration of his/her term of office.
Commissioners
| Chair: | Ms Laura Beacroft |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chair: | Ms Leanne Close |
| Members: | Ms Carmel Franklin |
| Mr Carl Buik | |
| Chief Executive: | Ms Yu-Lan Chan |
The Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999 prescribes that of the four non-executive members of the Commission “one must have knowledge, experience or qualifications related to providing counselling services to problem gamblers”. The appointment of Ms Franklin has ensured compliance with this criterion.
Members’ Responsibilities
Under section 56 of the Financial Management Act (FMA) the Board is responsible, under the Minister, for the efficient and effective financial management of the authority. Section 77 of the FMA provides that a governing board has the following functions:
- setting the authority’s policies and strategies;
- governing the authority consistently with the authority’s establishing Act and other relevant legislation;
- ensuring, as far as practicable, that the authority operates in a proper, effective and efficient way; and
- ensuring, as far as practicable, that the authority complies with applicable governmental policies.
The Commission conducts formal meetings on a monthly basis where comprehensive briefing papers and recommendations regarding significant issues are prepared and presented to the Board by Commission staff.
Summary CVs for Commission Members
Laura Beacroft (Chair)
Ms Beacroft brings a range of skills and qualifications in modern regulation; sound decision-making and administrative law; as a company director; developing, delivering and evaluating policies and services; criminology and crime prevention; and conflict prevention and resolution. She has led many boards and committees that, like the Commission, operate in complex dynamic environments.
Ms Beacroft has qualifications in law, management, conflict resolution, and as a company director.
Leanne Close (Deputy Chair)
Ms Close was the head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Counter-terrorism Program in 2020. Prior to that, Ms Close was Deputy Commissioner of National Security at the Australian Federal Police (AFP). She has spent much of her career with the AFP, in a variety of areas including counter-terrorism, protection, aviation operations and human resources. In 2016, Ms Close was seconded to the Attorney-General’s Department to lead their Criminal Justice Group. From 2015-2019, she was Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering, the largest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) group in the world.
Ms Close holds a Masters of Education Leadership and two Graduate Certificates in Professional Development Education and Applied Management.
Carmel Franklin (Member)
Ms Franklin has been the Chief Executive Officer of Care Financial Counselling and Consumer Law Service since July 2008. She is a Consumer Director of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and Chairperson of Financial Counselling Australia. Ms Franklin holds a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Financial Counselling. Ms Franklin has the knowledge and experience related to providing counselling services to people experiencing gambling harm.
Carl Buik (Member)
Mr Buik is a semi-retired consumer protection consultant who brings to the Commission extensive experience in all aspects of consumer protection including business compliance programs, consumer and business education, agency capacity building and investigations.
Mr Buik enjoyed a long career with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Since 2002 he has undertaken a range of consultancies involving both consumer protection and competition law issues for international organisations, national governments and the private sector.
Mr Buik has qualifications in law (LLB, ANU) and economics (B.Ec, UNE & Grad Dip Economics for Competition Law, KCL).
Yu-Lan Chan (Chief Executive Officer & Member)
Ms Yu-Lan Chan is the Chief Executive of the Gambling and Racing Commission and Executive Branch Manager, Corporate Support and Capability within Access Canberra. Ms Chan's professional experience includes policy development and implementation, human resources, stakeholder engagement, organisational culture and program management. She has held senior executive roles in multiple agencies across the ACT Government including Senior Executive with Responsibility for Business Integrity and Risk. She also has experience in the Australian Public Service, higher education sector, and overseas.
Ms Chan holds an Executive Masters of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.