The company, which is going through major structural reform following the devastating findings of two inquiries into money laundering in NSW and Queensland, said it would create property-based operational business units at its Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney casinos.

During the Gotterson inquiry into Star’s Queensland operations, it was heard that people who had been banned from gambling at the Sydney casino were directed to its Gold Coast site.

The company was fined $100 million in both NSW and Queensland and was hit with another $140,000 fine for illegally helping gamblers use their credit cards to gamble at Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Since those findings, the company has gone through major reform with sweeping changes to management and the board.

Star said it was still progressing the appointment of chief executives to its Brisbane and Sydney sites.

Chief executive Robbie Cooke said the change would simplify its structure and provide accountability.

The appointment is a promotion for Mellor, who has been at the Gold Coast for four years as chief operating officer. Before that, she was chief executive at Aquis Entertainment which operates the Canberra casino.

She was the youngest and first female COO when she was appointed in 2019.

“The new structure will provide greater responsibility and decision-making power at a property level while maintaining appropriate oversight from the group level,” Cooke said.

He said that the Gold Coast team had been able to deliver a world-class tourism destination during what had been incredibly challenging times.

Mellor agreed.

“There have been some testing times over the past four years, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and the agility required to keep adapting day-to-day. But the Gold Coast is resilient, it’s innovative and there is an extraordinary future ahead of our city and The Star can be such a significant contributor to that,” she said.