Responsible Gambling Fund Chair and trustees
Meet the members of the Responsible Gambling Fund's Trust: the expert advisers who set the direction for GambleAware and recommend programs and initiatives for funding.
How the Responsible Gambling Fund Trust works
The purpose of the Responsible Gambling Fund is to provide expert advice and funding recommendations to the NSW Government about addressing gambling harm in the community. At least 6 times a year, the trustees meet to explore and make recommendations on:
- research
- community awareness and education
- early intervention, support and counselling services
- supporting departmental policy makers and regulators.
Meet the trustees
The Trust currently has eleven trustees. They all bring their own expertise from diverse fields including public health, law, government, gambling industry, academia, business and social research.
Chris Bertinshaw
Chris currently Chairs the Board of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. He is accredited by the NSW Government to provide governance training to non-government school ‘Responsible Persons’.
Chris has a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; a Master in E-Commerce degree from the University of New England and a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney. He holds a Diploma in Theology from the Australian College of Theology and, having gained a Company Directors’ Diploma, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Chris facilitated the AICD director education programs in Australia and overseas specialising in corporate governance, finance and strategy and risk for almost 10 years.
Anne Fitzgerald
As Chair of Youth Off The Streets, director of Meals on Wheels and Trustee of the Responsible Gambling Fund, Anne provides disciplined governance, risk oversight and strategic clarity in complex, multi stakeholder environments. Her executive career includes leading the Talent Development Project as CEO and serving for nearly two decades as Executive Manager at ClubsNSW, where she delivered major industry reforms, strengthened governance frameworks and built high impact community partnerships.
Anne holds an MBA, GAICD and is an accredited mediator. She is recognised for her collaborative leadership style, sound judgement and ability to support boards in making informed, future focused decisions.
Robert Lagaida
Mr Lagaida also has extensive experience in governance, board, audit and risk management portfolios. He has previously served and is currently serving as a Board Member and/or Chair on Audit and Risk Management Committees in a number of NSW Government Agencies, Local Government, aged and disability organisations and medical colleges.
Mr Lagaida holds a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Information Systems. He is a Fellow with CPA Australia and a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kara Lamond
In her role as Chief Operating Officer at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Kara has participated in research projects, program evaluations, and public awareness campaigns to address addiction-related challenges. Kara has extensive experience in representing health and research organisations at public events, conferences, and at high level meetings to advocate for evidence-based solutions and resources.
Kara has held numerous Non-Executive Director positions on not-for-profit boards with a strong focus on supporting community organisations to assist disadvantaged groups within our community.
Kara is a graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Arts from University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from University of New England and a Graduate Certificate of Laws from the Australian National University.
Luke Lindsay
Beginning his career as a senior mental health clinician, Luke has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for individuals and communities experiencing complex mental health, alcohol and other drug, suicide prevention and psychosocial challenges. His clinical background provides a strong foundation for his leadership, with extensive experience working alongside people experiencing severe mental illness, trauma, addiction and social disadvantage.
Luke has held Chief Executive Officer and senior executive roles across national and state-based not-for-profit organisations, leading large multidisciplinary teams and overseeing the delivery of mental health, gambling harm, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug, homelessness, disability and community wellbeing services across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia. He has successfully led significant organisational transformation, service innovation, governance reform and large-scale commissioning initiatives, while maintaining a strong focus on improving consumer outcomes.
Recognised for delivering support services in gambling harm prevention and treatment, Luke has spent many years leading specialist gambling support services throughout Queensland. His work has encompassed prevention, early intervention, counselling, financial counselling, family support, community education, workforce development and service integration. He has worked closely with governments, regulators, researchers and community organisations to strengthen evidence-based responses to gambling harm and has championed public health approaches that recognise the links between gambling, mental ill health, financial distress, family violence, alcohol and other drug use, and suicide.
Luke is also a trusted advisor to government regulators, Primary Health Networks, Hospital and Health Services and peak bodies, contributing to policy development, commissioning frameworks and system reform. He is passionate about ensuring gambling harm services are accessible, person-centred and integrated within the broader health and social service system.
In addition to his executive leadership, Luke serves as a Non-Executive Director and is recognised for his expertise in governance, organisational strategy and health service transformation. He holds Masters qualifications in mental health and psychiatry, executive leadership and governance and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Luke remains committed to reducing gambling-related harm, strengthening prevention and treatment services, and improving the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities affected by gambling.
Sara Pantzer
She has extensive experience in public policy, having served as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to various NSW Government Ministers, where she steered more than 30 Acts of Parliament through the legislative process, requiring rigorous analysis of legal frameworks, ethical considerations, community expectations and clinical implications.
She has also held senior executive roles in sectors related to national standards regulation, telecommunications and finance. Her specialist skills are in public policy, strategic communications, government relations and stakeholder management.
Sara has served as a Non-Executive Director on a range of not-for-profit Boards, in the health, education and civil society space, and currently chairs Governance Committees on those Boards, as well as Deputy Chair.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution, degrees in Economics and Law, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Anastasia Polites
Anastasia was previously an employment and industrial relations lawyer for both Unions and Employer Associations. She worked for Local Government NSW and managed the legal and industrial teams at the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union and the Electrical Trades Union in NSW. Anastasia started her legal career as a legal aid and community sector lawyer in NSW and worked on cases with disadvantaged clients including those affected by problem gambling.
Anastasia has been a director on the Board of legalsuper, and the recipient of the Garry Weaven scholarship with AIST which allowed her to attend the Harvard Kennedy School.
Anastasia has a Masters of Law and Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney, and also a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and Commerce from the University of Sydney.
Steven Takacs-Gal
In his current board roles, he chairs the board of Accessible Diversity Services Initiative, is a director of Inner West Neighbour Aid and independent director of Job Pathways Ltd. He has held board roles with Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, Independent Living for the Physically Disabled and Blacktown Youth Services Association.
Siobhan Toohill
Siobhan brings expertise in strategy, governance, risk management and disclosure – including strategic responses and policy formulation to support and empower those in the community experiencing vulnerability.
Siobhan is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She holds board roles with Landcom, the World Benchmarking Alliance, the Mulloon Institute, Greater Sydney Parklands, and the Social Outfit. Her advisory and committee memberships include the Australian Government's Nature Repair Committee, the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner's Advisory Panel, Alphinity Investment Management's Sustainability Compliance Committee and the NSW Council of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Maria Vassiliadis
As Assistant Secretary of the Classification Branch in 2023, she led stage 1 reforms addressing concerns about children’s exposure to gambling related content online.
Previously, Maria was Executive Manager of the Legal and Compliance Branch at the eSafety Commissioner’s Office, where she led the implementation of a range of regulatory schemes and initiatives to address online harms, including Australia’s world-first cyberbullying scheme designed to better protect children online.
Maria holds Board and advisory roles across NSW Health and aged care, and privately consults on regulation, enforcement and policy reform.
She is passionate about harm minimisation through robust regulatory frameworks, supported by evidence-based education and awareness initiatives.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
Tarek Barakat
Prior to joining Hospitality and Racing, Tarek worked at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as Executive Director, Strategic Projects at Property and Development NSW, before becoming Executive Director, Policy & Reform, where he led the most significant reform to the state’s Cemetery and Crematoria sector in its history.
Starting in Local Government, before moving to the Department of Justice and onto Liquor & Gaming NSW as Manager, Policy and Legislation, Tarek has also held several senior executive roles at Create NSW, including Acting Chief Executive and Chair of the Night-time Economy Taskforce, during which he led the redevelopment of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the expansion of the Art Gallery of NSW, and commercial negotiations to reopen Sydney’s Theatre Royal.
