The Star Entertainment Group has appointed Dave Whimpey as Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer of The Star Brisbane, subject to regulatory approval. The move forms part of a wider executive restructure across the operator’s integrated resort portfolio as it works to reset governance standards following regulatory setbacks.

Whimpey brings 25 years of gaming and hospitality experience to the role. That includes senior positions at Jupiter’s Casino (now The Star Gold Coast), Tabcorp, and Brisbane Racing Club. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for the Brisbane property, which opened in August 2024 as the casino anchor of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development.

Rebuilding After Regulatory Penalties

The leadership change follows a challenging period for The Star. In June 2025, the operator accepted a $400 million penalty from AUSTRAC over anti-money laundering breaches accumulated across several years. More recently, Australia’s Federal Court found two former senior executives in breach of the Corporations Act for failures in managing and reporting money-laundering and criminal-activity risks.

The court ruling, delivered by Justice Lee, represents a significant moment in The Star’s ongoing efforts to restore regulatory confidence.

The findings underline the importance of robust compliance frameworks. Casino operators face increasingly stringent oversight across Australian jurisdictions, and frankly, they’re running out of room to manoeuvre.

Strategic Leadership for a Flagship Asset

Whimpey described the appointment as an opportunity to drive change during a transformative period. “I’m excited to be joining The Star at such a pivotal time as the business embarks on a new era focused on rebuilding, revitalisation and restoring confidence,” he said.

The Star Brisbane sits within the 12-hectare Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct, a riverside development designed to attract premium international visitors and high-value players. The project has faced its own challenges, though. The Star has been negotiating since August last year to divest its 50% stake in the broader development.

Whimpey’s brief will be to stabilise operations, strengthen governance protocols, and position the property for long-term commercial success. His appointment signals The Star’s recognition that operational excellence and regulatory compliance must now advance in lockstep if the group is to rebuild trust and capitalise on its substantial infrastructure investment.

Broader Executive Restructure

The Brisbane leadership change mirrors recent shifts at The Star’s Sydney operations, reflecting a coordinated effort to embed new management practices across the group. For a business attempting to navigate complex regulatory expectations while competing in premium gaming markets, getting the right leadership in place quickly has become a commercial imperative.

Whether Whimpey’s tenure becomes permanent will depend on both regulatory endorsement and his ability to deliver measurable progress on governance and operational performance. For now, his appointment represents another step in The Star’s measured response to a governance crisis that has reshaped its executive structure and strategic priorities.