Australia's Gaming Technologies Association names Jinesh Patel as CEO

Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), a trade body that represents Australia's gaming machine technology suppliers, announced Thursday the appointment of Jinesh Patel as CEO, effective Monday, January 10, replacing Chris Muir, who resigned late last year. 

GTA Chairman Adrian Halpenny said that Patel had been appointed after an extensive search and a highly competitive selection process. “Jinesh is an outstanding choice, bringing a wealth of experience from both a regulatory and public affairs background”, he said.

Patel’s most recent role was as a public affairs practitioner for GRACosway, a strategic communication and public affairs consulting firm. The role saw him consulting clients in the gaming and hospitality industry, including the GTA. 

Before that, he served in ministerial advisory roles to former NSW Government ministers George Souris and Gladys Berejiklian. 

Jinesh Patel himself spoke about his appointment and said: “GTA is an organisation that I know well, having been fortunate to work with my predecessors Ross and Chris in differing capacities in my career to date. In my time in the private sector, I’ve also consulted with some of GTA’s members, so this role was an opportunity that I was eager to pursue,” he said.

“The GTA Board looks forward to working with Jinesh to represent the interests of members with all of our industry stakeholders,” Halpenny added. 

Muir, who resigned last year after taking the role in 2018, saw the association through its two most successful Australasian Gaming Expos, including the 30th-anniversary event, followed by eighteen months of COVID-19 interruptions. 

“Under Chris’ leadership, the GTA continued its function of advocating for members in support of a robust and sound regulatory environment and made a vital contribution to the discussion around our industry”, said Halpenny.