Sarah Court will take over as Chairwoman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on June 1, marking a notable shift in Australia's regulatory landscape where women now lead all five major economic institutions.

Longo Out, Court In

Court currently serves as ASIC's Deputy Chair, a position she's held since June 2021. Before that, she spent 13 years at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), where she chaired enforcement and compliance committees. Her background includes nine years as a senior lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor.

Outgoing Chairman Joe Longo, who announced Court's appointment, pointed to her enforcement track record as a key qualification for the role.

• Former GAIN Capital and Invast Director Pleads Guilty in $181,000 Fraud Case
• eToro Dominates Australia’s CFD Market – Where Trader Loyalty Rarely Survives a Year
• Aussie CFD Traders Got About $27 Million in Refunds After Regulatory Intervention

"Her work as ASIC's Deputy Chair has been instrumental to the success of the agency's structural transformation that has strengthened our enforcement posture and work, leading to better outcomes for consumers and a fairer financial system," Longo said.

The Trend to Continue

Court takes the helm as ASIC's enforcement activity reaches unprecedented levels. The regulator secured over 120 million dollars in court-ordered penalties during the 2024-25 fiscal year, a 50% jump in enforcement actions compared to the previous period.

The agency also launched 252 investigations and completed 829 targeted surveillances while removing nearly 7,000 scam websites. Financial reporting misconduct has become one of ASIC ASIC The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the Read this Term's ten priorities for 2026, signaling tougher scrutiny for CFD brokers and other financial services firms.

Court's enforcement background suggests this trend will continue. During her time at the ACCC, she held responsibility for the enforcement committee, compliance committee, and legal committee - all positions focused on investigating and prosecuting violations.

Licensing Activity Surges Amid Crypto Interest

The regulatory environment Court inherits is busy. ASIC granted 290 new Australian Financial Services licenses in fiscal year 2025, a 10% increase from the prior year. Applications from digital asset operators drove much of that growth.

At the same time, the regulator canceled or suspended 215 licenses, maintaining pressure on firms that fail to meet compliance Compliance In finance, banking, investing, and insurance compliance refers to following the rules or orders set down by the government regulatory authority, either as providing a service or processing a transaction. Compliance concerning finance would also be a state of being following established guidelines or specifications. This designation can also encompass efforts to ensure that organizations are abiding by both industry regulations and government legislation. Understanding ComplianceCompliance is a In finance, banking, investing, and insurance compliance refers to following the rules or orders set down by the government regulatory authority, either as providing a service or processing a transaction. Compliance concerning finance would also be a state of being following established guidelines or specifications. This designation can also encompass efforts to ensure that organizations are abiding by both industry regulations and government legislation. Understanding ComplianceCompliance is a Read this Term standards. Court will need to balance this surge in applications with the agency's mandate to protect consumers and maintain market integrity.

ASIC has also begun simplifying its rulebook. The agency recently deleted 9,000 pages of regulatory guidance after acknowledging its own rules had become too complex. Longo said overly complicated regulations stifle innovation and raise costs for businesses.

Women Control Australia's Economic Institutions

"With the appointment of Sarah Court as ASIC Chair, women now lead five of Australia's key economic institutions - Commonwealth Treasury, the Reserve Bank of Australia, ASIC, the ACCC and the Productivity Commission," Finance Minister Katy Gallagher highlighted the broader significance of Court's appointment in a LinkedIn post.

She called it "a historic moment for our economy and an important one for young women who now look to the fields of finance and economics and see a clear place for themselves at the table."

Court's transition period runs through the end of May. Longo said he would support Court, the commission, and staff to ensure a smooth handover. ASIC's structural transformation, which Court helped shape as Deputy Chair, will continue under her leadership as the agency maintains its focus on enforcement and consumer protection.