The Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust has kick-started its three-year strategy, which will be revealed early next year, via an array of appointments.
Announcing five new hirings to the Board of Trustees at YGAM, the new additions include Anna Greaves, Clive Reeves, Paul Morris, David Miller and Glen Fendle, who will now lead the charity through its sustained growth and develop the organisation’s strategy for the coming years.
“I’m thrilled to welcome our new trustees to the charity and delighted we continue to attract professionals with such ability, experience, and knowledge,” commented Mike Wojcik, Chair of YGAM.
“They are joining the board at a crucial time as we build on our reputation as a sector leading education charity and develop our ambitious new strategy which will be launched at the start of 2023.
“It’s already apparent that the newly revitalised board will achieve great things in supporting the excellent staff team to achieve impact on our social purpose.”
Greaves, who is currently part of the fundraising team at the national homelessness charity, Crisis UK, hopes to contribute both her “extensive experience”.
She stated: “YGAM is an exciting organisation doing vital, ground-breaking work and I’m delighted to have been appointed to the trustee board. I hope to contribute both my extensive experience as a fundraiser and lived experience of the gaming sector to their work.
“I’m passionate about ensuring that gaming spaces are safe for everyone – especially women and girls and the LGBTQ+ community.”
Reeves joins the charity following his career in the sports industry, which includes roles within English football. Currently, his current position at PwC sees him work with international governing bodies, leagues, teams, investors, sports media and tech businesses, providing strategy and M&A advisory services.
On his appointment, Reeves noted: “I am excited to become a trustee at YGAM as I believe in our social purpose to educate and safeguard young people against gaming and gambling harms.
“I look forward to sharing my sports and esports industry experience with the team and helping shape the future direction of YGAM.”
Currently the Vice President Business Risk Management at State Street Corporation, Morris emphasised that researching, understanding and educating people on gambling related risks is “incredibly valuable”.
“YGAM’s work is very important in a world where young people are increasingly surrounded by gambling and gaming related risks which can cause serious harm to themselves and their loved ones,” stated Morris.
“Researching, understanding, and educating people about these risks and harm prevention is incredibly valuable. I am very proud to have an opportunity to use my business and professional experience to support YGAM in its mission in the years to come.”
The fourth appointee, Miller, who has 25-years in the video games industry, which includes EA Sports, and a spell at ITV Studios, expressed his “honour to be invited” to YGAM’s board and hopes to advise organisations with a “clear eye on issues of gaming harms”.
Another with 25-years experience, but this time as a charity director, Fendley also boasts experience with the NSPCC, WWF and The Children’s Society.
YGAM highlighted that it “encouraged” applications from people at “all stages of their career, from all backgrounds, communities and industries”.
The charity also stressed that all members of the board are independent of the gambling industry, while providing their time voluntarily.
