GambleAware names former Public Health England head as new chair of trustees
Gambling harm prevention charity has confirmed Professor Siân Griffiths CBE will take over from Baroness Lampard CBE midway through this month
GambleAware has announced Professor Siân Griffiths CBE as its new chair of trustees, replacing the departing Baroness Lampard CBE.
Griffiths has served as deputy chair of trustees at the charity since 2018, as well as chair of the group’s performance and delivery committee for several years.
Prior to her time at GambleAware, Griffiths spent time as president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, as well as an associate non-executive director of Public Health England and chair of the Public Health England Global.
Griffiths will remain a non-executive director for Public Health Wales alongside her new duties as GambleAware’s chair of trustees.
Griffiths succeeds Baroness Lampard, who exits GambleAware after eight years to spearhead the Lampard Inquiry, investigating mental health inpatient deaths in Essex.
At the time of her arrival as chair in 2016, GambleAware had not yet rebranded and was still known as the Responsible Gambling Trust.
Under the watch of Baroness Lampard, the organisation switched to an entirely independent board of trustees, made up of leaders from across the NHS and public health.
Baroness Lampard helped guide the charity through the expansion of the gambling-related harm system in Great Britain, with work conducted in partnership with key figures within the UK government and the NHS through the recommissioning of the National Gambling Support Network.
Her time with GambleAware will come to an end on 18 July, with Griffiths stepping up to take the reins with immediate effect.
Reflecting on her new title as chair of the board of trustees, Griffiths said: “I am delighted to accept this appointment and to continue working with GambleAware to ensure gambling harms are viewed as a serious public health issue.
“Due to the deeply stigmatised nature of gambling harm, it can be difficult for people to reach out for help. This is why it is so important we take a public health approach, one which recognises the wider societal influences while focusing on early intervention and prevention activity.
“Alongside this, GambleAware’s independence from the industry remains paramount and is demonstrated across all areas of the charity’s work. I look forward to continuing these efforts with my public health colleagues and experts within GambleAware board as we transition to a new statutory funding model,” she added.
Ahead of her exit later this month, Baroness Lampard heaped praise on her successor.
The Baroness said: “I am pleased to be succeeded by Siân and to be leaving the charity in such safe hands.
“Gambling harm can affect anyone. From working with and speaking to individuals from the lived experience community I know how much of an impact gambling harm can have on individuals and wider society. This is why it is fundamental that statutory funding is provided to address the issue.
“I am proud of what we have achieved, and it has been a pleasure to see how the charity and wider gambling harms system has grown over the past eight years. I wish GambleAware and Siân all the best for the future.”
Last month, GambleAware publicly urged the incoming government to ban betting advertising at sports events and on pre-watershed television.
The Labour Party has since overseen an emphatic victory at the polls but are yet to confirm their plans for the gambling industry.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.