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Meet the team

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Dr Jane Rigbye

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Jane Rigbye

Jane is a charted psychologist and Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health who has specialised in gambling harm prevention for over 15 years. She has co-authored several journal articles, book chapters and reports for local authorities and regulators. .

Helen Martin

Chief Operating Officer

Helen Martin

Helen is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in senior finance and governance roles, primarily in the not-for-profit sector. Helen qualified at KPMG where she specialised in business planning and grant funding.

Kev Clelland

Director of Insight and Engagement

Kev Clelland

Kev has 10 years’ experience as a primary teacher, both in Scotland and England. Holding subject leadership roles in ICT and Physical Activity, PE and School Sports and working across a diverse range of schools.

Daniel Bliss

Director of External Affairs

Daniel Bliss

Daniel previously worked for the Gambling Commission for 3 years in several roles within their communications team. He has also held roles in politics and regional press. Daniel has valuable expertise in communications, marketing, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Caroline Gallagher

Director of Digital and QA

Caroline Gallagher

Caroline has 9 years experience working in quality assurance and assessment for a national awarding organisation. Previous experience includes working in the drug and alcohol and disability sectors. Caroline brings a wealth of experience working with vulnerable people of all ages, along with her quality assurance expertise.

Ian Shanahan

Director of Business Development and Fundraising

Ian Shanahan

Ian has over 30 years in the gambling industry working in land based casinos both in the UK and abroad. He has worked through the various customer facing roles up to management and progressed into compliance and responsible gambling training which he managed for over 8 years at the Rank Group.

Linda Scollins-Smith

Director of Programmes

Linda Scollins-Smith

Linda is a qualified teacher and has 14 years’ experience working with children and young people within Education and not-for-profit organisations, specialising in SEND and improving opportunities for hard to reach young people. Linda has been successful in management roles demonstrating excellent stakeholder management, establishing local networks and partners.

Kevin Orchard

People Director

Kevin Orchard

Kevin joins YGAM with over 15 years HR experience, across a variety of sectors, including tech, hospitality, and within the third sector. Prior to joining YGAM, Kevin led HR Operations at ShelterBox for five years with overall responsibility for HR, L&D, Safeguarding, & Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion.

EDUCATION TEAM

Kyle Riding

Head of National Education Programme

Kyle Riding

Kyle has 3 years’ experience as a client relations manager focusing on the digital safeguarding of young people and prior to this had 7 years’ experience as a teacher and member of middle management within school; holding subject leadership roles in Speaking and Listening and Modern Foreign Languages.

Sam Starsmore

Head of Delivery - Education

Sam Starsmore

Sam has spent 12 years working within the Insurance industry in several roles including Relationship Management, Training Delivery & Customer Service. His passion for joining YGAM and safeguarding young people stems from his personal struggles with gambling.

Sandy Thompson

Education Manager - Greater London

Sandy Thompson

After a rewarding career in retail management, Sandy re-trained as a project manager and now has fifteen years’ experience planning and delivering high profile, public facing and commercial projects. She has volunteered with a number of organisations that educate and mentor young people.

Sacha Kent

National Education Manager - NCS/Sports Engagement

Sacha Kent

Sacha has spent the past six years working in a safeguarding background, the majority through an online child abuse team within the police as a civilian, and more recently with the official charity of a premier league football club. She received her masters in Criminology from Portsmouth in 2019, continuing her passion for safeguarding young people through academic studies.

Sam Robinson

Education Manager - Wales

Sam Robinson

Sam has almost 6 years of direct delivery experience supporting young people in Wales for The Prince’s Trust Cymru, creating and delivering their employability and engagement activities in South West Wales as an Operations Executive. Out of work Sam loves to travel and is a keen Cardiff Devil’s Ice Hockey and Welsh Rugby supporter.

Amy Bussey

Content Development Lead

Amy Bussey

Amy is a qualified secondary teacher and has 7 years’ experience working with children and young people within inner city secondary schools. Her experience includes leading outreach projects alongside Bradford Council, as well as organising and leading on continuous professional development.

Claire Morris

Education Manager - North West

Claire Morris

Claire has many years of experience in the education sector, both as a classroom teacher and also as a trainer, educating children and adults on the topics of animal welfare and, more recently, road safety. In her spare time she enjoys walking and getting involved in amateur dramatics.

Ryan Phillips

Education Manager - Midlands

Ryan Phillips

Ryan has over 10 years’ experience working with young people, including 5 years through one of the UK’s largest youth programmes recruiting and delivering sessions. In his spare time, he is a Trustee and Volunteer for a RAF Air Cadets squadron in the West Midlands.

Matthew Underwood

Education Manager - South West

Matthew Underwood

Matthew joins YGAM with 9 years of experience working with young people, most recently with AFC Bournemouth, which included delivery of educational workshops to young people. Away from work he enjoys everything sport related and is big on watching films!

Billy Dunthorne

Education Manager - East/South East

Billy Dunthorne

Billy graduated from UEA with a BA honors degree in Education. Since then, Billy has been working within the sector with an aim to improve the wellbeing of young people, most notably at Norwich City's Community Sports Foundation and a local alternative provision centre in Norwich which specialises in SEND/SEMH.

Colette Oxtoby

Education Manager - Yorkshire and Humber

Colette Oxtoby

Colette is a qualified Primary Teacher and has over 10 years of experience working with children and young people. Her experience includes being a teacher governor and a member of middle management within school; holding subject leadership roles in Computing and French.

Jack McBride

Education and Parental Engagement Manager

Jack McBride

Jack is a qualified Primary Teacher and has several years of experience working with children and young people. In his spare time, Jack is a keen gamer and a devoted Middlesbrough supporter.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM

Kelly Delgado

Brand & Design Manager

Kelly Delgado

Kelly has worked within the gambling industry for a number of years during which she has gained a vast amount of knowledge within compliance and safer gambling. She has a degree in Design and Illustration and has recently completed courses within Web and UX/UI design.

Charley Hill

Digital Marketing Manager

Kelly Delgado

Kelly has worked within the gambling industry for a number of years during which she has gained a vast amount of knowledge within compliance and safer gambling. She has a degree in Design and Illustration and has recently completed courses within Web and UX/UI design.

MINDFUL RESILIENCE PROGRAMME

Phil Tran

Mindful Resilience Trainer

Phil Tran

Phil has worked in the private sector for 11 years prior to deciding to move into the charity sector. Having had lived experience with depression and addiction, along with his background in Learning & Development, YGAM was a perfect organisation to join to help make a difference.

PARENTS PROGRAMME

Claire Patel

Parental Engagement Lead

Claire Patel

Claire has over 12 years’ experience of working within the education, employment and charity sector. Prior to this Claire worked for a Drug and Alcohol team whilst completing her BA (Hons) Criminology degree and her Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Diploma.

UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Jimmy Parkin

Education Manager: University and Student Engagement

Jimmy Parkin

Jimmy has over 9 years’ experience in the Further Education sector, holding various roles from managing the cross-college PSHE and enrichment programme to delivering an extensive number of subjects including Enterprise, Gambling Awareness and GCSE English.

Andrea Hutchings

Education Manager: University and Student Engagement

Andrea Hutchings

Andrea left the UK in 2008 to pursue her teaching career in the Middle East. She enjoyed 13 years of teaching and 2 years as Vice Principal. Teaching in the Middle East gave her the opportunity to work with students and teachers from various backgrounds.

PREVENTING GAMBLING HARMS IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME

Asma Akbar

Programme Lead and Education Manager – Diverse Communities

Asma Akbar

Asma recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a Masters in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response. During her academic life and career she nurtured a passion to work with young people. Asma strived to combine young people and youth work with her international development work.

Marek maj

Education Manager - Diverse Communities

marek maj

For ten years Lianne worked for schools in the UK, Spain and online as a qualified history teacher and middle leader before embarking on a new career with YGAM. In her spare time, she has a passion for all things history including collecting antique bottles. Lianne also enjoys reading, watching football and walking.

SAFER GAMBLING PROGRAMME

Niall O'Connor

Lived Experience Trainer

Niall O'Connor

Niall has spent the past 4 years teaching a variety of subjects at a sixth form college. During this time he also furthered his own learning by completing a Master's in Politics, Policy, and Government. In working to overcome his own struggles with gambling, Niall developed a passion for safeguarding others from similar experiences.

Lianne Abrams

Business Development Officer

Lianne Abrams

For ten years Lianne worked for schools in the UK, Spain and online as a qualified history teacher and middle leader before embarking on a new career with YGAM. In her spare time, she has a passion for all things history including collecting antique bottles. Lianne also enjoys reading, watching football and walking.

Nadia Tarik

Chartered Management Degree Apprentice

Nadia Tarik

SUPPORT TEAMS

Peter Kearney

In-House Lawyer

Peter Kearney

Naomi Higham

Management Accountant

Naomi Higham

Naomi is an AAT Qualified Bookkeeper. Naomi started her career as a paediatric staff nurse and worked for the NHS for 16 years on a supra-regional cardiology unit. She has since taken on the role of Clerical Assistant in a busy school office.

Ann Coxall

Clerk to the Board

Ann Coxall

Ann has spent many years as a senior manager in charities and eight years at the TEC National Council, a not-for-profit company, supporting the Training and Enterprise Councils where she was Director of Operations. For the last 11 years Ann has worked as an Assessor for the Trusted Charity Quality Mark and has assessed over 50 organisations.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Sam Low

Information Systems Manager

Sam Low

Sam has 9 years’ experience working within the charity sector, and brings a wealth of expertise in data, digital systems, and databases. Outside of work, Sam spends most of his spare time Whitewater Kayaking and volunteering at his local canoe club!

Daniel Carlin

Data Manager: Education

Daniel Carlin

For the past 4 years Dan has been an NHS employee At the Royal Derby hospital, within Histology as a Medical Science Associate. Having studied physics at the University of Hull he previously worked as a research and development test engineer in the private sector.

Ellie Allum-Marshall

Digital Project Lead

Ellie Allum-Marshall

Ellie is Digital Project Lead for the English Gaming Education Hub programme. Ellie has previously worked in the private e-learning sector managing digital projects and operational systems. She has also worked and volunteered in the charity sector for many years working as part of the NCS programme.

Lucy Williamson

Accreditation Lead

Lucy Williamson

Before joining YGAM Lucy worked as a qualification designer and curriculum consultant for awarding organisations, she was a training manager for housing associations supporting refugees and asylum seekers and has been responsible for the continuing professional development of the early years workforce in Wolverhampton.

PATRONS

Anne & Keith Evans

Founder Patrons

Anne & Keith Evans

Founded the charity in 2014 alongside Lee Willows following their own devasting experiences with gambling harms. Anne is a former teacher and they both bring a considerable insight into education, lived experience and governance.

pAUL BELLRINGER OBE

Patron

Paul Bellringer OBE

Paul has over 40 years’ experience in gambling harm prevention including founding the charity GamCare in 1997. He is the author of a number of publications including the book ‘Understanding Problem Gamblers’.
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