GambleAware appoints Professor Sian Griffiths as new chair of trustees

Jade Denosta July 16, 2024

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GambleAware appoints Professor Sian Griffiths as new chair of trustees

GambleAware, a leading charity for ambling harms prevention and treatment services in Great Britain, has appointed Professor Sian Griffiths CBE as its new Chair of Trustees.

The new appointment of Professor Griffiths comes with the transition of Baroness Lampard to another role. Baroness Lampard will now lead the Lampard Inquiry, a crucial investigation into mental health inpatient deaths in Essex.

Professor Griffiths CBE brings a wealth of experience and public health insight to the role. She served as the Deputy Chair of trustees at GambleAware and as Chair of the charity’s Performance and Delivery Committee for several years. Her background includes being President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, serving as an Associate Non-executive Director of Public Health England, chairing the Public Health England Global Health Committee, and currently being a non-executive director for Public Health Wales.

Professor Griffiths CBE stated, “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.”

Upon her appointment, Professor Griffiths expressed her commitment to addressing gambling harms as a significant public health issue. She highlighted the importance of implementing a public health approach that acknowledges the broader societal influences and prioritises early intervention and prevention efforts. Additionally, she underscored the necessity of GambleAware’s independence from the industry in all aspects of the charity’s work.

Baroness Lampard’s leadership and advocacy

During her tenure as Chair, Baroness Lampard led the charity’s transition to an entirely independent Board of Trustees. She advocated for a statutory levy on the gambling industry to replace the voluntary funding system. The UK government’s commitment to implementing a new statutory funding model, as outlined in its 2023 Gambling White Paper, has validated her advocacy.

Baroness Lampard conveyed her satisfaction with her successor, stating, “I am pleased to be succeeded by Sian and to be leaving the charity in such safe hands.”

She will conclude her term on 18 July, after which Professor Griffiths will immediately assume her role as Chair of Trustees.