YGAM makes three board additions in diversity commitment

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has confirmed the appointments of three new board members as part of a commitment to enhance the diversity of its leadership.

Christina Okorocha, Anne Casey and Kwaku Owusu-Ansah have all been appointed by the Charity Board as part of a target drive to recruit education specialists and young professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds.

YGAM had previously deepened its diversity and inclusion commitments in March, signing an agreement with RedCard and TalkGen to launch an educational initiative aimed at safeguarding young people from ethnic minority backgrounds from gambling-related harm, in collaboration with Clearview Research.

Young entrepreneur Okorocha founded VAMP, an agency focused on the representation and development of black digital talent in the UK, as well as the TAG network for professional, creative and entrepreneurial women from the Afro-Carribean community, and is an ambassador for the Mayor’s Fund for London.

Meanwhile, Casey has over 30 years of experience in the education sector as a teacher, principal, local authority officer and senior civil servant, and served as the Funding Principal for the UT in Media City UK, Manchester, from 2013 to 2016.

She is the incumbent Director and Founder of educational solutions company ACE Limited, which operates to support MATs, free schools, universities and school boards, and is a part-time Department for Education Adviser.

“I am honoured and excited to join YGAM as a trustee,” Okorocha remarked. “I look forward to using my digital marketing experience and network to support YGAM in engaging and reaching vulnerable people and those from diverse communities.”

Casey added: “We have seen the power of technology in education, especially over the last year, and want to ensure that all young people understand their digital footprint and the lifelong impact of the choices they make. 

“Every child should be entitled to live a healthy, safe, secure and well-educated life and I want YGAM to make a major contribution to that.”

Lastly, Owusu-Ansah is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from University College London, and former footballer for Millwall FC, Leyton Orient FC and Colchester United FC. He currently works as an analyst for Japanese bank MUFG’s Structured Finance, Investment Banking Division, and is an avid gamer.

Kwaku said: “I’m really looking forward to joining the board and being part of the YGAM journey. What YGAM has accomplished so far is fantastic. I think it’s important to continue to tackle the issues faced by young people caused by gambling and gaming. 

“I’m a big gamer myself and I definitely believe more can be done to safeguard young people online and address issues such as excessive spending on loot boxes and gaming addiction.”

Welcoming the new board members, YGAM Chair Mike Wojcik said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have such talent joining the Board at such a pivotal time for YGAM. As we ambitiously look towards the future and develop our new strategic plan, it’s critical the make-up of our Board and team has greater representation and insight of our society. 

“They all bring something different to the Board, which goes beyond the typical skills and experience, and we are already benefiting from their energised perspective.”