RG Plus Board of Directors

CEO, Responsible Gambling Council

Shelley White is one of Canada’s foremost visionary leaders who has dedicated her life and career to empowering organizations that create better futures for thousands of people in their communities. In 2017, she became the new CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) which is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to problem gambling prevention.

Over the last 30 years, Shelley has also held a variety of executive positions also in the non-profit sector for the country’s most recognized and trusted national institutions, including United Way, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the YMCA. Earning a reputation as a champion of social change, Shelley has received United Way Worldwide’s Common Good Award, the Queen’s Jubilee Award for outstanding achievement in voluntary service, Ontario’s Leading Women Building Communities Award, The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Champion Award, Volunteer MBC’s 2017 Bonnie Yagar Award for Community Engagement Leadership and has been named one of Mississauga’s Top 10 Most Influential Leaders.

President and Co-Founder, DiversiPro Inc

Hamlin Grange has been on the Board of the Responsible Gambling Council since 2011. In June 2019, he became Board Chair.

Hamlin is Principal Consultant with DiversiPro, a consulting firm based in Toronto. He is a diversity and inclusion strategist and trainer, qualified to assess the level of intercultural competence of individuals and organizations. He helps companies improve their productivity by assisting them to better navigate cultural differences.

Before launching DiversiPro, Hamlin Grange had a stellar career as a journalist in Canada, was managing editor of a community newspaper and later was hired to be director of the national youth internship program for the YMCA of Greater Toronto. In addition to his work as a diversity and inclusion consultant, he has served on the boards of a number of important cultural organizations and public agencies, including the Royal Ontario Museum and the Toronto Police Services Board. He has a keen interest in policing, law enforcement and mental health issues.

Hamlin is the recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Harry Jerome Award (President’s Award) for community service and career achievement and the Community Builder Award presented by Tropicana Community Service in recognition of his “outstanding leadership and years of service which have contributed to the development of community and opportunities for the people of Ontario and those served by Tropicana Community Services.” Other awards include:

• The YMCA Peace Medallion
• The B’nai Brith Human Rights Award for Journalism
• The African Canadian Achievement Award
• Black Film and Video Achievement Award for Leadership
• And awards from the New York and Houston International Film Festivals

CEO, BetBuddy

Simo is CEO and Founder of BetBuddy, Playtech’s award-winning responsible gambling data analytics company that creates software to better understand behaviour and risk in gaming. BetBuddy has been backed by InnovateUK and has a collaboration with the Research Centre for Machine Learning at City, University of London, where they have collectively worked on numerous research projects in the domains of AI, knowledge extraction, and gaming risk. His research interests are focused on using data to understand behaviour and predict risk and in making AI more transparent and human-like.

Simo is an expert in consumer behaviour and consumer protection. He is also a PhD supervisor at the Research Centre for Machine Learning at City, University of London, and was named AMBA Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013.

Prior to BetBuddy he spent 15 years working in banking and capital markets as a consultant and programme manager delivering and building finance and risk systems, as we all as helping senior executives shape and deliver operational strategies.

Consultant/Advisor, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation

Vic has nearly 40 years’ experience in the Canadian gaming industry having previously held senior executive positions in both the private and public sector with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and the Western Canada Lottery Foundation.

As President and CEO of BCLC from 1999 to 2007, Vic lead the strategic transformation and growth of the gaming industry in British Columbia through the establishment of a business and legal model that allowed Government and private sector gaming operators to work cooperatively to transform the gaming industry into a high quality, responsible, customer focused gaming entertainment business.

Vic joined Great Canadian Gaming Corporation in 2010 as Senior/Executive Vice President, Eastern Operations, a position he held until early 2017. In this role, Vic was instrumental in assisting Great Canadian in competing in the OLG Land Based Modernization program with the result of Great Canadian being chosen as the successful Casino Service Provider by OLG in the East, GTA and West GTA bundles- making Great Canadian the largest private sector service provider in Ontario.

Vic currently is a senior advisor/consultant with Great Canadian Gaming, having chosen to spend less time on airplanes and more time with family, personal travel and recreation activities.   Vic grew up in Winnipeg and is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Commerce (Business) program.

Vic and his wife Bev are longtime residents of Kamloops, BC and enjoy spending time with their 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Vice President, Compliance – The Stars Group

He joined The Stars Group, in September 2014 and is currently Vice President, Compliance.  Prior to working for The Stars Group, George held a number of senior executive positions in the gaming industry, most recently as senior vice president with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and as Chief Strategy Officer with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Earlier roles include executive positions with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and Len Stuart and Associates. George has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Responsible Gambling Council, the North American State Provincial Lotteries Association (NASPL) and the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC).

 

Ian Thomson has a background in gaming and gaming-related industries, having previously held roles with Aristocrat Technologies, ebet Gaming Systems, Aruze Gaming Australia and the Independent Liquor Group. He has over 16 years of experience on Boards of Directors across a range of Sports and Hospitality businesses. He is also a champion of the club system in Australia.

Ian has served as Justice of the Peace. Away from work, Ian has received a surf lifesaving bronze medallion, an Australian Sports Medal and has previously been a professional Rugby League Coach and player. He also holds a diploma in Financial Planning from Deakin University and is a Certified Financial Planner.