The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has announced that CEO Shelley White will retire in December after eight years in the position.

The RGC is actively seeking a replacement for White and has posted a full job listing for the role, which she had occupied since joining the organisation in early 2017. She joined from the United Way of Peel Region, a social services organisation located in the Peel Region of the Greater Toronto Area, where she had been CEO for 14 years.

“Shelley’s commitment to RGC and the people, organizations, and communities we serve globally is unparalleled,” the RGC posted in a statement on LinkedIn. “We will celebrate Shelley and the remarkable contribution she has made to RGC as her retirement date approaches.”

“It has been an honour to serve as CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council,” White said in her own statement. “I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to work with such an outstanding board of directors, staff team, and stakeholders, over the years. Together we have advanced RGC’s vital mission, vision, and values. Today, RGC is a global leader that is having a profound impact on creating a responsible gambling ecosystem. I feel so fortunate to have been involved in this worthwhile, exciting, and fulfilling journey.

“There is so much more to do to advance safer gambling, prevention education, player health and well-being, within Canada and internationally. RGC is well-positioned to continue to be a global leader in responsible gambling. I highly recommend this important CEO role to humanitarian and entrepreneurial leaders, who want to lead a dynamic, fast-paced social enterprise, as well as collaborate with a phenomenal team, and group of stakeholders.”

The RGC was founded in 1983 as an independent non-profit with a focus on helping to prevent problem gambling and protect players by reducing risks through education and information. It provides its own accreditation, RG Check, for operators that meet its criteria.

RGC looks for ‘visionary’ leader

In its job listing for the role of CEO, the RGC says it is looking for a new leader who can not only lead and execute the organisation’s strategic plan for the remainder of the decade but who can also lead it with conviction in the rapidly evolving digital-first gambling industry. The new chief executive also needs to be adept at working with stakeholders from every corner, including politicians, operators, regulators, manufacturers, sports leagues, community partners and treatment providers.

“This role requires a creative leader capable of navigating a rapidly evolving industry, strategically advancing partnerships, collaborations, commercialisation, and innovation to keep pace with the changing gambling landscape,” said the job summary.

“The CEO will be a passionate, visionary, and courageous business leader with a highly successful leadership track record in a diverse, multi-stakeholder environment with proven experience in strategic planning, public policy, government relations/advocacy, change management, business development, education and research, and partnership development.”