Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Blogs
Image of Commission Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner alongside the blog title 'The Commission's commitment to gender diversity at events'

The Commission’s commitment to gender diversity at events

Following on from the Gambling Commission recently being recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Women, our Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah Gardner, reflects on the Commission's commitment to gender diversity at events.

Posted 13 August 2024 by Sarah Gardner

The Gambling Commission is proud of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Particularly when it comes to gender diversity and representation. I am pleased to say that we recently gained recognition as one of the ‘UK's Best Workplaces for Women’ (opens in new tab) and we know that the industry we regulate is also looking to bolster gender representation and gender equality across the board. In fact – I have personally welcomed the opportunity to participate in a number of events where gender diversity and equality have been front and centre on the industry’s agenda.

While our remit doesn’t extend to setting regulatory requirements for the industry in this area, we feel it is right for us to always seek ways to enhance representation wherever possible – whether gender, race, sexuality, people with disabilities or socioeconomic background. If you’ve attended Commission events, or if you have been in touch with the Commission about us participating in an event, you’ll probably have seen some examples of how we live our commitment to diversity at events.

For example, the Commission has had a longstanding unwritten rule to seek alternatives, wherever possible, to what is informally known as the ‘manel’. Also known as the all-male panel. I guess by writing that here, that is now a written rule and I make no apology for that.

We recognise that events organisers seek the very best to speak at their events, but this doesn’t mean we should always seek an easy approach to sourcing relevant speakers. We also know that diversity – in all its guises – is possible when we identify those with passion, a willingness to grow, and search deeper than the ‘usual suspects’.

At our own Spring Conference: Better Evidence, Better Outcomes in March this year, we worked hard to secure the very best speakers for the topics featured in that event. I am proud that we did this and upheld a balance of 46 percent gender diversity and 10 percent ethnic diversity amongst our speakers so we know that it can be done. And we are proud of this.

So, moving forward, we will commit to ensure that we send a diverse pool of our own people to speak or join industry events. This is part of the Commission doing its bit in ensuring that events are representative and inclusive. We are also more likely to decline invitations to events where no attempt has been made to explore diversity in an appropriate way.

We know that when we see people like us being given a platform, it is a powerful way to enhance opportunities for others - not just at the Commission - but across the sector. And we’re happy to play our part in this. Now, and in the future.

Is this page useful?
Back to top