Government comms chief to lead youth gambling prevention charity

Emily Tofield, who has held senior communications roles across central and local government, has been named as the next chief executive of youth gambling prevention charity Ygam.

Her government career includes a two-year stint as group director of communications at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and she has held senior communications roles at the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Office.

She also sat on the government communication service board and is a former cross-government head of media relations in the Cabinet Office and Prime Ministers Office.

Most recently she spent almost two years as executive director of corporate communications and external affairs at the City of London Corporation.

She is currently chair designate of academy trust chain the Girls’ Learning Trust and since October she has been a board director of the British Dietetic Association.

“As a passionate advocate for the benefits of prevention, it is a huge privilege to take on the role of chief executive of such a respected national education and prevention charity whose work already makes a difference to so many,” said Tofield, who takes up the role at the charity in January.

“High-quality, inclusive, evidence-based, preventative education around gaming and gambling harms remains as important today as when Ygam was founded, and I’m looking forward to working with the impressive Ygam team to further grow its reach, partnerships and impact in the years ahead.”

The charity’s chair Mike Wojcik added: “Her depth of experience and proven leadership across stakeholder and political engagement, and social impact, will be instrumental as we enter our next strategic cycle.

“Emily joins an exceptionally strong leadership team, and this appointment marks an important new chapter for Ygam as we continue to strengthen our position as a trusted expert voice and sector leader dedicated to preventing gaming, gambling, and digital harms among young people.”

Tofield replaces interim chief executive Helen Martin, who is the charity's chief operating officer.