2009 Annual Forum Presenters

Each year the Annual BC Partnership for Responsible Gambling Forum attracts leading industry experts. The 2009 Forum will feature the following presenters:

Dr. Richard Wood, BSc, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, PGCHE

Dr. Richard Wood is a Chartered Psychologist who specializes in the study of gaming behaviour. He is the Director of GamRes Limited an independent international research and consultancy company designed to help develop and implement responsible gaming initiatives by putting research into practise. GamRes was first established in the UK in 2006 and this year in Canada. Prior to setting up GamRes Dr Wood was a co-founder of the International Gaming Research Unit (IGRU) at Nottingham Trent University (UK), and before that worked for The International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University in Montreal.

Dr. Wood has published numerous gambling related articles (including more than 50 refereed journal papers), presented his findings at conferences and seminars around the world, and undertaken many responsible gaming consultations for the gaming industry and regulatory sectors. His research focuses on developing effective responsible gaming strategies. In particular, he investigates both the individual causes of problem gambling, as well as the structural characteristics of games that can influence the gambling behaviour of vulnerable players. He has developed cutting edge responsible gaming tools such as GAM-GaRD an innovative guide that informs the development of socially responsible game design, as well as initiatives such as GamTalk designed to provide free online support for people with all levels of gambling related issues.

Eric Meerkamper

Eric is a Partner with DECODE, a company devoted to building stronger relationships between organizations and youth, young adults and young families as citizens, consumers and employees.

Specifically in the area of youth gambling, Eric has conducted research on behalf of organizations such as the Responsible Gambling Council (Ontario), the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission, Saskatchewan Health, Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre, and LotoQuebec.

Eric holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, and an Honours BA in International Political Science from The University of Western Ontario. Eric is the Chair of the Daily Bread Food Bank, and co-founder and Chair of the Centre for Social Innovation, both in Toronto.

Joanna Cutajar

Joanna is a Strategist at DECODE, a company devoted to building stronger relationships between organizations and youth, young adults and young families as citizens, consumers and employees. Joanna has worked on a diverse series of projects in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors and has overseen national and international projects on the topics of global youth media consumption, corporate social responsibility, and responsible use.

Related to responsible gambling initiatives, Joanna was the lead researcher and author of a number of studies exploring youth gambling issues, including the national “2009 Parents as Partners” study as well as youth research projects in British Colombia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

A McGill graduate, Joanna holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a concentration in Strategic Management and a Minor in English Literature.




		2009 Annual Forum Presenters Each year the Annual BC Partnership for Responsible Gambling Forum attracts leading industry experts. The 2009 Forum will feature the following presenters: Dr. Richard Wood, BSc, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, PGCHE Dr. Richard Wood is a Chartered Psychologist who specializes in the study of gaming behaviour. He is the Director of GamRes Limited an independent international research and consultancy company designed to help develop and implement responsible gaming initiatives by putting research into practise. GamRes was first established in the UK in 2006 and this year in Canada. Prior to setting up GamRes Dr Wood was a co-founder of the International Gaming Research Unit (IGRU) at Nottingham Trent University (UK), and before that worked for The International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University in Montreal. Dr. Wood has published numerous gambling related articles (including more than 50 refereed journal papers), presented his findings at conferences and seminars around the world, and undertaken many responsible gaming consultations for the gaming industry and regulatory sectors. His research focuses on developing effective responsible gaming strategies. In particular, he investigates both the individual causes of problem gambling, as well as the structural characteristics of games that can influence the gambling behaviour of vulnerable players. He has developed cutting edge responsible gaming tools such as GAM-GaRD an innovative guide that informs the development of socially responsible game design, as well as initiatives such as GamTalk designed to provide free online support for people with all levels of gambling related issues. Eric Meerkamper Eric is a Partner with DECODE, a company devoted to building stronger relationships between organizations and youth, young adults and young families as citizens, consumers and employees. Specifically in the area of youth gambling, Eric has conducted research on behalf of organizations such as the Responsible Gambling Council (Ontario), the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission, Saskatchewan Health, Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre, and LotoQuebec. Eric holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, and an Honours BA in International Political Science from The University of Western Ontario. Eric is the Chair of the Daily Bread Food Bank, and co-founder and Chair of the Centre for Social Innovation, both in Toronto. Joanna Cutajar Joanna is a Strategist at DECODE, a company devoted to building stronger relationships between organizations and youth, young adults and young families as citizens, consumers and employees. Joanna has worked on a diverse series of projects in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors and has overseen national and international projects on the topics of global youth media consumption, corporate social responsibility, and responsible use. Related to responsible gambling initiatives, Joanna was the lead researcher and author of a number of studies exploring youth gambling issues, including the national “2009 Parents as Partners” study as well as youth research projects in British Colombia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. A McGill graduate, Joanna holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a concentration in Strategic Management and a Minor in English Literature.
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