RED CARD GAMBLING - Key Persons
I struggled with illness for 22 years, but while I focused on getting well and keeping my job, I did not understand the toll my various battles would have on my mental well-being until it was almost too late. I am happy to be alive and I feel very privileged that I have the opportunity to help others deal with challenges in a healthy way. Red Card is focused on Prevention by educating and creating awareness of gambling harms so that people can enjoy gambling as a pastime, if they choose to, without falling into the downward spiral of addiction.
I hold an L.LB from the University of Abuja, Nigeria, and an L.LM in International Banking and Finance Law from the Queen Mary, University of London. I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 and have, over the period, developed unique specialism in both legal and financial advisory services. I have worked extensively in the Nigerian Financial Sector with various investment banks, including the Davandy Group, the Chapel Hill Denham Group and the DLM Capital Group. As an investment banker, I worked in corporate finance/financial advisory, securities trading, asset management, principal investments, risk & compliance, and investigations. In 2013, I returned to legal practise where I focused my career on financial market law, managing funds and providing legal solutions on structured financial transactions. I left legal practise in 2018, resigning as a Partner and Head, Financial Market group at Perchstone & Graeys, to establish a financial law and risk consulting firm, Knowledge Room Limited, with a bias for developmental finance, and a law firm, Yong & Brown.
My passion for development finance led me to work (pro-bono) with various Nigerian government departments, including the FSS 2020 Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, where I and the ad-hoc legislative drafting team drafted bills targeted at developing the Nigerian financial sector, including The Secured Transaction in Moveable Asset Act, 2016, The Factoring Assignment (Establishment, ETC) Bill, The Securitisation Bill, and The Nigerian Warehouse Receipts Bill. I also authored various opinion articles on the financial market, which were published by Business Day Nigeria. Furthermore, I was a member and the secretary of the Nigerian Factoring Working Group, and an active member of the Capital Market Committee of the Nigerian Bar Associations' Section on Business Law, under which I lectured on Equities Market at different training and lecture tours.
Having been through many struggles as a recovered gambling addict, Harj truly knows what it is like to hit rock bottom. Having spent almost £250,000 on his gambling, this addiction nearly cost everything he loved meaning children, wife, family and even his own life.
I was afraid to ask my family, friends and Sikh/Indian community for help because I felt embarrassed. However, I put my ego to the side and asked a professional therapist for help and because of her CBT treatment, I was able to dig deep within myself, build my confidence and quit gambling. I was able to reignite my passion for entrepreneurship and now own multiple business, that has given me financial certainty and time freedom to live the life I deserve.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Manager of Sanders Web Works
- Website Manager
Kevin is the founder and manager of Sanders Web Works. Together with his team, he works with Red Card to develop and manage most aspects of the Red Card website.
Kevin is very experienced in all areas of website management and development, and is delighted to help Red Card achieve its goals.
With two decades directorship experience internationally, providing operational leadership, guidance and support, across multiple industries, combined with a multitude of qualifications in finance, engineering, law and more, and officially recorded "Upper Superior Intelligence"*, Kevon Robins is very well established as a credible and reliable business operations expert, skilled in strategy planning and management, streamlining operations, pragmatic data-driven decision-making and nurturing relationships at all levels.
In his early career, Kevon managed operations for a heavy engineering company, served for over five years as managing director of a transmissions engineering company, managed operations of a 450 staff oil and gas company in the UAE, and helped CNPC (the fourth largest company in the world) develop the content of their manager training program. In 2016 he was recognised for his business acumen by a group of venture capitalists and was hired to setup a video advertising company in the UAE. He stayed on for a year as managing director before leading and delivering a major IT project in Kuwait as a joint venture between two telecoms multinationals. In 2018 he returned to the UK to serve five years as Operations Lead for UK trade defence and is now COO of Professionalisation Limited.
Kevon believes ‘a rising tide lifts all ships' and is driven by a desire to improve quality of life in the UK for everyone. In supporting Red Card he sees an opportunity to improve the lived experience of Red Card's staff, customers, suppliers and the general public.
Job Titles:
- COMPANY Director
- Management Consultant
- Director of a Firm Production CIC
Paul joined the Red Card Gambling Support Project because he is worried about the rise of gambling and its long term negative impact. Within Red Card, Paul is responsible for overseeing governance processes.
Outside Red Card, Paul is a management consultant with over 30 years' experience of delivering change and supporting organisations across the Financial Services, Oil/Gas, Government and Social Enterprise industries.
As well as being a director of Red Card, Paul is also a director of a firm production CIC called SkipzProductions.
In addition, Paul is a judge on the Management Book of the Year awards, an associate lecturer for the Open University Maths Technology school and an external specialist for the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, where he sets syllabuses and writes course materials. He obtained an MBA from Open University Business School and is studying (albeit very slowly) for a Doctorate at Middlesex Business School.
Finally, Paul authors and speaks on a wide range of subjects covering technology (covering AI and Big Data), offshoring, working for yourself, entrepreneurship and change management.
Sandra Mtandabari is a Chartered and Registered Counselling Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health, working in the NHS, voluntary sector and in private practice.
Her approach to therapeutic practice is integrative, informed by cognitive behavioural, schema and existential models, also incorporating systemic principles & motivational interviewing techniques. Working with adults and adolescents, Sandra offers individual and group therapy, for most psychological presentations including addictions.
As an integrative practitioner, Sandra endeavours to work with a holistic approach, thus ensures all the existential dimensions (psychological, physical, social & spiritual) are addressed at the assessment and treatment of clients.
Tony Kelly - Founder, Managing Director
I plied my trade in the Swedish 2nd Division as well as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions of the English Football League in a 9 year career. I spent 3 years at Stoke City under legendary managers such as Alan Ball and Lou Macari and had numerous highs and lows during that period, namely a Wembley winners medal and my famous ‘YouTube' goal at Anfield in a 2-2 draw in the 1991 League Cup!
If I knew then what I know now, with regards to how professional therapy can be a ‘life saver', I would not be writing this article. ‘Problem gambling' can be helped with proper treatment, which may include Psychological therapy. There is no magical cure as it's an illness and should be treated as such.
We will endeavour to find out what triggers people's compulsive behaviour and urge for compulsive gambling and I am sure with, your full commitment and continued therapy, together we can accomplish our aim.