UK Gambling Commission names new policy and research lead
The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced that Sarah Fox, a senior leader from the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), will be joining as a member of the regulator’s executive team.
As part of Fox’s responsibilities, the UKGC stated that she will be leading the Commission’s Policy and Research Statistics functions and National Lottery regulation. Fox is set to join the Commission in September, and the UKGC noted that she is doing so on secondment from the DCMS.
Fox set to take on policy and research role once Miller exits
Discussing the appointment, the Commission commented that Fox has been leading the DCMS’ Gambling and Lotteries team for four years, with her responsibilities having included the handling of the gambling white paper and its implementation, the transition to and implementation of the 4th national lottery licence, “and policy oversight for areas such as society lotteries and horse racing”.
Fox’s appointment comes just about four weeks after Tim Miller, who has been serving as the UKGC’s Executive Director of Policy and Research and has been with the Commission for 10 years, declared that he will be leaving the Commission in September 2026. She will effectively be taking on the position once Miller officially departs.
Fox, the UKGC continued, has over 23 years of experience in the Civil Service, including experience in operational, strategic, and policy roles with the UK Home Office, as well as the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office, aside from DCMS.
“Sarah is also the senior champion on disability in DCMS, supporting the staff network and using her own experiences to improve the disability confidence of the organisation,” the UKGC noted.
Comments from Fox and acting UKGC Chief Executive Sarah Gardner
Sarah Gardner, acting Chief Executive of the UKGC, remarked that the Commission is “incredibly fortunate” to have someone with Fox’s experience joining the team. “The Commission has an ambitious strategy, so having someone who is already working across the gambling and lotteries sector will be invaluable,” Gardner stated.
She continued that Fox’s role will prove to be a vital one as the Commission sets out to complete the final stages of the implementation of the white paper. Gardner said that the UKGC will assess the impact of the changes “and continue to ensure the interests of National Lottery players are protected and that returns to Good Causes are maximised”.
For her part, Fox said that the opportunity to work with the Commission and to contribute in helping to make gambling safer, fairer, and crime-free is an opportunity that she is especially excited to take on.
Fox commented that, “over the last four years,” she has seen the UKGC’s work first-hand, as she particularly noted the expertise, talent, and enthusiasm of its teams. “So much has been achieved over a time that has been significant for the gambling sector and everyone with an interest in it,” she remarked.
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