Operator News
France – JOA executive receives first-ever EDP Gender Diversity Scholarship
By Phil - 4 October 2018
Pauline Boyer Martin from the French casino group JOA has been announced as the winner of the first-ever Executive Development Program (EDP) gender diversity scholarship.
The scholarship was set up by the European Casino Association (ECA) together with partners Clarion Gaming, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) and the EDP. EDP is a partnership program between UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) and the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business and Extended Studies. Through the scholarship, Ms Boyer Martin will participate in the 28th edition of EDP from November 10 to 18 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada (USA) alongside global gaming executives and international rising stars in the industry.
Ms Boyer Martin is the Marketing Director of French casino group JOA, the third-largest land-based casino operator in France that itself is a member of the ECA through the trade association Casino de France. Before joining the company in 2007, she held leading positions at luxury goods company LVMH and in the fashion industry. Besides her position at JOA, she is also involved in education and teaching at Lyon Business School and sits on a number of committees of French football club Olympique Lyon.
To be selected for the Clarion-ECA-AGEM EDP gender diversity scholarship, Ms Boyer Martin showed her leadership skills and a desire to further her professional education. She was awarded the scholarship through a judging process that involved the representatives of the four supporting organisations. The members of the judging panel were: Kate Chambers (Managing Director, Clarion Gaming), Tracy Cohen (Director of Europe, AGEM), JoAnne Gipson (Operations Manager at Extended Studies, University of Nevada, Reno) and Philip Easthill (Executive Director, ECA).
Pauline Boyer Martin said: “I am delighted and immensely proud to have been selected as the winner of the first-ever Clarion-ECA-AGEM EDP scholarship and I cannot wait to attend the programme in November and represent the ECA. It will be a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the globe and discuss the key issues for the future of our industry.”
The program explores new industry ideas, leadership strategies, and an opportunity to network with other gaming professionals from around the globe. Themes in 2018 include women in leadership, safety and security, responsible gambling, and corporate social responsibility with an overall focus on Europe. Visit the EDP website to learn more about the program.
UNLV IGI’s executive director Bo Bernhard said: “We are delighted to partner with the European Casino Association, Clarion, and AGEM to support a cause that is near and dear to all of our professional hearts: the development and promotion of tomorrow’s female gaming leaders. Ms Boyer Martin will join more than 1400 EDP alumni (including many current CEOs) at gaming’s most prestigious leadership development academy this fall, providing these next-generation leaders with a career-catapulting educational opportunity in Lake Tahoe.”
Kate Chambers, Managing Director of Clarion Gaming, commented: “The EDP Gender Diversity Scholarship is a really exciting development and one that is just so important for the industry. Through our events, we have featured educational initiatives on diversity and inclusion that support, inspire and influence the development of women in the gaming and lottery industries – so I am proud of the fact that we can support this initiative with our friends at UNLV, ECA and AGEM – and delighted to hear that Ms Boyer Martin is the first-ever recipient, a great achievement.”
Tracy Cohen, Director for Europe of AGEM added: “We are proud to be involved in awarding the first winner of this exciting gender diversity initiative, supporting and developing emerging women in the industry. As a keen supporter of the prestigious EDP, AGEM is aware of the incredible opportunity this scholarship brings – being taught by some of the world’s most influential innovators as well as collaborating and forming lifelong relationships with other like-minded gaming professionals. We congratulate all the entrants and wish Ms Boyer Martin much success in pursuit of her goals.”
Philip Easthill, Executive Director of the ECA said: “We are proud to award the first-ever gender diversity scholarship for the prestigious Executive Development Program to Ms Boyer Martin. She will be a great ambassador for the ECA and Europe’s land-based casino industry. It is fantastic to see the industry come together to support this initiative and we thank Clarion Gaming, AGEM, the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) and the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business and Extended Studies for their support and dedication.”
