The launch of iGB Ascend will be "the start of a huge movement for women in the gaming industry," said iGaming XL director Claire Wellard (pictured) this week.
Wellard, who attended her first affiliate expo, the Casino Affiliate Program, in 2007, has welcome the launch of Ascend, the mentoring initiative for women in gaming, that is being launched at next week's iGB Affiliate London.
She said: “The affiliate space has been transformed over the last 15 years. When I first started, I was literally one of just five women affiliate managers. On the affiliate side the gender imbalance was even more pronounced to the extent that 99 per cent of affiliates were men.
"I had to learn the gambling industry fast and navigate a male-dominated industry even quicker, but with resilience, hard work and determination I carved an amazing career for myself.
“However, that has not been the case for every woman and you have to acknowledge that a lot of talented people have been lost to the business simply because of such a lack of balance.
"With the support of the iGB brand and buy-in from across the business, I am confident that Ascend will help to create greater diversity to the betterment of the industry and I am excited to be a part of it.”
