Rebecca Thorpe
Rebecca Thorpe is a passionate community advocate and volunteer who believes we should all be the change we want to see in the world.
​
She worked as a journalist for many years before heading into the world of communications and media for not-for-profits.
​
Rebecca served as the Communications Director for the Alliance for Gambling Reform for more than two years, during which time she developed close relationships with many of GHLEE's Board Members. While she was well aware of gambling harm being a critical issue in Australia, she was still shocked by its enormity as she learned more through her work.
​
"I spent almost two years leading the communications campaign to see the successful legislation of the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), which effectively doubled Federal Government investment in medical research by delivering $1 billion every year. I thought that was a significant amount of money," Rebecca said.
​
"Then when I started working with the Alliance I quickly learned that Australians were losing more than $25 billion every year gambling. That blew my mind. I had worked my guts out to get the MRFF over the line and meanwhile governments have been ignoring this appalling drain on families, communities and the economy. How could this be?
​
"While I left the Alliance to pursue other passions, I never forgot this cause and the people with lived experience of gambling harm that I worked beside. Yes was the only possible answer when I was asked to join the Board of GHLEE and become National Communications Director.
​
"I believe in the power of lived experience to effect change in this world, and especially the incredible lived experience experts I have the honour of working with at GHLEE."
​