Job title: General manager
For: The Lion Foundation
This job - overseeing the distribution of money raised through gaming machines in pubs and clubs all over New Zealand - was no gamble for South African-born Mark Forshaw.
His former post was manager of electronic gaming at Christchurch's casino.
He was also general manager-designate
for the Dunedin casino, which opened about 18 months ago, but didn't take up the post.
"I had known of the Lion Foundation for many years," says the 41-year-old.
"I always loved the gaming industry, and the opportunity to get in to the charitable side was the best combination of all worlds."
"I knew what the position entailed and I knew the incumbent."
The Lion Foundation, a charitable trust which operates at arm's length from liquor giant Lion Nathan, gave out $24 million to community groups in the year to the end of March on the recommendations of publicans.
The Auckland-based job involves a lot of travel, keeping in touch with pub owners and other players in a business governed by strict Department of Internal Affairs rules.
Mr Forshaw, who has 16 staff, says one of the most pressing issues facing his sector is a general proliferation of gaming machines and competition from casinos.
Casinos, he says, can advertise themselves in a way that pubs cannot.
Since he arrived in New Zealand seven years ago, the number of gaming machines in pubs and clubs has soared from about 6000 to about 17,000.
