THE TEAM

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The Vanguard Overwatch team brings deep regulatory expertise and sector insight to deliver tailored, proportionate solutions - not templates. We coach organisations to build understanding and capability, ensuring controls match actual risk - not over-engineered frameworks better suited to banks. Our work is grounded in integrity, transparency, and a commitment to credible, sustainable reform.

BIOS

 

Paul Newson

Principal, Vanguard Overwatch

 

Paul is a Patron, past President, and Trustee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators. He previously served as Deputy Secretary within the NSW Department of Industry, overseeing gambling, liquor, and racing public policy and regulation in New South Wales. Paul was also a Trustee of the NSW Responsible Gambling Fund.

  • With extensive experience in public policy and regulatory oversight, Paul has led high-profile inquiries, strengthened regulatory governance, streamlined compliance frameworks, and championed risk-based supervision. His expertise spans complex and sensitive regulatory challenges across multiple sectors, positioning him as a trusted leader in the field.

    Paul is the founder of Vanguard Overwatch, a specialist advisory firm dedicated to advancing public policy and regulatory excellence, strengthening industry capability, and helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments.

    Vanguard Overwatch also offers its unique, rigorous compliance accreditation, setting the international benchmark for best practice in the gambling sector. This accreditation ensures operators proactively prevent gambling harm, fortify defences against financial crime, and safeguard their organisations from regulatory risk.

    A sought-after speaker, Paul regularly presents at Australian and international gambling and regulatory conferences. He is a graduate of the prestigious Executive Development Program – Confronting Challenges and Embracing Opportunities: Strategic Leadership in the Gaming Industry, a joint initiative of the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business and Extended Studies, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute.

    Paul is also the founder of Regulating the Game, an immersive gambling law and regulation conference designed to build individual and organisational capability, deepen sector knowledge, and advance best-practice regulatory approaches. As part of this initiative, Pitch! was introduced to foster innovation, inspire compliance, and excite industry leaders.

    Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics), a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Legal Studies, and a Master of Law & Management.

 

James McAtamney

Principal, Vanguard Overwatch

 

James is an actuary working as an independent senior advisor and entrepreneur in Australia and internationally. He is the Managing Director of McAtamney & Advisors and has advised extensively on strategic, economic, public policy, regulatory, and operational matters in gambling and across sectors.

  • James has significant experience with industry, government, and the not-for-profit sector on matters related to strategy, policy, investment, market development, economic development, commercial strategy, growth, regulation, and government administration. He brings deep technical expertise in advanced data analytics, financial and economic analysis, impact measurement, demand modelling, and market and risk analytics. He is also an expert in project direction and management, clear non-technical communication, and effective stakeholder engagement in complex environments. He creates confidence in others through candour, dependability, and translating complex issues into plain language and relatable concepts.

    James brings a detailed understanding of the gambling industry, having led and advised on gambling policy, regulation, compliance, and industry development to the Federal Government and its agencies, State governments, and directly to industry. These matters have involved economic and actuarial modelling and impact analysis, financial analysis, policy and tax impact analysis, regulatory policy analysis and guidelines, intersections of gambling policy with AML/CTF and related issues, and extensive research and modelling of regulated and unregulated gambling market size and dynamics (including online).

    James is an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies and Finance) from the University of New South Wales.