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GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit 2023

Tackling The Biggest HR Issues Facing The Video Games Industry

The GI HR Summit unites HR professionals from across the games industry to discuss the biggest topics impacting their teams. 2023's event takes place at BAFTA HQ, and features keynote talks from Ubisoft's Chief People Office Anika Grant and Gapsquare CEO Dr Zara Nanu (OBE). Plus! Sessions on four-day working weeks, internships and education, creating a sense of belonging in a hybrid set-up, attracting talent outside of games, mental health and more. The GI HR Summit is sponsored by Amiqus, Lighthouse Games and Rocksteady.
Speakers
Anika Grant

Anika Grant

Chief People Officer, Ubisoft

Becky Hayler

Becky Hayler

People Team Advisor, Hutch

Catherine Channon

Catherine Channon

Communications Vice President

Charmaine Clavier-St John

Charmaine Clavier-St John

Head of People, Hutch Games

Claire Boissiere

Claire Boissiere

VP of Studios, Thunderful and Studio Director, Jumpship

Dr Jacob Habgood

Dr Jacob Habgood

Director of Education Partnerships, Sumo Group

Dr Zara Nanu MBE

Dr Zara Nanu MBE

CEO and Co-Founder, GapSquare

Gina Jackson OBE

Gina Jackson OBE

Graham McAllister

Graham McAllister

Organisational Psychologist

Harinder Sangha

Harinder Sangha

COO, Maverick Games

Jennie Jakubowski

Jennie Jakubowski

Data Operations Manager, XpertHR

Julie Piedrabuena

Julie Piedrabuena

Head of People & Culture, ustwo games

Liz Prince

Liz Prince

Business Director, Amiqus

Luke Savage

Luke Savage

Senior Academic Development Manager, PlayStation Studios

Lynn Morgans-Griffiths

Lynn Morgans-Griffiths

HR Director, Ubisoft Reflections

Marcia Deakin

Marcia Deakin

Co-Founder, NextGen Skills Academy

Mick Morris

Mick Morris

VP of Games, Psyop

Nisha Minhas

Nisha Minhas

HR Director, Roll7

Perri Lewis

Perri Lewis

Founder and CEO, Mastered

Rob Hewson

Rob Hewson

CEO & Creative Director, Huey Games

Sarah Brewster

Sarah Brewster

Managing Director, Fresh Seed

Steve Cuss

Steve Cuss

Founder, The GamePlan Consultancy

Tamsin O'Luanaigh

Tamsin O'Luanaigh

Chief People Officer, nDreams

Main Theatre
    1. Registration

    2. Welcome - Christopher Dring, GamesIndustry.biz

    3. The Building Blocks of Change - Anika Grant (Ubisoft)

      From employee engagement to career development to company culture, Anika Grant shares how Ubisoft is rolling out a program change to continue evolving its people experience and build a workplace where everyone can thrive.
    4. Creating equality at work: from play to pay - Dr Zara Nanu (GapSquare)

      Dr Nanu is a champion of equality and more inclusive workplaces for all, and will share insights and advice around improving diversity and the gender pay gap.
    5. Break

    6. Why leading communications through change management is the most meaningful work you will ever do - Catherine Channon

      During the session, Channon will look at the positive and negative impact communications can have when a company goes through significant organisational change.
    7. Games Education Panel -- Luke Savage (PlayStation), Dr Jacob Habgood (Sumo), Tamsin O’Luanaigh (nDreams), Marcia Deakin (NextGen Skills Academy)

      GamesIndustry.biz will host a panel on how games companies are working with education and developing the next generation of talent
    8. How to successfully run a remote studio, and make it last - Nisha Minhas (Roll7)

      Roll7 is a fully remote studio and has been since 2007 so Nisha brings a unique take on HR and remote working.
    9. Balancing pixels and peace of mind -- Julie Piedrabuena (ustwo games)

      Julie Piedrabuena is a distinguished HR professional with a academic background in psychology. She's behind some significant mental health initiatives as ustwo games, which is a certified B-Corp.
    10. Break

    11. The Future of Games HR Panel -- Harinder Sangha (Maverick Games), Sarah Brewster (Fresh Seed), Lynn Morgans-Griffiths (Ubisoft), Steve Cuss (The GamePlan Consultancy)

      We look back at the big topics of the day, and the issues and opportunities on the horizon
    12. Lunch and Networking Break

    13. The UK 2023 Best Places To Work Awards

      Discover the winners of the 2023 UK Best Places To Work Awards, sponsored by Double Eleven, Hutch Games, Ico Partners, Playground Games and Rocksteady
    14. Networking Drinks

Second Stage
    1. Game Vision Alignment: Its Role in Team Effectiveness - Graham McAllister

      This talk will show that a team having a clear and shared vision is not only critical to project success, but also to staff well-being. Factors such as team conflict, poor communication, project delays, burnout, and crunch are all undesired outcomes caused by the lack of a clear vision. Examples will be shown from inside and outside the games industry where vision has had a significant role in success and failure
    2. Attracting talent from outside of games – why, and how to do it -- Rob Hewson (Huey Games), Claire Boissiere (Jumpship and Thunderful), Perri Lewis (Mastered). Host: Liz Prince (Amiqus)

      Experts discuss how games studios can go about bringing in people from outside the industry, and the benefits of doing so.
    3. Creating hyper-engaged and healthy teams: the leaders' role - Steve Cuss, The GamePlan Consultancy

      Steve Cuss has three decades running games teams, including 20 years at EA, mostly at Best Places winner Criterion. He now lectures and writes on leadership.
    4. Salary Benchmarking Data from Cendex -- Jennie Jakubowski (XpertHR)

      We reveal the first results of our new salary survey, in partnership with Cendex
Roundtables
    1. Can male allyship confront toxicity against women - Gina Jackson OBE, Mick Morris (Psyop)

      The session follows the overwhelming response to Gina's article 'Men need to speak up against toxicity targeting women – and on their own behalf'. The roundtable will look at practical steps we can all take to foster allyship to tackle toxicity within the games industry.
    2. Four Day Working Weeks -- Charmaine Clavier-St John and Becky Hayler (Hutch Games)

      Hutch Games shares its insights and answers questions on its switch to four days
    3. The Art of leading Technical Teams - practical ways HR can support Accidental Managers - Perri Lewis (Mastered) and special guests

      This session is on one of the big topics that studios are struggling with: Leadership. Perri Lewis will lead a roundtable discussion with various guest contributors.
Attendees
Articles
How to effectively communicate through change

How to effectively communicate through change

Cat Channon advises on how to minimise the human impact and ensure better understanding of big changes at your games business

Marie Dealessandri

Ubisoft says it's "on the right path" to recover from "misconduct crisis"

Ubisoft says it's "on the right path" to recover from "misconduct crisis"

Chief people officer Anika Grant shared an update on the publisher's progress at the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit

James Batchelor

GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit: The event in pictures

GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit: The event in pictures

Check out the highlights from last week, when we took over BAFTA to discuss the future of working in games

James Batchelor

GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit details mental health, leadership and education sessions

GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit details mental health, leadership and education sessions

Featuring ustwo games, nDreams, Creative Assembly and more on September 27th in London

Christopher Dring

Check out the latest speakers for the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit

Check out the latest speakers for the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit

Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow (May 31st)

Christopher Dring