GamesEd20 Schedule

Tuesday 8th September

0930: Welcome from the Chair, Rick Gibson, CEO, BGI

0935-0950: Keynote Aurore Dimopolous,  Head of Learn Content Production, Unity

0950-1035: The Great Debate – Senior games educators and studios discuss their response to the major challenges of Covid and Brexit, moderated by Philip Oliver from GameDragons

Aurore Dimopoulos – Unity
Alan O’Dea – Staffordshire University
Ian Goodall – Aardvark Swift
Dr Paul Parry – Sheffield Hallam University
Mark Flanagan – Epic Games

1035-1045 Screen break

Track 1

1045-1130: Taking on an Apprentice – worth considering?  – With Government funding for apprenticeships at an optimum point, this is an ideal time to consider growing your talent. AIM Assessment with NextGen Skills Academy give you the lowdown and Creative Alliance explains who they have worked with a local games company to design a bespoke programme of learning.

Karen Hedger – AIM
Marcia Deakin – NextGen Skills Academy
James Ellis – Creative Alliance
Alistair Irons – University of Sunderland
Alexander Eichinger – Ubisoft

Track 2

1045-1130: From Apprentice to Master – four panellists at different stages in their careers
discuss the central role of the apprenticeship model in their learning journey, moderated by Dr. Jake Habgood – Director of Education Partnerships at the Sumo Digital Group.

Victoria Hall, Senior Concept Artist – Rare Ltd.
Lee Taylor, Senior Programmer – Nequinox Studios
Emma Rogers, Trainee Programmer Intern – Sumo Digital
Jordan Herbert, Junior Programmer – Sumo Digital

1130-1140: Screen break

1140-1155: Keynote – Emma Smith, Head of Talent at Creative Assembly

Track 1

1155-1240: Breaking the glass doorA panel discussion on barriers to accessing careers in games for diverse candidates during a pandemicc, moderated by Liz Prince, Business Manager of Amiqus and Founder of Putting the G into Gaming

Dr Hatana El-Jarn – Leeds Trinity University
Professor Sharon Tolani-Sage – Norwich University of the Arts
Harinder Sangha – Sumo Digital

Track 2

1155-1240: From college to work – How an FE college set up internships with the UK’s largest games studio and then ran them during Covid-19, moderated by Matt Wilson from Priestley College

Mitch Weir – Priestley College
Courtney Cunnilife – Priestley College
Rhys Nadin – Priestley College
Arthur Parsons, Head of Design – TT Games

1240-1330: Lunch break

Track 1

1330-1415: Bridging the skills gap – Studios and educators debate how they can collaborate to bring new talent into the industry during a pandemic, moderated by Chris Dring from Gamesindustry.biz.

Anna Limpens – Portsmouth University
Dr Charlie Hargood – Bournemouth University
Kieran Holland – Sumo Digital
Meg Daintith – Codemasters

Track 2

1330-1415: Aligning the funding – Senior university and studio staff discuss the business of education and games in an environment of Covid and Brexit, moderated by Rick Gibson, BGI

Larra Andersen, Dean of Screen – London College of Communications
Nick Duncombe, Resource Manager – Playground Games
Dr Adrian Hull, Head of School – University of Portsmouth

1415-1425: Screen break

1425-1510: Policy for gamesTrade body specialists discuss games education policy during the pandemic, moderated by Dr Peter Howell from Portsmouth University

Dr Jake Habgood, TIGA educational representative
Tim Scott – UKIE

1510-1520: Screen break

1520-1605: Pathfinders during the PandemicHear how groundbreaking programmes such as Launchpad, Gamer Camp, Digital Schoolhouse and Into Games have been adapting to Covid, moderated by Andrew Oliver, GameDragons

Nick Dixon – Falmouth University
Dr Oliver Williams – Birmingham City University
Shahneila Saeed – Digital SchoolHouse
Declan Cassidy – Into Games

1605-1610: ICIDS 2020 – Dr Charlie Hargood, Bournemouth University previews the forthcoming International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling in November 2020.

1610-1620: Screen Break

1620-1715: Conference wrapKey speakers discuss the Summit, take questions and propose an agenda for 2021, moderated by Rick Gibson, BGI.

Aurore Dimopoulos – Unity
Dr Paul Parry – Sheffield Hallam University
Mark Flanagan – Epic Games
Ian Goodall – Aardvark Swift
Sharon Tolaini-Sage – Norwich University of the Arts

1715: Summit close