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 door– A 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 games – Trade 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 Pandemic – Hear 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 wrap – Key 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