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The GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit for this year has revealed its complete line-up, showcasing keynote speakers such as Sarah Venables, the HR Confidence Club’s founder; Jonny Hopper, CEO of Glowmade Studio; and Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino from Playstack. Amiqus is back as the event sponsor.
Scheduled to take place at The Royal Institution in London on October 1, the event will feature a full day of over a dozen talks and sessions focused on people and workplaces. Discussions will touch on topics like neurodiversity in the workplace, the impact of AI on HR, the significance of workplace culture, and the future of unions within the gaming industry.
The morning sessions will address key issues that HR professionals face in gaming companies, offering practical insights on emerging subjects like AI, upcoming laws, and collaboration with unions. The afternoon sessions will delve into effective leadership and how strategic people management can drive business success, while also looking forward to the skills, structures, and strategies needed to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry.
Each main stage session will be followed by breakout sessions featuring facilitated discussions and roundtables held under Chatham House rules. These sessions will allow attendees to exchange insights and gain knowledge from experts on topics such as managing performance during tumultuous times, identifying and fostering necessary skill pathways, and adapting to the increasing role of AI in HR processes and business operations.
The event will culminate with the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards, recognizing small, medium, and large companies for their workplace environments. Additionally, special awards will be presented in categories like Education, Diversity, and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Best Places to Work Awards are proudly sponsored by Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London, and Special Effect. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
You can find the detailed schedule below.
Main stage
08:30: Registration (Teas and Coffees)
09.00: Welcome to the HR Summit
09.15: The Future of People Leadership – Resilience, complexity, changing expectations | Sarah Venables (HR Confidence Club)
09.45: Becoming the Critical Friend – How HR earns influence and becomes a strategic business partner | Niki Head (Stellar Entertainment)
10.15: Unions, Employee Voice and the Future of Games Workplaces
11.00: Break
Breakout Room 1
11.20: Managing Neurodiversity in the Workplace – Practical approaches to supporting performance, making adjustments, and helping managers lead neurodiverse teams
12.05: AI in Employment Relations – Practical guidance for handling AI-generated cases, evidence, and employee relations challenges
Breakout Room 2
11.20: Preparing Your People Strategy for AI – Exploring the workforce, leadership, and capability challenges created by AI
12.05: Beyond Resilience: Supervision for HR Leaders – Creating space for reflection, better judgement and sustainable People leadership
Main stage
12.45: Lunch
13.30: People as a Competitive Advantage – How workplace culture drives organisational success | Jonny Hopper (Glowmade Studio)
14.00: People Strategy in Practice – Turning culture into business impact | Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino (Playstack)
Breakout Room 1
14.30: Employee Expectations vs Business Reality: Balancing flexibility, transparency, and employee experience with commercial realities
15.15: The Skills Challenge: How do we build, retain and develop the capabilities games business will need next?
Breakout Room 2
14.30: Performance in a People First Workplace: How do we create accountability, address under performance and maintain high standards while building supportive workplaces?
15.15: Culture Through Change: Maintaining trust, engagement and performance during periods of change
Main stage
16.00: What Makes a Great Games Workplace in 2027? If we had the courage to tackle three things over the next two years what should they be?
16.30: Drinks & Networking
17.15: Best Places to Work Awards
18.15: Drinks & Networking
19.00: Ends