The games industry is currently navigating a period of unprecedented transformation, balancing rapid technological advancement with shifting labor expectations and the ongoing need for sustainable business models. To address these critical challenges, the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit has officially announced its comprehensive line-up for this year’s event. Taking place on October 1 at the iconic Royal Institution in London, the day-long summit promises to provide a vital forum for people professionals and business leaders to examine the future of work within the gaming sector.
This year’s event is once again supported by industry recruitment specialist Amiqus, underscoring the summit’s long-standing commitment to fostering excellence in workplace culture. The agenda is packed with over a dozen expert-led sessions, designed to bridge the gap between human resources strategy and overall business success. Attendees can expect a deep dive into the most pressing topics of the moment, including the integration of artificial intelligence in the workplace, the evolving role of labor unions, the complexities of neurodiversity, and the fundamental importance of building resilient organizational cultures.
Industry Leaders Headline the Summit
The GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit has curated a speaker list featuring some of the most influential voices currently operating in the games business. The morning session will be anchored by Sarah Venables, founder of the HR Confidence Club, who will set the tone for the day by discussing the future of people leadership in an era defined by resilience and complexity. Her insights are expected to provide a foundational understanding of how HR departments can navigate the increasingly volatile landscape of the modern games industry.
Joining her are other notable industry figures, including Jonny Hopper, CEO of the independent developer Glowmade Studio, and the leadership duo of Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino from publisher Playstack. These speakers will offer practical, real-world perspectives on how to translate complex human resource strategies into tangible business impacts. By highlighting how culture can act as a genuine competitive advantage, these sessions aim to move beyond theoretical HR practices and into actionable strategies that can be implemented across studios of all sizes.
Addressing the Modern Workforce
The summit’s structure reflects the bifurcated nature of modern HR management. The morning sessions are specifically tailored to the immediate, high-stakes issues facing people professionals today. With the rise of AI, changing legislative requirements, and the increasingly prominent role of unions in game development, the agenda is built to offer clarity in a time of uncertainty. Attendees will participate in sessions that provide guidance on how to manage the legal and ethical implications of AI, as well as how to foster productive relationships between management and employees in a unionized environment.
The afternoon sessions shift focus toward the broader, long-term horizon. As the industry emerges from a period of significant disruption, the conversation will pivot to effective leadership, the structural changes required for success, and the strategic development of skill pathways. These sessions are designed to help leaders look ahead, identifying the specific capabilities and organizational structures that will be necessary to thrive in 2027 and beyond.
A key feature of the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit is the emphasis on peer-to-peer learning through breakout sessions. These segments will be conducted under the Chatham House rule, a format that has proven highly effective in previous years for encouraging open and honest dialogue. By allowing attendees to speak freely without the fear of attribution, these roundtable discussions enable a more profound exchange of insights regarding sensitive topics such as managing performance during periods of business turmoil and navigating the integration of AI tools into day-to-day HR processes.
Celebrating Excellence at the Best Places to Work Awards
The summit will reach its culmination in the evening with the highly anticipated 2026 Best Places to Work Awards. These awards serve as the industry’s premier benchmark for workplace quality, recognizing organizations that have successfully prioritized their people while maintaining high commercial standards. The awards will be presented across three primary tiers—small, medium, and large companies—ensuring that excellence is recognized regardless of the scale of the operation.
Beyond the core categories, the event will also bestow special awards recognizing achievements in critical areas such as Education, Diversity, and Corporate Social Responsibility. This year’s awards are made possible through the support of a broad coalition of industry partners, including Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London, and Special Effect. These sponsors highlight the collective industry-wide effort to elevate standards of employment and social impact.
A Detailed Look at the Schedule
The day will commence at 08:30 with registration, followed by a formal welcome at 09:00. The morning’s main stage agenda features Sarah Venables at 09:15, followed by a 09:45 presentation by Niki Head of Stellar Entertainment, titled "Becoming the Critical Friend," which explores how HR departments can transition from administrative functions to strategic business partners. At 10:15, the focus turns to the pressing topic of unions, employee voice, and the future of the industry’s workplaces.
Following the morning break at 11:00, the summit splits into two breakout rooms to allow for more granular discussions. Breakout Room 1 will host a session on managing neurodiversity in the workplace, offering practical approaches to supporting performance and helping managers lead diverse teams. This will be followed at 12:05 by a session on the role of AI in employment relations. Simultaneously, Breakout Room 2 will tackle the strategic implications of AI, followed by a session titled "Beyond Resilience," which focuses on supervision for HR leaders and the importance of professional reflection.
After a lunch break at 12:45, the afternoon main stage sessions will feature Jonny Hopper of Glowmade Studio at 13:30, discussing how workplace culture drives organizational success. At 14:00, Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino of Playstack will present "People Strategy in Practice," focusing on turning abstract cultural values into concrete business impact.
The final breakout sessions, beginning at 14:30, will address the tension between employee expectations and business realities, alongside a discussion on performance management in a "people-first" culture. At 15:15, the sessions move toward the future of the industry, with discussions on the skills challenge and how to maintain organizational culture during times of change.
The day concludes with a final main stage session at 16:00, posing a provocative question: "What Makes a Great Games Workplace in 2027?" The panel will discuss the courage required to tackle long-term structural changes over the next two years. Following this, the evening will transition into networking drinks, the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards ceremony at 17:15, and final networking opportunities before the event draws to a close at 19:00.
Tickets for the event are currently available via Eventbrite, providing an opportunity for professionals to participate in what is widely considered one of the most essential gatherings for those dedicated to the people behind the games.