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FREE - Roundtables
Backlash - The Real Cost of Diversity and Inclusion
A Roundtable discussing how companies can do more when it comes to the anti-woke backlash and how diversity and inclusion initiatives are crucial to helping the gaming industry grow.
Session Takeaway
- The real takeaway from this panel talk will be multifaceted. Individuals will understand that they must remain committed to diversity and inclusion (D&I) despite the anti-woke backlash, as these initiatives are not just about ethics but are crucial for the gaming industry’s growth, innovation, and long-term success
- They will be given facts about why diverse teams have led to better creativity, broader market appeal, and stronger financial performance
- They will understand how to respond effectively to backlash, we will touch upon strategies companies can use to navigate criticism so they can stay committed and foster an inclusive culture without alienating key stakeholders
Burnout! How to Spot it and Put Out the Fire
Burnout is a silent threat that affects many in high-energy, fast-paced industries, including the gaming world. In this interactive roundtable discussion, I will draw on my personal experience of navigating burnout—not once, but twice—to guide attendees through the process of identifying burnout before it consumes them. This session will allow individuals to share their own experiences and symptoms of burnout, fostering a space where others can recognize these signs in themselves.
Drawing from both my own journey and practical insights, this roundtable will focus on how to spot the tell-tale signs of burnout in yourself, your colleagues, and within your team dynamics. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of early warning signals, such as emotional exhaustion, detachment, and decreased productivity, and how to recognize these symptoms before they spiral further.
But it’s not all doom and gloom! This session will also provide actionable strategies and techniques for combating burnout. Together, we will discuss how to foster a healthy work-life balance, set boundaries, and prioritize mental well-being in an industry that often demands the opposite.
This roundtable offers a chance for open discussion and collective learning, providing tools to manage and prevent burnout—both on an individual and team level—so that we can continue thriving in this exciting industry.
Session Takeaway
- Recognize the early signs of burnout—what it looks like—both in yourself and your colleagues
- Learn practical strategies to set boundaries, prioritize work-life balance, and integrate self-care routines to prevent burnout
- Develop a personal action plan for sustainable mental well-being, with tools to manage stress and foster a healthy, balanced approach to work
Empowering Women’s Health in the Workplace: Breaking Barriers and Building Support
Women’s health is a crucial, yet an often overlooked aspect of workplace wellbeing. From menstruation to pregnancy, to menopause and beyond, these health topics are deeply personal but have a significant impact on professional lives. Despite the importance of addressing women’s health at work, many face stigma, lack of support, and insufficient policies. This roundtable aims to dismantle those barriers, foster allyship and create a supportive, inclusive environment where all women can thrive.
Session Takeaway
- Understand Women’s Health in the Workplace:
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how various aspects of women’s health; menstrual cycles, pregnancy, fertility, menopause, and more can affect performance, productivity and mental health, recognising the hidden challenges many face at work and how this influences their career paths - Create Supportive and Inclusive Workplaces:
Understand the importance of offering mental health support, wellness programs, and career progression initiatives that consider women’s health challenges
- Foster Open Conversations About Health:
Examine how leaders and managers can initiate and encourage these conversations while maintaining sensitivity and respect - Implement Practical Solutions:
Gain insights into the importance of allies in the workplace and how to cultivate allyship that benefits everyone
Game Developers as Role Models: Shaping the Future of the Industry
The games industry is more than just making games, it’s shaping the future for those who aspire to be apart of it. Your experience, insights and career journey can inspire students and career changers.
With the rise of social media, the ability to share your professional journey has never been easier. These online platforms can break down barriers, demystify the industry and allow us to provide real-world guidance to the next generation of developers. Vitally, these platforms can also help expand our reach to marginalised and underrepresented groups to open the door to them too.
This session will discuss how anyone can become an active and positive influence in the industry. The importance of representation for underrepresented groups and how to share your experiences in a way that is motivational and informative. We will explore how industry professionals can collectively counter negative stereotypes, such as crunch culture and job instability, by shedding light on studios that values their employees.
Session Takeaway
- How to use your career journey to inspire and inform the next generation
- Strategies for social media and mentorship to break down industry barriers
- Challenge negative stereotypes and highlight positive industry experiences
Getting Girls into Game Development - Starting Early
Katherine and Kippie have been delivering game development workshops to girls in Northern Ireland aged 11 - 14 since 2017. In that time she has learnt a lot about why girls don’t always feel like they have a future in game dev, particularly when it comes to code, and how to challenge that mind set. During this Roundtable she will examine the reasons for this, looking at how the media portrays programmers and gamers in general, why IT education in port primary schools is failing young women in particular and the importance of positive role models. She will share her experiences, successes, failures and what she has learned from working with her students. She will look at how she has learned to teach game dev and coding in a ‘no pressure’ nurturing environment, the importance of fun and exploration, and why, as a tutor, making mistakes is one of the best things you can do.
Session Takeaway
- Why girls aren’t studying coding at school
- How to make coding more appealing for girls
- How the media is perpetuating stereotypes that are harmful for girls
Mentorship Matters: How Limit Break is Levelling Up Careers in Games
Thriving in the games industry requires more than just landing a job. Career progression, navigating challenges, and achieving long-term goals are crucial at every stage, from junior developer to seasoned veteran. Limit Break Mentorship recognises the unique obstacles faced by underrepresented individuals more than most and works to provide a dedicated space where they can talk through their career development through a 6-month mentorship programme.
Whether you're just starting out, seeking a promotion, or aiming for leadership roles, mentorship offers invaluable support. It provides a safe environment to discuss career challenges, explore opportunities, and gain insights from experienced professionals. Limit Break Mentorship connects people in the games industry, allowing them to share their experiences, define goals, develop strategies for advancement, and build a strong network within the industry.
This panel will showcase the power of mentorship at all career levels, featuring mentors and mentees who will share their stories. Discover how Limit Break is fostering a more diverse and inclusive games industry, and learn how you can benefit from mentorship, whether you're seeking guidance or looking to give back by becoming a mentor.
Session Takeaway
- Mentorship can benefit game developers at all career stages, especially for those in underrepresented groups
- How Limit Break is having a positive impact on career progression and diversity within the games industry
- The advantages for game studios in supporting mentorship programmes, including talent development, improved retention, and fostering a more inclusive and positive work environment
Representation in Games: Beyond the Surface
Games are becoming more diverse, but many still treat representation as an add-on rather than an integral part of design. This roundtable invites developers to discuss how representation can be embedded into mechanics, narratives, and player agency rather than just being an aesthetic checkbox.
Moderated by Lydia Cooke, a researcher in Queer Game Studies, this session will explore the challenges and successes of meaningful inclusion in game development. Key topics include:
- When representation affects gameplay vs. when it’s only aesthetic
- The challenges of selling diverse narratives to studios and publishers
- How identity shapes player experience, mechanics, and story structure
This is an opportunity for developers to share experiences, discuss obstacles, and explore how to create richer, more inclusive games.
Session Takeaway
- Understanding how representation can shape gameplay, not just aesthetics
- Sharing real-world challenges of pushing for meaningful diversity
- Connecting with other devs passionate about authentic representation
The Adaptive Leader: Navigating Uncertainty
In an industry defined by rapid change and unpredictability, leadership has never been more critical, or more challenging. This roundtable invites studio leaders, team leads, and decision-makers to explore what it means to be an adaptive leader in today’s games industry.
Through open discussion, we’ll tackle key questions: How can leaders foster transparency and trust in times of uncertainty? What strategies can help teams remain flexible without losing focus? And how do we balance the need for resilience with the realities of an ever-changing landscape?
Drawing on real-world experiences and collective insights, this session will provide a space for honest dialogue, shared learning, and actionable ideas to take back to your studio. Whether you’re navigating layoffs, restructuring, or simply the day-to-day challenges of game development, this roundtable will equip you with fresh perspectives on leading through uncertainty.
Session Takeaway
- Practical strategies for fostering transparency and trust in teams
- Insights on balancing flexibility with focus in a fast-changing industry
- Ideas for building resilience while staying grounded in reality
The Art of Feedback
Feedback is everywhere, from performance reviews to post-mortems, and it’s essential for growth. But how many of us feel comfortable asking for it, receiving it, or giving it effectively?
In this Roundtable, I’ll share practical tips and techniques on how to handle feedback like a pro in our fast-paced, beloved gaming industry.
You’ll learn how to ask for feedback with confidence, especially in high-stakes moments like milestones or sprints, and how to receive it graciously (even the tough stuff!). I’ll also show you methods that work and those that don’t when delivering feedback, so you can help your team grow and thrive. Plus, I'’ll highlight common mistakes to avoid, so you can get the most out of feedback without the typical pitfalls.
You’ll leave with tools that make feedback a powerful ally, not a dreaded task.
Let’s make feedback easier, more effective, and more empowering for everyone!
Session Takeaway
- Effective techniques for asking for feedback (who, when, where, and how)
- How to receive feedback with confidence (especially when it’s negative!)
- The best methods and tools for delivering feedback that fosters growth (and which ones to avoid)
The Rollercoaster Ride of Being Made Redundant
Losing a job is more than a professional setback: it’s a deeply emotional experience. Even when the signs are there, redundancy is a shock, leaving many to navigate feelings of grief, anger, and self-doubt before reaching clarity and acceptance.
This roundtable will explore redundancy through the lens of the 7 stages of grief, reframing them into key phases many experience: the initial shock and denial, the anger and bargaining that follows, the guilt and self-doubt that often take hold, and ultimately, the reflection, testing, and eventual excitement for new opportunities.
Through shared stories and open discussion, we’ll explore questions such as:
- What emotional responses are common, and what kind of support do newly redundant employees need?
- How do you manage the emotional toll of rejection and self-doubt?
- How can you reframe redundancy as an opportunity for growth?
While we will acknowledge the emotional impact, the heart of this discussion will focus on the Testing & Reflection stage—the phase where people have the most agency. We’ll talk about practical ways to redefine career goals, network effectively, and regain confidence in the job search.
Whether you’ve been through redundancy, are currently experiencing it, or want to support others, this roundtable provides a space to share, reflect, and gain new perspectives.
Session Takeaway
- Understand that redundancy is an emotional journey, and all feelings are valid
- Gain a new lens through which to view their situation
- Gain peer support and a lessened sense of shame
- A renewed sense of agency and practical tips and ideas on what to do next
User Interface Design Roundtable
User Interface design is uniquely situated in the games development ecosystem. Bridging the gap between Design, Art and Code, User Interface is often the vital differentiation between games.
This roundtable is an opportunity for UI Artists and Designers of all levels to meet and exchange knowledge and wisdom, and discuss the various challenges we have to deal with in our careers.
Non UI Artists and Designers are very welcome to come and gain an insight into how to work closely with their UI colleagues to create visually engaging and intuitive games!
A vital discipline within games with many facets and aspects, User Interface makes the difference between a market leader and a failure. This roundtable is a chance to discuss some of the larger questions about how a user interface should be designed and built and hear from experienced as well as rising talent.
Session Takeaway
- You will have a better idea of how UI artists and designers work in other studios
- You will get helpful advice about best practises in development process, documentation, project and asset organisation
- You will get some tips to improve communication with other departments in your workplace
- Gain pertinent insight into the specialism that bridges the gap between Design, Art and Code
- Meet some of the community of UI artists and designers working in games
Why Can’t I Switch Off? Identifying and Managing Absence Anxiety
Do you struggle to switch off from work? Has taking a holiday caused you to feel guilty or stressed? This roundtable explores the topic of ‘absence anxiety,’ the term used to describe the overwhelming feeling of discomfort some people get when taking time away from work.
Absence anxiety can present in many ways, such as over-working or feeling stressed about completing tasks before you log off for your holiday; constantly worrying about what’s happening at work while you’re away; feeling guilty about the pressure you might put on other members of the team; and so much more.
Left unmanaged, absence anxiety can lead to burnout. This roundtable, hosted by Em Aspinall of Safe In Our World, offers a safe and welcoming environment for participants to open up about their experiences.
Together we will discuss the reasons behind absence anxiety, and how to support yourself and others by identifying behaviours, setting effective boundaries, and working alongside your colleagues and managers to ensure proper support for returning to work after time off.
Session Takeaway
- Learn to identify signs of absence anxiety
- Discover potential causes for absence anxiety and how they can affect your life
- Explore various ways to successfully navigate and reduce absence anxiety, including both individual and organisational strategies
