Tara Mustapha
Code Coven
Tara Mustapha is an award-winning founder, game developer, and strategic advisor. With over two decades in the industry, from AAA titles like the Skate franchise to pioneering indie initiatives, Tara is recognised for her bold leadership, strategic clarity, and commitment to reshaping how the games industry supports creative excellence.
She is the Founder and CEO of Code Coven, the launchpad for marginalised game developers. Through world-class education, mentorship, and business acceleration, Code Coven nurtures the next generation of diverse studios and storytellers built to thrive, not just survive.
Tara’s work spans collaborations with Netflix, Epic Games, Riot, Meta, and the BFI. She has raised over £1 million to create meaningful access, opportunity, and impact in games. She’s known for building things that last, asking better questions, and refusing to compromise on the vision of an industry that reflects the brilliance of its people.
She’s also a proud Gooner, fuelled by caffeine, is mildly obsessed with romantasy fiction and trying to raise a kind and boundary-ed toddler while helping reshape an industry to make space for both.
Tara Mustapha is speaking at the following session/s
KEYNOTE: Build What You Have: Rethinking Studio Sustainability in 2025
Many of today’s studio leaders came up experimenting with whatever tools they had - hacking, prototyping, modding, and storytelling in unexpected ways. That same mindset is exactly what the industry needs now, not just to survive, but to rediscover why we make games in the first place.
In this keynote, Code Coven founder Tara Mustapha shares a vision for building sustainable, inclusive studios in a time of economic pressure and creative uncertainty. Drawing from her firsthand experience supporting hundreds of marginalised developers, Tara explores how creative resilience, strategic thinking, cultural leadership and your love of games are key to long-term success, no matter your size or stage.
Whether you’re an indie founder navigating your first fundraise or a veteran rethinking your team’s future, this session is a call to build intentionally, play in the sandbox and break the rules.
Session Takeaway
- How resourceful, experimental thinking can guide studio strategy today
- What sustainable, inclusive studios look like in practice
- Where the real funding opportunities are - and how to access them
- Why inclusion is a competitive advantage in an unstable industry
- Practical frameworks for lean hiring, long-term KPIs, and community driven development
Session speakers
WorkWise for Screen: Fair Play at Work
WorkWise for Screen supports employers and hirers in the games industry with expert guidance on UK employment law, HR best practice and people management.
The UK games industry is at a crossroads. Studio closures and mass layoffs have flooded the market with senior talent, while entry-level roles are more competitive than ever. Amid the upheaval, one thing remains: the creativity, passion, and skill that drive this industry forward.
As new studios launch and existing teams fight to stay afloat, leadership must build strong, legally sound and sustainable workplaces - fit for the long haul.
The games industry has long attracted neurodivergent talent, yet many studios still fall short on equitable hiring, contracts, and workplace support. Employment tribunal cases around discrimination and neurodiversity are rising - so how can leaders ensure their practices are both compliant and genuinely inclusive?
In this interview-led session, industry experts share crucial insights on:
Recruitment – how to avoid bias, attract top talent, and ensure a transparent and inclusive selection process.
Contracts and compliance – key legal considerations when hiring employees, contractors or freelancers, including key legal responsibilities around neurodiversity and reasonable adjustments
Workplace and culture – how to lead effectively, support neurodivergent employees, avoid common HR pitfalls and foster a resilient, inclusive team
Whether you’re building the next generation of studios or working to keep yours standing, this session will equip you with the tools to lead fairly, safely and well.
After the session and throughout Develop, visit the WorkWise for Screen stand for one-to-one meetings with legal and HR experts offering tailored advice.
Moderator: Jonas Gawe
Session Takeaway
- What effective leadership looks like in uncertain times - especially when supporting diverse teams
- How to hire fairly and avoid bias-driven selection mistakes, including barriers faced by neurodivergent applicants
- How to protect your studio and your staff with legally robust contracts and inclusive workplace policies
- Why transparent, equitable practices give studios both a commercial advantage and legal protection
Session speakers
