With the 10th anniversary special edition of Pocket Gamer Connects London next week, we thought it was time to explore the 29-track conference schedule. This January 22nd and 23rd, more than 200 world-class expert speakers will bring you the hottest trends and latest innovations in the global games industry.
You’ll have access to two days of cutting-edge talks, seminars and panel discussions with some of the world's leading authorities covering everything from monetisation and growth strategies, to web3, blockchain and the metaverse.
Don't miss out on this unparalleled opportunity to meet and learn from some of the most exciting companies, brands and individuals in the games industry - tickets are available now.
Between now and when the venue doors open, we’ll share what each track is about, as well as the talented individuals that will lead the sessions.
The Recruit and Restart track
Monday, January 22nd
Industry experts share the latest strategies and best practices for attracting, recruiting, and retaining top talent. From promoting diversity and inclusion to effective talent acquisition and retention strategies, this track will provide valuable insights on how to build a thriving and sustainable workforce.
Additionally, attendees will learn how to effectively navigate setbacks and return to growth, with a focus on resilience and adaptability.
15:40 Recruiting Your Dream Team in 3 Steps
- Christina Barleben, CEO & Co-Founder at Thoughtfish
16:00 Leveling Up Remotely: Challenges in Permanent Remote Work
- Susan Cummings, Managing Director at Tiny Rebel
Cummings will delve into the evolving landscape of video game creation in the era of remote work. As the gaming industry continues to adapt to new challenges and opportunities, this presentation will explore innovative strategies and tools that have emerged for developing games outside the traditional studio environment.
She will share insights from our own experiences in remote game development, highlighting how virtual collaboration can foster creativity, efficiency, and flexibility, not to mention how much easier it makes hiring!
16:20 What Skills Gaps are There & How That Can be Changed
- Colin Smith, Director of Development at The Developer Academy
It's probably the most talked about issue in the industry - recruitment of talent. We have lots of courses teaching lots of skills but they don't always line up with what the industry needs. So what's the answer?
There probably isn't an easy one - not in the short term, anyway - and we need to look at the whole talent pipeline from Schools/Colleges/Universities and Bootcamps to discover what is fundamental to getting the talent into the sector in the future.
16:40 Hitting Restart: What Next After You’ve Been Laid Off?
- Alex Dale, Founder at Armchair Productions Ltd
- Paul Leishman, Production Manager at Team Terrible
- Erik Pöntiskoski, CEO at Dodreams
- Kim Parker Adcock, Owner at One Player Mission
- Rumiko Matsumoto, Founder/CEO at Kimaru
- Craig Chapple, Head Of B2B Content at PocketGamer.biz
The games industry has seen a wave of companies laying off staff, across all corners of the sector. This panel explores how to rebound from being laid off to share your talent in our ever-growing industry.
Fringe events, parties and networking
As well as two full days of unmissable conference content, whether you're a publisher, developer, investor or indie we've sessions, networking and fringe events designed to give you a conference experience you won't forget. Plus access to our Kick Off and Global Connects parties, where the real networking really happens.
And in addition to all those amazing live opportunities, every one of our 2,500+ attendees gets full access to the event's online meeting scheduler, MeetToMatch. As well as connecting you with decision makers from more than 900 companies, you can organise your appointments at the event itself.
