The GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit for 2026 has now released its full programme, and it promises a day packed with insight, discussion and networking for anyone involved in people management within the games sector. The event will be anchored by three headline keynote speakers: Sarah Venables, the founder of the HR Confidence Club, who will share her perspective on resilient people leadership; Jonny Hopper, chief executive of Glowmade Studio, who will discuss how a strong workplace culture can become a competitive advantage; and the duo Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino from Playstack, who will illustrate how a well‑executed people strategy can translate directly into business impact.
As in previous years, the summit is supported by Amiqus, which continues to sponsor the event and the accompanying awards. Set against the historic backdrop of The Royal Institution in London, the summit will run on October 1 and will be divided into two main blocks – a morning session focused on the tactical challenges facing HR professionals in game studios, and an afternoon session that shifts the lens to strategic leadership and the broader business implications of people work. Throughout both halves of the day, attendees will have the chance to sit in on more than a dozen talks, each addressing a different facet of modern workplace management. The morning programme tackles the most pressing operational issues.
Topics include neurodiversity and how studios can create inclusive environments that support diverse cognitive styles, the growing influence of artificial intelligence on recruitment, performance management and employee relations, and the evolving role of unions and employee voice in an industry that has historically been fragmented. Speakers will provide concrete, actionable guidance – for example, step‑by‑step frameworks for adjusting workflows to accommodate neurodivergent staff, or checklists for handling AI‑generated evidence in disciplinary processes.
The goal is to equip HR leaders with the tools they need to navigate a rapidly changing regulatory and technological landscape. After a short break, the afternoon segment turns to the strategic side of people work.
Here the focus is on how a robust people strategy can drive commercial success, especially after the industry’s recent period of disruption caused by market volatility, talent shortages, and the rise of new business models. Jonny Hopper will argue that culture is not a soft‑skill add‑on but a core competitive differentiator, while Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino will walk the audience through real‑world case studies that show how cultural initiatives can be measured against key performance indicators. Additional sessions will explore the tension between employee expectations – such as flexibility, transparency and work‑life balance – and the realities of delivering profitable games, as well as the "skills challenge" of identifying, developing and retaining the capabilities that will be essential for the next wave of game development. Both the keynote and breakout tracks are followed by facilitated round‑table discussions held under Chatham House rules.
These smaller, confidential sessions give participants the freedom to share candid experiences and ask probing questions about topics like managing performance during periods of financial turbulence, designing career pathways that align with emerging technology trends, and mitigating the ethical dilemmas posed by AI in both HR processes and broader business decisions. The format encourages peer learning and the formation of lasting professional networks.
The summit will culminate with the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards, a ceremony that recognises studios of all sizes – from indie teams to large publishers – for excellence in areas such as employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, education initiatives, and corporate social responsibility. The awards are jointly sponsored by Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London and Special Effect, underscoring the industry’s collective commitment to raising the standard of workplace practice. A detailed agenda is provided below: 08:30 – Registration (tea, coffee and light refreshments) 09:00 – Opening remarks 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 11:20 – "Managing Neurodiversity in the Workplace – Practical Approaches to Supporting Performance and Team Leadership" 12:05 – "AI in Employment Relations – Guidance for Handling AI‑Generated Cases and Evidence" 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 & Carmen Martino (Playstack) 14:30 – "Employee Expectations vs Business Reality – Balancing Flexibility, Transparency and Commercial Viability" 15:15 – "The Skills Challenge – Building, Retaining and Developing Future‑Ready Capabilities" 15:45 – "Performance in a People‑First Workplace – Creating Accountability While Maintaining Supportive Environments" 16:15 – "Culture Through Change – Maintaining Trust, Engagement and Performance During Transition" 16:45 – "What Makes a Great Games Workplace in 2027? – Identifying Three Bold Priorities for the Next Two Years" 17:15 – Drinks & Networking 17:45 – Best Places to Work Awards Ceremony 18:45 – Closing Drinks & Networking 19:00 – Event concludes Tickets for the full day are available through the link provided in the original announcement.
The summit offers a unique blend of thought‑leadership, practical tools and peer interaction, making it an essential gathering for anyone who wants to shape the future of work in the games industry.