GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit 2026 Line-Up Revealed for London on October 1

The full line-up for this year's GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit is set, with keynotes from Sarah Venables (founder of the HR Confidence Club), Jonny Hopper (CEO of Glowmade Studio), and Harvey Elliott and Carmen Martino of Playstack. The day-long event takes place at The Royal Institution in London on October 1, is sponsored by Amiqus, and ends with the Best Places to Work Awards.

What the day covers

More than a dozen talks and sessions focus on people and workplaces in the games industry. Topics include neurodiversity at work, the role of AI in HR, the importance of workplace culture, and the future of unions in games workplaces.

The morning stage program deals with the immediate problems facing people professionals in game businesses, with practical insight on AI, upcoming legislation, and working with unions. The afternoon shifts to leadership and how people strategy can deliver business results. It also looks at the skills, structures, and strategies needed to run a games company after what the organisers describe as a period of unprecedented industry disruption.

Keynotes and main stage talks

Venables opens the day at 09:15 with a session on the future of people leadership, covering resilience, complexity, and changing expectations. Niki Head of Stellar Entertainment follows at 09:45 with "Becoming the Critical Friend", on how HR earns influence and becomes a strategic business partner. A 10:15 session on unions, employee voice, and the future of games workplaces closes out the first block.

After lunch, Hopper speaks at 13:30 on how workplace culture drives organisational success. At 14:00, Elliott and Martino of Playstack present "People Strategy in Practice", about turning culture into business impact. The main stage finishes at 16:00 with a session asking what makes a great games workplace in 2027, and which three things the industry should have the courage to tackle over the next two years.

Breakout sessions

Each stage block is followed by breakouts in facilitated and roundtable formats, run under Chatham House rules so attendees can share experiences openly. The morning options include:

• Managing neurodiversity in the workplace, with practical advice on supporting performance, making adjustments, and helping managers lead neurodiverse teams
• AI in employment relations, with guidance on handling AI-generated cases, evidence, and employee relations challenges
• Preparing your people strategy for AI, covering workforce, leadership, and capability challenges
• Beyond resilience: supervision for HR leaders, on creating space for reflection, better judgement, and sustainable leadership

The afternoon breakouts cover:

• Employee expectations versus business reality, balancing flexibility, transparency, and employee experience against commercial pressures
• The skills challenge: how to build, retain, and develop the capabilities games businesses will need next
• Performance in a people-first workplace, on accountability, addressing underperformance, and keeping standards high
• Culture through change, on maintaining trust, engagement, and performance during periods of upheaval

Best Places to Work Awards

The 2026 Best Places to Work Awards start at 17:15, with categories for small, medium, and large companies. Special awards will also go to companies in areas including Education, Diversity, and Corporate Social Responsibility. The awards are sponsored by Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London, and Special Effect.

Schedule and tickets

Registration opens at 08:30 with teas and coffees, and the welcome starts at 09:00. Lunch is at 12:45, and drinks and networking run from 16:30 before the awards and again from 18:15, with the event ending at 19:00. Tickets are available here.