Game Republic New Horizons sets up a new advisory board

An influential event in the gaming industry, Game Republic New Horizons, has formed an international advisory board to guide the planning for its 2026 conference.

Comprising over 20 experts from the industry, the advisory board includes notable figures such as Asher McClennahan of Kickstarter, Charles Cecil from Revolution Software, Gina Jackson of Pitchify, Stefan Lampinen from Game Advisor, Tony Byus of Rainy Frog, Kimberley Turner, co-CEO of Double Eleven, Kudos Games' David Lilley, Elaine Dowman from The Irish Game Makers Association, and Chris Dring, formerly of GamesIndustry.biz.

Some members of the Game Republic New Horizons advisory board.

Here is the complete list of advisory board members:

Alison Lacy (Radical Forge)
Andrew Crawshaw (Thunkd)
Ben Robinson (ID@Xbox)
Bob Makin (Behaviour Interactive)
Callum Underwood (Uwu Biz)
Charles Cecil (Revolution Software)
Charlie Kemp (Tees Valley Combined Authority)
Chris Dring (The Game Business)
Chris Taylor (Eaton Smith Solicitors)
David Lilley (Kudos Games)
Des Gayle (Day Off Interactive)
Elaine Dowman (IMIRT - Irish Game Developers Association)
Gina Jackson (Pitchify)
HaZ Dulull (Beyond the Pixels)
John Sanderson (Pitstop Productions)
Kimberley Turner (Double Eleven)
Luke Mills (Dink)
Michael French (Games London)
Michelle Shelton (Middlesbrough Council)
Nareice Wint (Miami Avalon)
Nina Cliff (Business Development)
Olly Bennett (Cardboard Sword)
Ron Ashtiani (Steamforged Games)
Sarah York (Panda Cat Games)
Simon Iwaniszak (Red Kite Games)
Stefan Lampinen (Game Advisor ltd)
Tony Byus (Rainy Frog)

The conference, scheduled to occur from October 14 to October 16 at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, receives support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council, where board members Charlie Kemp and Michelle Shelton play significant roles.

Game Republic's managing director, Jamie Sefton, remarked on the impact of the advisory board meetings in crafting a notable 3-day event, focusing on future prospects in technology, business, financing, markets, and creativity in the games industry. The previous GR New Horizons showcased the potential to become a cornerstone international conference in the North.

Sponsored by Kudos Games, Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, and Behaviour Interactive, the event provides early-bird ticketing options until March 2026.

Sefton highlighted the diverse audience, with over a third attending from areas such as London, the South-East, and abroad. Feedback indicated 89% gained new contacts and 28% secured deals, with more than 100 meetings held via MeetToMatch. The positive reception encourages continued growth for the 2026 New Horizons edition.

The inclusion of Olly Bennett on the advisory board list is a recent update to this article.