Game Republic New Horizons forms a new advisory board

The Game Republic New Horizons event has created an international advisory board to influence the direction of its 2026 conference. This board is composed of over 20 distinguished professionals from the industry. Participants include Kickstarter's games lead, Asher McClennahan; Charles Cecil from Revolution Software; Gina Jackson of Pitchify; Stefan Lampinen from Game Advisor; Tony Byus at Rainy Frog; Kimberley Turner, co-CEO at Double Eleven; Kudos Games' commercial director David Lilley; Elaine Dowman from the Irish Game Makers Association; and Chris Dring, formerly of GamesIndustry.biz.

Some of the members of the Game Republic New Horizons advisory board.

The advisory board comprises the following 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)
Ron Ashtiani (Steamforged Games)
Sarah York (Panda Cat Games)
Simon Iwaniszak (Red Kite Games)
Stefan Lampinen (Game Advisor ltd)
Tony Byus (Rainy Frog)

The planning for the conference is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council, with representatives Charlie Kemp and Michelle Shelton participating on the advisory board.

"The meetings of the advisory board have been vital in forming this year’s now 3-day agenda," stated Game Republic managing director Jamie Sefton. "Our emphasis is on the future of technology, business, funding, markets, and possibilities for leaders in games and creative industries."

"Last year's GR New Horizons conference highlighted the event’s potential to emerge as a flagship international games industry gathering in The North."

The 2026 Game Republic New Horizons is scheduled to occur from October 14 to October 16 at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough. Early-bird tickets remain available until the close of March 2026.

This year, the event is backed by Kudos Games, Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, and Behaviour Interactive.

Sefton added, "More than a third of those attending were from outside the region, including London, the South-East, and overseas. Feedback suggested 89% established new connections, and 28% secured a new project or deal, with over 100 meetings taking place via MeetToMatch. The event received positive comments with participants keen on its growth — hence, our excitement to develop the 2026 New Horizons."