Games London announces the Ensemble 2026 cohort

Image credit: London Games Festival | From left to right; Charlie Webb, Charmie Kim, Deanne Pierre-Pacquette, Harun Ali, Jennifer Estaris, HaZ Dulull, Sara Veal, Christopher White

The London Games Festival has revealed this year’s participants for its Ensemble exhibition. The event highlights Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse creative professionals within the UK's gaming industry.

This marks the eighth iteration of the Ensemble initiative, overseen by renowned author and artistic director Sharna Jackson. The exhibition intends to transform perceptions, showcase emerging voices, and motivate future diverse talents in gaming.

Under the management of Games London and with backing from the Mayor of London, the exhibition will take place in Trafalgar Square on Monday, April 13. It will then continue at New Game Plus on Thursday, April 16, before traveling to multiple locations nationwide.

This year’s ensemble features the following eight individuals:

HaZ Dulull, the driving force behind Beyond the Pixels, is a recognized independent game developer and director. With a diverse portfolio across films, television, and gaming—such as cinematics work for Dune Awakening and the Disney series—he has received accolades from Epic Games, including several Epic Mega Grants.
Charlie Webb, a writer and narrative designer with nominations from BAFTA and awards from the New York Game Critics' Circle. His work encompasses titles like Mafia 3, Civilization 6, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Charmie Kim, currently leading a project at Supercell, has a extensive history with mobile, console, and social games. She played a crucial role in Beatstar and champions collaborative leadership, especially for women in gaming.
Deanne Pierre-Pacquette, founder of the content creation agency Beyond, serves as a Twitch Ambassador and YouTube partner. She also organizes events for Link Up London’s community program.
Sara Veal, chair of GamesAid and founder of Huhbub, specializes in community and cultural production. With industry experience at Failbetter Games and Uplift Games, she received the Unsung Hero Award at the Game Dev Heroes event in 2025.
Harun Ali, an indie developer and head of training at Limit Break, also teaches game development. His projects include Lego Dimensions and Star Citizen, and he authored The Pocket Mentor for Video Game Testing.
Jennifer Estaris, creative director of Estaris Works, has helmed projects like Monument Valley 3. She previously held significant roles at Ustwo and Sybo, shaping games including Subway Surfers.
Christopher White, serves as managing director of Sharks Swim Backwards, bringing expertise in game audio. His work includes Jurassic World Aftermath and previously led audio initiatives at 10:10 Games.

Jackson expressed enthusiasm about curating another group of vibrant and talented professionals from various sectors within the industry. She emphasized the crucial role of maintaining diversity to enrich the global gaming landscape with dynamic and engaging experiences.

"The contributions of Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic talents are making a daily impact in the UK's gaming arena. It's vital that these talents are not only celebrated but also nurtured and retained, which is critical for the industry's growth and creativity," Jackson stated.