ARCTIC GAME DEV 2025 ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THIS YEARS SPEAKERS
Jason Della Rocca
Game Ecosystem Strategist
[SPEAKER & MODERATOR]
Jason Della Rocca is a game business consultant, investor, funding advisor, and ecosystem strategist. He currently spends the bulk of his time advising game studio founders on funding and product strategy, and advising governments around the world how to better grow/support the success of their regional game development ecosystem.
As the co-founder of Execution Labs, he was a hands-on early stage investor to 25 independent game studios from North America and Europe. In parallel Jason helped launch GamePlay Space, a non-profit hub to support indies and guide them toward business success, whose alumni have generated over $300m in game sales and funding.
Between 2000-09 he served as the executive director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), and was honored for his industry building efforts with the inaugural Ambassador Award at the Game Developers Conference. In 2009, Jason was named to Game Developer Magazine’s “Power50,” a list which profiles 50 of the most important contributors to the state of the game industry. As a sought after expert on the game industry, Jason has lectured at conferences and universities worldwide.
Andjela Kusmuk
Advisor & Investor
KKV
KKV
[PANEL MEMBER]
Andjela is a serial entrepreneur and investor, with 15+ years in tech and games who works as an investor and advisor at KKV. Previously she led the largest tech domain called the Deal Engine at EQT Group and the work with Startups and Games in Northern Europe and EMEA at AWS. Prior to this role Andjela managed developers in multiple projects at Netlight in the Nordics, a firm where customers included King, EA, Mojang and more.
An avid speaker, Andjela has spoken on 30+ international conferences like SLUSH, WebSummit, Gather, Webbdagarna and had panels/roundtables on E3, Dreamhack and judged multiple startup competitions. She co-founded, developed or operationalized multiple startups including CO-OP, Area08, Nordic Gamer, NiP and Xtrfy.
Linda Tiger
Chief Operating Officer
Arrowhead Game Studios
Arrowhead Game Studios
[SPEAKER]
Linda joined Arrowhead Game Studios in February 2024 in the role of Chief Operating Officer. A keen production thought leader with a love for knowledge-sharing, Linda started in the games industry as a QA Tester in 2002 and has since then been involved in over 30 titles – in production roles since 2008 and most recently as Studio Manager at Crusader Kings III’s Studio Black, a part of Paradox Development Studio.
Patrik Bergdahl
Professional Nerd
Former Dice founder
Former Dice founder
[SPEAKER]
This is me… …and the complete guide to game development success? Wisdom or complete nonsense? This will be a compressed tale about me and my very unique journey, before, during and after I was a part of building the game development company: Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment (DICE), from a humble eight-person team to a global enterprise with over 200 employees, a regarded presence on the international stage, and also a listing on the stock exchange. The tabloids loved it and called it “Det Svenska Spelundret” (“The Swedish Gaming Miracle”), this story has everything—grit, triumphs, failures, and lessons you won’t learn in any textbook.
The story begins with me growing up in a single parent household, being headhunted by the “demo scene”. Starting developing games. Headhunted again by some lads that was going to start a real studio. Working and working, and with talent and luck manage to build a big successful powerhouse. Gathering an extreme amount of experience. Girlfriend surprise.
The joy of mentoring up-and-coming developers and the still unsuccessful quest to convince the local government of the total excellence of the game industry. And even… dying?! …twice!?! Yes, you read that right. The story about me should hopefully be an entertaining, bizarre and sometimes even engaging experience. So, will it be wisdom or complete nonsense? That’s for you to decide. Come and find out – you might just leave with the keys to your own success.
Johan Tjäder
CEO & Founder
RankOne Global
RankOne Global
[SPEAKER]
By empowering creators and gamers across the globe to highlight and share their unique gaming journey, Johan and his colleagues are committed to unlock a better future for gamers and developers through a deeper understanding of Why we play.
Gabriella Kalteneckar
Program Manager Game Node
RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden
RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden
[PANEL MODERATOR]
I’ve always been drawn to spaces where strategy meets creativity. My journey began in industries like logistics and IT, but it wasn’t long before I found my true passion in gaming and entertainment. Today, I’m proud to lead impactful initiatives as a Senior Project Manager at RISE GameNode, helping Sweden’s gaming ecosystem thrive. Throughout my career, I’ve taken on transformative roles—whether scaling businesses, driving organisational change, or ensuring startups succeed in the complex world of investments.
At RISE, I also host Spelfokus, a podcast exploring the Swedish gaming industry and the innovation it provides our native business and research environment — a perfect blend of my professional expertise and personal passion. What sets me apart is my belief in the power of collaboration. Whether it’s building diverse teams, navigating regulatory landscapes, or transforming creative ideas into sustainable business models, I’m hands-on and committed to making things happen. And when I’m not working? You’ll find me painting miniatures, strategising in Warhammer battles or immersed in a Middle-earth role-playing campaign. After all, every great project is just another epic adventure waiting to unfold.
Dimitra Papacosta
Marketing and Community Manager
CRG
CRG
[SPEAKER]
Multidisciplinary generalist devoted to understanding the player and to fostering their player experience. As a marketing and community manager my job is to drive player engagement and growth. I have been involved in content creation, social media strategy, playtests, user research, partner communications and distribution management.
In this workshop we will cover what game marketing and community building is and how important it is to build a community around your game to create traction and build player loyalty.
Jay Powell
CEO and Founder
The Powell Group
The Powell Group
[PANEL MODERATOR]
Jay Powell brings over 20 years of experience in the games industry and is a recognized expert in business development, licensing, and partnerships. As the founder of The Powell Group, he has grown the company into a global operation with clients and team members worldwide. Jay also launched IndieGameBusiness®, a platform offering education, resources, and digital conferences for game developers.
Yves Le Yaouanq
Chief Content Officer
Focus Entertainment
Focus Entertainment
[PANEL MEMBER & PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Yves has 25 years of experience in the games industry, starting with MUDs and MMORPGs before spending 11 years at Ubisoft in strategic roles. In 2021, he joined Focus Entertainment as Chief Content Officer, where he leads the transformation of the publishing and acquisition portfolio, bringing new games, talents, and studios into the fold.
Joshua Garrity
Head Game Scout
Secret Mode
Secret Mode
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Joshua has been in the video game industry since 2015, starting as a Product Manager before transitioning to business development. As Head Game Scout at Secret Mode, he has signed games like Core Keeper, Shadows of Doubt, and Brewmaster, working closely with developers to bring their projects to life.
Allan Adham
Head of Game Scouting
PlaySide
PlaySide
[PANEL MEMBER & PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
With 13 years in the games industry, Allan specializes in building developer relationships and signing projects from indie to AAA. He has led publishing strategies at Kwalee, Jagex, and PlaySide, working with top studios to deliver standout games.
Stéphane Bonazza
Senior VP Business Development
Shiro Games
Shiro Games
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Stéphane is a 30-year industry veteran with leadership roles at companies like Sega, Bethesda, and Midway Games. Now at Shiro Games, he oversees business development and strategic partnerships, leveraging his extensive experience to expand the company’s global reach.
Alberto Torgano
Senior Business Development Manager
505 Games
505 Games
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Alberto has been with 505 Games since 2007, first as a Producer and now in business development. He focuses on game scouting and developer relations and was instrumental in launching Hook, 505 Games’ indie publishing label, in 2022.
Damian Pawlak
CEO
Feardemic
Feardemic
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Damian transitioned from corporate finance roles at Capgemini and Adecco to the games industry, combining his passion for games with business expertise. As CEO of Feardemic, he focuses on publishing multiplatform horror games, building a portfolio of over 20 titles, including Garten of Banban and DARQ.
Adam Snook
Head of Business Development
Kwalee
Kwalee
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Adam brings five years of industry experience, previously working at Games Workshop and Team17. Now leading Kwalee’s PC and Console business development, he combines his gaming passion with a background in telecoms and tech to drive partnerships and publishing success.
Victor Lee
Director, Europe Investments & Dev Relations
Krafton
Krafton
[PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Victor is the Director of Europe Investments and Developer Relations at Krafton, based in Krafton’s Amsterdam office. He oversees Krafton’s investment and M&A efforts in Europe, as well as studio relationship management including portfolio studios in the region. Previously, he led Riot Games’ Strategy and Operations in Asia Pacific, covering Riot’s product growth strategies, as well as commercial partnership efforts. He is a lifelong gamer with a broad range of favorites from FPS, MOBA, RPG, sports to strategy games.
Meg Clarke
Senior Game Scout
Team17
Team17
[PANEL MEMBER & PUBLISHER SPEAKER]
Meg has nearly 10 years of experience in games, audio, and production. As Senior Game Scout for Team17, she helps indie developers secure funding and refine their projects. Her portfolio includes titles like Dragon’s Dogma 2, Demon’s Souls, and Forza Horizon 5.