Devcember Industry Stars: Empowering Game Devs

As part of our Devcember campaign, we’re highlighting outstanding individuals in the games industry who deserve to be celebrated.

Today’s cohort recognises and honours the Industry Stars who are dedicating time, energy and endless passion to empowering their friends, colleagues and other people in the games industry. We’d like to shine the spotlight on four such icons, and tell you more about their achievements and merits.

Whether they’re holding space for accessible and exciting networking opportunities, providing safe spaces to skill share or collaborate, or bringing our global network of games industry professionals closer together, these individuals are all empowering others to be their best selves. Let’s meet them!

Harvey Hayman

The founder and organiser of Good Game Dev Club, Harvey actively creates free meet-ups for folks in the games industry, which has developed into a welcoming and lively community hub based out of Loading Bar in Stoke Newington, London. Harvey has fostered a community space home to established professionals, students, and those looking to enter the industry, allowing for free-flowing knowledge between seniorities in the industry and outside of it.

That’s not all – with Good Game Dev Club, Harvey uses it to create impactful moments and fundraising for charity, having already hosted successful charity raffles supporting Safe In Our World, for example!

“Harvey’s dedication to building a safe, inclusive community, especially in difficult times, exemplifies his role as a true Industry Star, and his impact will undoubtedly continue to benefit and uplift the games industry.”

Jordan Thorpe

Jordan has run several successful career weeks as part of Snappy Gurus, fostering a space for all levels of talent to enter the conversation with the games industry. He’s created powerful mentorship programmes aimed at supporting graduates in refining their skills and getting involved in real projects. Jordan has been pioneering several workshops and events to help people get their foot in the door – which can be a huge barrier to entry for many prospective industry people.

“He’s always eager to help and ready to share his connections to help newcomers to the industry. Jordan and the rest of Snappy Gurus have always been striving to make it easier and more positive for those in the games industry with their Careers Talks, Game Jams, Portfolio Reviews and much more.”

Lauren Kaye

Described as a bright spark of a human being, Lauren has worked tirelessly as the Programme Coordinator at Limit Break to ensure that thousands of talented people across the UK have access to an inspiring and uplifting programme. She has always used her voice and platform to advocate for others, as evidenced through her impressive podcast, She Plays Games.

“Her ability to communicate and network empathetically has done absolute wonders for those around her.”

BigFuzzyYak

BigFuzzyYak, or Sarah, has been a powerful figure in her community through her kindness and contributions to uplifting others. Sarah organised a game jam to uplift indie developers, and uses her online presence to provide invaluable mentorship and resources, equipping people with the tools they need to believe in themselves.

“BigFuzzyYak’s kindness shines through in every interaction. She is a consistent advocate for fair practices and meaningful change, making every community space she enters better. Her influence extends far beyond her streaming platforms, inspiring others to push creative boundaries and lift one another up. Sarah’s dedication and the positive impact she’s had on the games industry make her the perfect choice for recognition this Devcember. Let’s celebrate her remarkable work and the lasting difference she continues to make.”

There are still more stars to celebrate! Make sure you keep your eyes on this space to see more industry stars being recognised.