Fergal Gara amongst six new UKIE board members

UK gaming trade body UKIE has revealed the names of the six people – four of whom are developer – who have been appointed to its board.

The development heads are Noirin Carmody (owner and COO of Revolution Software), Miles Jacobson (studio director, Sports Interactive), Alice Taylor (CEO and founder, MakieLab) and Paul Wedgwood (CEO, Splash Damage).

These additions are part of UKIE’s broader expansion from its previously publisher-centric brief to one that’s more representative of the wider UK games community.

Also joining the UKIE board is SCE UK and Ireland’s VP and MD Fergal Gara and Nintendo Europe’s anti-piracy counsel Neil Boyd.

"Being able to serve as a board member of UKIE puts me in a privileged position to help shape the future of this fantastic industry which all format holders and publishers need in order to compete and to prosper,” Gara said of his appointment.

I am looking forward enormously to working with my fellow board colleagues and to collectively helping create a healthy future for the industry."

UKIE’s total membership has climbed 224 per cent in two years.

I welcome this new blood to the UKIE board and can’t wait to work with them,” UKIE CEP Jo Twist stated. Having these individuals who represent different parts of the industry join the board, as well as growing our membership to now represent 136 diverse companies, is a clear sign that we are now offering services that are relevant to the whole UK games and interactive entertainment industry.

We now represent all the major UK and global publishers, the main console manufacturers, top UK development talent, and promising start-ups and disruptive companies. This mix is critical to making sure that we remain relevant and accountable to the industry and we will be listening and responding to their ideas and what they want in any way we can.

Our strategic programs deliver what the industry needs, giving real value to our diverse membership. From campaigning for improvements in skills and games tax production credits, to hosting events and delivering practical advice for games businesses, our commitment to the industry is clear, and has underpinned our membership growth.”