adminThe GDC Festival of Gaming advisory board has added four professionals with experience in game development, publishing, journalism, operations, marketing, and public relations. Amir Satvat, Alexa Ray Corriea, Lucien Parsons, and Perrin Kaplan are joining a group of more than 50 games industry professionals that helps shape the event’s program.
Who joined the GDC Festival of Gaming advisory board?
The new appointees bring experience from different parts of the games business. Their roles include investment and business development, narrative writing, event judging, and corporate communications.
- Amir Satvat is a general partner at 1Up Ventures and previously served as business development director at Tencent Games.
- Alexa Ray Corriea is a narrative writer at Gearbox Software and has also worked as a journalist.
- Lucien Parsons is a fractional COO at Dragon Snacks Games and serves as a GDCA jury member for Debut Games.
- Perrin Kaplan is a marketing and public relations leader. She previously held the position of vice president of marketing and corporate affairs at Nintendo of America.
The organisation welcomed the appointments, noting that the four members bring a broad range of knowledge and professional experience. For attendees, the mix of roles on an advisory board can help inform programming that speaks to different areas of the industry, from creative work to business operations.
What the advisory board does
The advisory board has more than 50 members, all of whom are games industry professionals. Its role is to help shape the GDC Festival of Gaming program. The range of experience represented on the board gives the event input from people working across disciplines and career paths.
For people planning to attend, program announcements can help with choosing sessions and deciding how to spend time at the event. Checking the published schedule and pass details before making plans is a practical way to compare options and identify relevant sessions.
Changes planned for GDC 2027
The new appointments come amid plans to update the 2027 conference. Mark DeLoura, GDC’s vice president of content strategy, has outlined several changes, including a new Business Hall at Moscone West. The event is also set to introduce three new passes, dedicated options for independent developers and start-ups, and an updated schedule.
DeLoura said the changes respond to feedback from the games industry. He explained that the team reviewed what worked at the 2026 event, what could be improved, and how participants want to take part in future GDC programs.
The stated aim for GDC 2027 is to offer attendees more choice in how they participate and make the event work better for the industry’s current needs. The planned adjustments are intended to improve accessibility, support useful professional connections, and help participants focus on their reasons for attending.
What the appointments mean for attendees
The four additions expand the advisory board’s mix of professional perspectives, while the 2027 conference plans point to changes in how attendees can access the event and its programming. Specific session details and pass information will be important for visitors to review as they become available.
Overall, the GDC Festival of Gaming advisory board continues to draw on industry expertise to help guide its program. Attendees can use the announced changes as a starting point for planning, then consult the finalized schedule and pass descriptions when making decisions about their visit.
