After witnessing the lack of diversity in the games industry, I founded Fairer Games in 2022 to address the persistent issue of diversity in both game content and the workforce behind them. As a result of research into gender equality in the games industry, I realised that one of the most impactful ways to affect change in this area was through businesses started and run by diverse founders.
I have a passion for diversity and equality which is not only shown in the way I run my company, the people I employ and work with, but also in the many other projects I am involved in.
I have been running Norfolk Game Developers for nearly 10 years. I am one of a small passionate team of organisers who develop and support the community of game developers in Norfolk. At over 500 Members, NGD has a great history of an inclusive welcome to members from all backgrounds and experiences of game development.
I also mentor regularly, feeling the importance of giving back to my field of passion and wanting to help others succeed in the game industry and I also help them avoid having to take the difficult journey I did. I have worked with Limit Break and also ran and mentored on Navee, a programme created to address the talent drain seen in video games development in the East of England. It has been supported by ScreenSkills and created by Game Anglia, a CIC working in the East of England to promote and sustain the games community in the region.
I teach part time at Norwich University on the Games Degree courses and enjoy the ability to keep my teaching skills active and mentor the future developers coming through.
I started Norwich Games fest in 2014 and ran it for 2 years but I have since passed on the reigns to others to carry on. However, I am still very much involved and championing it. https://norwichgamesfestival.co.uk/ and support the event each year by delivering talks and workshops.
I never shy away from any opportunity to promote diversity in the games industry and Norfolk gaming community. I was interviewed for Radio 4 by Justin Webb from the Today Programme on the innovative Games Art and Design courses available at Norwich University of the Arts and the burgeoning local game development scene in Norfolk.
I was invited to join the Norfolk Business Board to represent the games sector. Through my work with both Norwich Business Improvement District and local government organisation ‘Connected Innovation’, the games sector is specifically listed as an opportunity for growth in Norfolk and the establishment of a Games Hub is included in the Local Growth Plan for Norfolk.
A good example of my ongoing commitment to outreach and support within the diversity, technology and start-up spaces is my workshop I delivered in partnership with the Business and IP Centre Norfolk team on Debunking the “Imposter Sydrome” https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/debunking-the-imposter-syndrome-tickets-667417302117?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.
I was invited to be on the panel of Norwich Inspiring Women in Tech in partnership with Mills and Reeve, where I took the opportunity to help those starting in the tech industry to debunk the imposter syndrome. Telling those that attended that, “if you feel like an odd one out, it’s the environment’s fault, not yours”. And this is the main point that I am championing change on.
You can read some of my mentee testimonials (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-milton/details/recommendations) to see the impact I am making and how they have felt inspired.
