G INTO GAMING AWARD WINNER – MARIE-CLAIRE ISAAMAN, CEO

The awards are so important – highlighting the studios and companies in games that people love working for.  Pre-pandemic, there were already many studios who were forward-thinking, placing wellbeing, diversity and social responsibility at the heart of what they do.

Fast forward to 2022 and the awards returned as a live event during Develop:Brighton where it was fantastic to see how much work that studios, leaders and HR teams have put into supporting their teams through the pandemic and since.

We were delighted and honoured to once again be asked to present the G Into Gaming award, to honour someone who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity within their organisation and beyond.

This year’s recipient is Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games. Here’s a little about this brilliant woman who describes herself as an activist and is truly pushing the boundaries when it comes to gender diversity and inclusion…

Marie-Claire became Women in Games’ CEO back in 2016, having previously worked in education. It was there, at the Norwich University of the Arts, that her desire for encouraging more women into the games industry began. During her time at the university, she made incredible progress in gender diversity – taking the programme from having no female students or staff, to a split of 60/40 men to women in the student cohort, and a 50/50 split across the staff. For this, she won an international award.

She is still supportive, and involved in, games education, as well as working with research and cultural organisations in the UK and beyond.

But it is her work spearheading Women in Games that has such an impact on women working with games, both here and internationally. Since taking on the role as CEO, she has taken the organisation from being run by volunteers in the UK, to a globally recognised body that has over 800 official Ambassadors in over 50 countries around the world, and an even bigger community of women and allies who all have a common goal of gender equality in games.

She is a true activist, working around the clock on campaigns and initiatives to help support women in games and esports. Her passion for the organisation’s goals is evident to anyone who meets her. She is a mentor to many, and an inspiration to many, many more.

Huge congratulations to Marie Claire!

Elsewhere, the full list of Best Places To Work winners are below👇

Small Company Winners

Dlala
Failbetter Games
Indigo Pearl
Kepler Interactive
Ripstone
SockMonkey Studios
TrailMix
Talewind

Mid-Sized Company Winners

Criterion
D3T
Hutch
PlayStation Studios
Red Kite Games
Space Ape Games

Large Company Winners

Creative Assembly
NaturalMotion
Rare

G Into Gaming Award Winner

Marie-Claire Isaaman

Environmental Award Winner

Health and Wellbeing Award Winner

Rare

Educational Award Winner

Creative Assembly

Diversity Award Winner

Failbetter Games

CSR Award Winner

Rocksteady

UK Best Boss

AJ Grand-Scrutton, Dlala