Ross Jepson
Ross Jepson from Calgary, Canada, has worked in the games industry for over 45 years. He ran a distribution company for 15 years before joining Steve Jackson Games and later PSI in Atlanta, supporting publishers worldwide. Now semi-retired, he consults for Steve Jackson Games, Catalyst Game Labs, and Roxley Games.
Carol Rapp
Carol Rapp is a passionate player, managing director of Merz Verlag, and responsible for SPIEL Essen. She previously worked in events and marketing at Kosmos, then moved to Asmodee, where she became managing director of the German unit and later headed the international marketing and events teams.
Chris Birch
Chris Birch is the founder of Modiphius Entertainment, a global tabletop games publisher known for titles based on Star Trek, Dune, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. Since founding the company in 2013, he has led its growth across three countries. Pre-Modiphius, Chris created the gaming fashion brand Joystick Junkies and worked in music and digital media.
Luke Gygax
Luke Gygax is a game designer, publisher, and son of Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax. He founded Gary Con in honour of his father and leads Gaxx Worx, producing RPG content for his world of Okkorim. A military veteran with over 30 years of service, Luke continues to write and design adventures inspired by classic tabletop gaming.
Steven Medway
Steven Medway is the game designer, art director and CEO behind Blood on the Clocktower, the social-deduction game published by The Pandemonium Institute. This is his first published game, and it was launched following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019, ultimately releasing in 2022.
Hjalmar Hach
Lead Designer & Head of R&D Horrible Guild. He discovered board games in 2015: it was love at first sight. His most beloved offsprings are: Photosynthesis (2016), Railroad Ink (2018), The King’s Dilemma (2019) and Similo: The Card Game (2019). Claims to have lived more than 100 different lives.
Michael O'Brien
Michael O’Brien is Vice President and co-owner of Chaosium, overseeing creative direction, business development, and community engagement. A veteran of the RPG industry since the early 1990s, he has produced acclaimed Call of Cthulhu actual play series including Bookshops of Arkham and Graveyards of Arkham.
Nadege Jouvert
With over 11 years as a Key Account Manager, she has worked closely with partners worldwide to bring creative, high-quality board games to players everywhere. What she loves most about this industry is the sense of community and the joy of connecting people through play.
Dr. Saliha Afridi
Dr Saliha Afridi is a clinical psychologist and Chairwoman of The LightHouse Arabia, which she co-founded in 2011 to advance mental health in the region. US-trained with over a decade of experience, she works with individuals and organisations on wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth, and is a leading voice on mental health in the UAE.
Krzysztof Szafrański
Krzysztof Szafrański is a board game industry veteran with over 25 years of experience. He works at Rebel, Poland’s largest publisher, and has collaborated with major studios including Granna and Goliath. Co-founder of the Game Laboratory training programme, he lectures on game design at the University of Gdańsk and remains active in Poland’s strategy gaming scene.
Andrea Ahlers
Since 1995, Andrea has built a remarkable career in the board game industry, beginning at Kosmos in Germany, where she sold book and game rights worldwide, including Settlers of Catan. After nearly 20 years, she joined Sophie Gravel’s team at Z-Man Games, later working with Plan B Games on titles like Azul and Great Western Trail. Following Plan B’s sale to Asmodee in 2023, she now enjoys playing more than selling.
Kitty Uijleman
Kitty Uijleman is an avid gamer and dedicated educator based in Dubai, UAE. As the founder of Desert Meeples BGC, she has spent nearly five years leading engaging and educational board-gaming sessions for both children and adults. Through her work, Kitty promotes creativity, connection, and strategic thinking—while encouraging participants to step away from screens and rediscover the joy of in-person play.
Adam Griffin
Adam Griffin is CEO and Medical Director of Hakkini Mental Health Clinics in Dubai and a senior paediatric occupational therapist. A specialist in neurodiversity and child mental health, he combines clinical expertise with compassion. With over 13 years’ experience, he is a recognised advocate for inclusion and a frequent media voice on child development and wellbeing.
Mohamed Alqadi
Mohamed Alqadi is the founder and CEO of Cation Arts, a leading board game publisher based in the UAE. A passionate game designer and storyteller, he has created over 15 titles, including the acclaimed Conqueror: Final Conquest and One Earth. Through Cation Arts, he champions creativity and cultural storytelling, helping grow the tabletop gaming scene across the Middle East.
Anastasia Stylianou
Originally from Cyprus, Anastasia has lived in South Africa and the UK, shaping her global outlook. After beginning her career at PwC, she joined Blue Orange in 2016, helping expand its reach to over 80 partners worldwide. Appointed Managing Director in 2023, she now leads international strategy, sales, and operations, combining business insight with a lifelong passion for games.
Jeff Laubenstein
Jeff Laubenstein is a veteran illustrator and art director with nearly 40 years in the RPG and tabletop industry. Known for his work on Magic: The Gathering and classics like Shadowrun, Battletech, and Earthdawn, his art has appeared in leading gaming magazines and global events. Jeff continues to create, inspire, and share his passion for fantasy illustration worldwide.
Follow us and stay tuned for exciting reveals!
