#SheMakesGames is an opportunity to learn and understand the world of video game development. It is a great place to start if you’ve ever been interested in the art of video games.

Maybe you’re a digital marketer yearning to build a community of game-loving fans or a graphic designer who loves building characters. Believe it or not your skills are desired in the games industry – and we’re bringing you the best of the best people to share what this amazing world is like!

There is a lack of opportunities for women to develop their skills in the games industry: the #SheMakesGames program will provide these women with the opportunity to network and get support from others, and give them skills and confidence to be in charge of their own careers.

This professional development day offers a mix of training in both hard technical skills and the soft skills required to negotiate career success in the formative years of your early career.

In 2015, Girl Geek Academy co-founder Lisy Kane curated the first ever Australian all-female game-making day, #SheMakesGames. Our flagship event was held at ACMI-X in October 2016 as part of Melbourne International Games Week. The keynote speaker for the day was Brie Code who spoke about what video games can be and provided an incredible insight to her experiences as a game developer and advocate.

Learn more about the 2016 #SheMakesGames event from the coverage by Good Game!

From here we heard from talented women in the local game development industry about their journeys into the games industry and what the game development cycle looks like. In 2017, we held #SheMakesGames again with more hands-on workshops from amazing women in the gaming industry and an eye opening keynote by Anna Tito about her experiences working in AAA studios around the world.

The results from the Girl Geek Academy survey include:

• A majority (more than 50%) of women working in the games industry have been doing so for 3 years or less.
• Individuals are more likely to pay for their own career development than their employers.
• There is a need for a variety of different ways of learning including workshops and conferences.

#SheMakes Games is a one-day event designed to meet the learning needs of early career practitioners in the games industry.

This event is a great place to start if you’re building a successful career in the games industry, with panel discussions, networking, game play and more.

Held at the beginning of Melbourne International Games Week, #SheMakesGames will consist of a keynote talk, panels and breakout workshops specialising in hackers (programming), hipsters (design/audio) and hustlers (marketing, PR).

The day will conclude with a curated hands on gameplay expo by games made by women and a networking event of local and international game developers.

To hear more about how we are teaching one million women to build the internet by 2025, join the Girl Geek Academy mailing list.