For transparency: Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco used to work full-time for British Esports between September 2016 and February 2021, and currently does some freelance work for them, producing their weekly email newsletter.
National esports body British Esports has announced the return of the annual Esports in Education Summit this year, and appointed a new Women in Esports manager.
Esports in Education Summit returns for 2022 as a hybrid event
It’s scheduled to take place on Thursday June 30th 2022 at The Metronome (Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies) venue, as a hybrid event featuring both physical and online elements.
It’s the fourth annual edition of the Esports in Education Summit, with British Esports teaming up once again with Association of Colleges Sport (AOC) to host proceedings.
The education summit brings together senior leaders, curriculum managers, lecturers, as well as team coaches, from across the UK, to discuss the impact, developments and opportunities available in competitive gaming and esports in schools and colleges.
A range of keynotes, panel discussions and sessions with those from the esports industry and education sector will discuss a range of topics, including the British Esports Student Champs competition, career pathways in esports, diversity and inclusion, the upcoming Commonwealth Esports Championships and more.
The confirmed speaker line-up includes:
- Dean Hardman, Director of Sport and Student Experience, Association of Colleges
- Professor Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication & Future Media, University of Salford
- Dame Louise Martin, DBE, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (special guest video address)
- Dr Melita Moore, Board Member and Chair, Health & Wellness Commission, Global Esports Federation
- Laura Hall, Product Manager BTEC Business and Esports Portfolio, Pearson
- Gin Rai, Esports Manager & Higher Education Course Leader, Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies
- Abby Reynolds, Head of Community, NUEL
- Billie Purdie, Women in Esports Manager, British Esports Federation
- Mark L’Estrange, Esports Program and Course Manager, Exeter College
- Alex Davies, Head of Performance, Resolve
- Lauren Timson, Lecturer in Esports, Games Design and Media, Cheshire College South & West
- Dave Martin, Head of Strategy, British Esports Federation
- Kalam Neale, Director of Education, Strategic Esports Group, Curriculum Lead, Barnsley College
- Grant Rousseau, Former Director of Esports/Operations, Guild, formerly of Excel and OverActive Media
- Dom Sacco, Founder and Editor, Esports News UK
- Tom Dore, Head of Education, British Esports Federation
- Professor Philip Wilson, Chair and Founder, College of Esports
- Chester King, Founder and CEO, British Esports Federation
“This summit is vitally important to continue the discussions around esports and education. With restrictions forcing events online over the past few years, it’s great to be able to get back to physical events once again to meet with key stakeholders and educational leaders.”
Andy Payne, British Esports
“We’re delighted to host the Esports in Education Summit once again this year,” said Andy Payne OBE, chair of British Esports.
“This summit is vitally important to continue the discussions around esports and education. With restrictions forcing events online over the past few years, it’s great to be able to get back to physical events once again to meet with key stakeholders and educational leaders.”
“Over the past couple of years the Esports in Education Summit has become an established event and one of the real highlights of the college esports calendar,” added Dean Hardman, director of sport and student experience at AOC.
“We at AoC Sport are once again delighted to be partnering with British Esports to deliver what promises to be yet another informative and enjoyable event.”
Visitors will also be offered the opportunity to visit the new esports arena at Confetti Institute of Creative Technology, scheduled to host the British Esports Student Champs finals on July 2nd and 3rd 2022. Check out our recent interview with Confetti on its esports paint drying stream here.
Tickets are free and are available to book via the Esports in Education Summit 2022 event page.
New Women in Esports manager appointed
British Esports has also today announced that Billie Purdie has joined its Women in Esports initiative as manager.
Billie previously worked as a community manager for Esports Scotland and a community admin for UK esports organisation and tournament operator, The Goose House.
Women in Esports aims to ‘create a welcoming community which encourages more women (including trans and cis women) and femme identifying/femme presenting non-binary players to take part in esports tournaments at any level’.
British Esports recently announced it had changed its name from the British Esports Association to the British Esports Federation.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
