Women in Games Norway officially launched on 17 June during this year’s Spillkonvent, hosted by the Norwegian Film Institute in Oslo.
Megapop Games project manager (and Women in Games Norway chairwoman/co-founder) Karin Byom Gutenbrunner kicked-off the initiative at a gathering of Norwegian games industry veterans on International Women’s Day in March.
“I joined the games industry last year, and I felt the need to build a network with other women. So I invited (a group) to an event at our office, and we decided to keep meeting every month,” says Karin Byom Gutenbrunner. “The goal (of Women in Games Norway) is to create a safe and inclusive space for women and gender minorities in the Norwegian games industry, and to be a positive influence on those who are interested in a career in games.”
Inclusion and diversity, central topics at last week’s Spillkonvent, provided a perfect backdrop for the organisation’s official launch. Spillkonvent is also supported by and associated with the international NGO Women in Games WIGJ.
“We have met with both David (Smith) and Marie-Claire (Isaaman) from (Women in Games) WIGJ at several events, including Nordic Game 2019,” says Dirtybit VP and Women in Games Norway founding member Anette Ståløy. “We are very impressed with their work, and appreciate the way they have welcomed and supported the establishment of WIG Norway.”
“Women in Games WIGJ is absolutely delighted to endorse and support the launch of Women in Games Norway,” says Women in Games WIGJ CEO Marie-Claire Isaaman. “By working strategically and closely together across borders and boundaries we can make a real difference to the sector.”
Women in Games Norway will make their international debut at this fall’s European Women in Games Conference, 10-12 September in London. The event will also feature a keynote by Norwegian Sarepta Studio, recent winners of the Games Beyond Entertainment BAFTA for My Child Lebensborn.
The other Women in Games Norway founders and board members include Aleksandra Janaczyk (Agens) and Runa Haukland (Hyper Games). The group currently has more than 50 members, and expects to grow as women in the Norwegian games industry learn about the organisation.
Follow Women in Games Norway on Twitter here and Facebook here. Read more about Women in Games WIGJ at www.womeningames.org and the European Women in Games Conference at www.womeningamesconference.com.
In image above (left to right): Anette Ståløy, Aleksandra Janaczyk, Runa Haukland and Karin Gutenbrunner Byom.
