Business Day 2025: Speakers

David Azria

Digital Marketing Director, PLAION

David H. Azria is a seasoned expert in the game industry with over 15 years of experience, currently serving as Digital Marketing Director at PLAION. In this role, he develops and executes marketing strategies for AAA games, focusing on enhancing global player engagement and advertising.

Previously, as CMO at Travian Games, Azria led extensive marketing operations, community management, and brand development. His earlier tenure Director of Operations at Gravity was pivotal, introducing MMO and Free to Play model to Western markets.

Alexandra Batty

Senior Communications Manager, Headup

With several years of experience in gaming PR, from indie to AAA, Alexandra Batty is currently the Senior Communications Manager at Headup, and a Women in Games Ambassador.

Her role covers social media management, PR, influencer relations, first party relations, and overall strategic management of external communications with the rest of the MarComs team.

Filippo Beck Peccoz

Game Audio Designer, FBPSound

Filippo Beck Peccoz is an award winning composer living and working in Munich.

Many musical journeys have been completed during the last years: from Edo Japan and the Wild West in “Shadow Tactics” and “Desperados III”, to cozy D&D vibes of “Tavern Talk” and the fantastical Mesozoic of “ITORAH” – each time telling the games’ story through music.

In a nutshell: Filippo makes music for games he loves!

Julie Buchanan

Composer/Sound Designer

Julie Buchanan is an award-nominated composer and sound designer for games currently living in Berlin.

She did the audio for Say No! More which was nominated for IGF’s Excellence in Audio Award (2021), contributed an anthem pack for Rocket League, did additional sound design for Godfall, and made an original remix for League of Legends: Wild Rift’s main theme. Most recently she has been working on unannounced projects with Megapop and One Pony Trick Games. Julie graduated in 2014 from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA as a Film Scoring major and Video Game Scoring minor. Afterwards, she moved to Los Angeles and interned under Henry Jackman and Lorne Balfe at Remote Control Productions. Following her internships Julie started working freelance in game audio and now has almost 10 years of experience. She loves writing electronic music and creating creature and gore sound design. According to her Steam tags, her favorite games include LGBTQ+, dating sims, emotional, procedural generation, and dinosaurs.

Nathalie Galla

Community & Communications, Godot Foundation

Nathalie Galla originally started her games industry journey as an aspiring programmer, but quickly realized her true passion lies with people rather than code. Using her technical background, she is currently working as Community & Communications Manager for the Godot Foundation.

When being constantly online becomes part of your job, analyzing the good and bad aspects of social media is only natural – and dabbling in queer activism as well as content creation exposes you to a variety of problems on the internet. Nat is determined to lend a helping hand in fighting those together.

Julius Girbig

Senior Technical Animator – Coordinator, CD PROJEKT RED

Julius Girbig is a Technical Animator working on The Witcher 4 and coordinating the Technical Animation discipline at CD PROJEKT RED.

Maxi Gräff

Marketing Lead Xbox DACH, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH

Maxi Gräff is an accomplished marketing professional with extensive experience in the gaming industry.

Currently serving as the Gaming Marketing Lead for the DACH region at Microsoft.

Dimitry Halley

Managing Editor GameStar.de, Webedia GmbH

Dimitry Halley studied journalism in the distant past, but has been working for Germany’s biggest gaming site GameStar for 10 years.

As managing editor, he now plays a key role in deciding which topics are covered and which are not. In his private life, he collects comics, builds Gundams and swears in Marvel Rivals.

Robin Hartmann

Sr. PR & Partnership Manager, game events GmbH (devcom)

Robin Hartmann has 22 years of work experience, 15 years within the digital media industry.

Full stack project management in leading roles paired with agile methods, communication-, event management-, public affairs-, and sparring skills.

Prof. Michael Hebel

Professor for Game Art and Design, Hochschule Neu-Ulm

Michael Hebel is Professor of Game Design and Game Art, as well as Head of the Game Production and Management course at Hochschule Neu-Ulm (University of Applied Sciences).

He previously worked in the games industry at Ubisoft Studio Mainz as Lead 3D Artist. He has published numerous award-winning international games such as Anno 1404, Anno 2070 and Might and Magic Heroes Online.

In addition to his work, he regularly took on teaching assignments and held numerous lectures and workshops in the field of game development and game didactics at various universities. He deals with didactic concepts in the areas of game production, game art and game design, the formalization of game teaching, the significance of grades in design and other aspects of design and game didactics.

Together with Prof. Stephan Jacob from Hochschule Darmstadt (University of Applied Sciences), he organized the first German conference for game didactics in June 2024. The two currently unite German game teachers and researchers in the German Game Science Association (in the process of being founded).

Helena Kasper

Lawyer, SKW Schwarz

Helena Kasper advises national and international companies on the legally compliant design of data processing processes and business concepts.

In doing so, she supports them in all data protection-related matters, with a particular focus on ensuring GDPR-compliant design for websites, platforms, apps, and games, as well as the contractual implementation with service providers and affiliated companies.

Another area of specialization for her is the implementation of data subject rights, including in the context of regulatory or legal proceedings related to access, deletion, or rectification requests, as well as in the case of data protection incidents and cyberattacks.

Helena Kasper is also Co-Head of the SKW Schwarz Innovation Lab, which specializes in digitalizing legal services and the technical and legal implementation of AI solutions in client work. Since her time as a research assistant, she has focused on improving legal consulting efficiency through innovative solutions.

Jane Katsubo

Senior Concept Artist, Larian studios

Jane Katsubo is a senior concept artist with 10+ years of experience.

She mostly focuses on character design, and has worked in-house on Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity Original Sin 2, and as a freelancer artist on numerous D&D books, Warhammer 40000: Roguetrader, Remnant: From the Ashes.

Chris Kohler

Composer & Sound Designer, Chris Kohler – Music & Sound

Chris Kohler is a freelance game composer and sound designer based in Munich, Germany.

His most recent work includes the original soundtrack for Mindlock – The Apartment. With a strong focus on working with live musicians and experience recording orchestras, Chris specializes in creating authentic, unique soundtracks that support the game’s narrative and enhance the player experience.

In addition to his work in the industry, Chris teaches Audio for Games at the university level, sharing his expertise with the next generation. He collaborates with developers worldwide to ensure their games sound exceptional and leave a lasting impression on players.

Moritz Mehner

Lawyer / Partner, SKW Schwarz

Transferring his many years of private enthusiasm for gaming and esports to his professional life, Moritz Mehner also focuses his advice on the legal matters surrounding this sector.

He also focuses his advice on both classic and new software development and licensing agreements as well as issues relating to digital marketing, regulatory requirements, general terms and conditions, competition law, and consumer protection law.

His legal work additionally concentrates on designing and implementing solutions to legal problems associated with digitizing existing and innovative business models in the fields of AI, Data Economy (including IoT, Big Data), DLT-Technologies and Cloud Computing.

Finally, Moritz is also experienced in matters of data protection, in particular the practical application of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Fawzi Mesmar

Creative Director, Ubisoft

Fawzi Mesmar is an award winning game designer, leader, author, and public speaker with over two decades of experience in the gaming industry.

His career has spanned the Middle East, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe working for companies such as Ubisoft, EA, Activision Blizzard, Gameloft, and Atlus to name a few. He has contributed to over 20 titles enjoyed by millions of players worldwide including entries in the Mario + Rabbids, Star Wars Outlaws, Beyond Good and Evil, Battlefield, and Candy Crush franchises. Fawzi is also the author of “Demystifying Creativity: On Originality in Game Development” and “Al-Khallab in the Art of Game Design” the first Arabic language textbook on game design.

Alexandra Müller

Head of Corporate Communications, PLAION

Alexandra Müller is a communications expert with a diverse and international career spanning broadcasting, narration, community management, and corporate communications.

As the Head of Corporate Communications at PLAION, she leads strategic initiatives that shape the company’s global messaging. As the child of a disabled parent, she is also a staunch advocate for accessibility & diversity – in communication and otherwise.

Arden Osthof

Senior Narrative Designer

Arden Osthof is a non-binary narrative and game designer. They have worked on renowned franchises at Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Mainz; shipping Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and helping the Anno strategy series break into the international market through their multi-lingual expertise. Now they work as a freelancer for indie teams to deliver gripping stories together.

Jan-Hendrik Pfitzner

Technical Coordinator, GIANTS Software

Jan-Hendrik Pfitzner, Technical Coordinator at GIANTS Software, has extensive experience in community outreach and support since 2013 and is responsible for in-house prototyping and supply chain management.

One of his greatest achievements was co-founding and developing FSL, which has turned Farming Simulator into a competitive e-sport.

With presentations at events such as FarmCon, Game Access, Devcom or Agritechnica, he brings extensive experience and a passion for gaming and agriculture, making him a recognized speaker in this field. Audiences can expect a comprehensive overview of the unique e-sports landscape that has been shaped by Farming Simulator.

Raffaele Picca

Game Developer, Bippinbits GmbH

Raffaele Picca is making games at Bippinbits and as a solo-developer.

He started working in the games industry in 2005 with the primary focus on art and art direction.

Paul Redetzky

Managing Director, Emergo Entertainment

Paul Redetzky is managing director of Emergo Entertainment which he founded together with Carl-Philipp Hellmuth right after completing University.

The studio has been in operation since 2021 and develops games as well as interactive media beyond entertainment.

Christoph Redl

Hard Surface Artist, Romero Games

With over seven years of experience in the games industry, Christoph Redl is a seasoned Hard Surface Artist specializing in the creation of detailed and realistic weapons and props.

His professional journey has allowed him to collaborate with top-tier video game developers on several AAA titles, where he has consistently delivered high-quality assets that enhance the gaming experience.

Zoran Roso

CMO / Founder, ZR Consulting

Zoran Roso is a seasoned gaming industry veteran and founder of ZR Consulting, leveraging over 25 years of global marketing expertise.

Previously Global Publishing & Marketing Director at Tencent Games, his career spans leadership roles at Sony PlayStation, Activision Blizzard, and Rockstar Games to name a few. A strategic advisor to major publishers, Roso specializes in international brand development and live service strategies across console, PC, and mobile platforms.

Boris Schneider-Johne

Senior Product Manager, CipSoft GmbH

Boris Schneider-Johne is one of Germanys “elder statesmen” of Videogames.

Having started with C64 programming in the early eighties, he was editor and editor-in-chief at two of the most successful magazines in Europe, Power Play and PC Player. He also translated games and consulted for Lucasfilm Games, Electronic Arts, Interplay and Origin Systems. Over a ten year period he held jobs like PR Manager and Product Manager, was deeply involved in the European launches of Xbox Live and Kinect (from both the technical and localization side) and ran launch campaigns for titles like Forza Motorsports. After a long break in the more serious side of the IT industry Boris went back to work for a Games Studio: CipSoft in Regensburg, Bavaria, in September 2024.

Markus Schwerdtel

Member Editorial Board, Webedia GmbH

Markus has 25 years of experience in gaming journalism and is managing all printed publications of GameStar and GamePro.

Devan Soyka

Senior Narrative Designer, Crytek

Devan Soyka is a Senior Narrative Designer at Crytek, and has worked making AAA, indie, and mobile games.

She has spoken on narrative, communication, and mental health with Devcom, the Gaming Academy, Sumo Digital, and Femdevsmeetup.

Jade Summers

Accessibility Specialist

Jade Summers is an accessibility specialist with 12 years of experience working in the games industry.

Her experience includes establishing Rockstar Games’ Accessibility team, providing accessibility training, and helping teams create inclusive experiences for players.
Currently she is working as a consultant on an indie game.

Markus Wilding

Founder / Consultant, Beyond the Wall Consulting

Markus Wilding is a seasoned industry expert with decades of expertise in marketing, communica­tions, and the wider business within the global video games industry.

Drawing on extensive experience gained from living and working across key markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, he has held leadership roles at world-class AAA publishers, including 2K, Rockstar Games, and Activision, as well as indie publisher Private Division. After nearly 30 years working in the video game industry, he founded Beyond the Wall Consulting to help companies meet the ever-increasing challenges of a dynamic and competitive landscape.