What’s on at Melbourne’s only student gaming summit

The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is hosting the Educates Summit on July 8th with the theme of ‘Skills Compass’.

(IGEA Educates Summit 2025. Photo: Provided by IGEA.)

The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is hosting the Educates Summit on June 8th with the theme of ‘Skills Compass’.

The free online event is aimed at students trying to start a career in the games industry, and will be facilitated by speakers from studios such as Gameloft, Riot Games, Blowfish Studios, and more.

“I saw an opportunity here to make sure there are meaningful conversations between the two sectors,” says IGEA Director of Industry and Member Relations Jens Schroeder, commenting on how the summit connects students with games industry professionals.

As one of the driving forces behind the Educates Summit, this will be the fifth time Jens Shroeder has organised the event, and this year’s ‘Skills Compass’ theme will focus specifically on the development of programming, art, design, and production.

“The reason we’ve chosen those disciplines is because these skills are the highest in demand,” he says.

“We have a monthly drop report that highlights where open vacancies are across the industry… and those four…figure quite prominently.”

However, these skills mostly feature at a mid to senior level, and Jens encourages students to focus on the areas they are most passionate about.

“I know it sounds like a cliché, but I’m saying that as someone who did a PhD. I would not recommend doing a PhD just for the title. It will burn you out… I do believe that when you have passion, it will help.”

Attendees will also have the chance to talk directly to the presenters and ask questions, marking one of the few opportunities students will have to communicate directly with working professionals.

One of the speakers will be Joe Donoghue, former EA employee and CEO of local Melbourne studio The Three Thousands, which opened last year. As a former product manager, his talk will be about developing a ‘commercial mindset’.

“I think sometimes the games industry may feel like it’s behind some metaphorical curtain for students,” says Jens.

“We have an opportunity to bring the industry and students together and also make visible what the industry expectations are.”

Other advice attendees will receive includes how to establish a studio, business structuring, marketing, and how to navigate life post graduation.

The summit will run from 10am to 3:30pm, and will take place over Discord.

You can register for the event here.