SACRAMENTO – June 10, 2026 – The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) welcomes three new directors to its board: Natasha Skult, Christopher Hamilton, and Mark Stanley. 

Dr. Natasha Skult is the CEO & Creative Director of MiTale, a Finland-based independent game and software development company, focusing on interactive storytelling and narrative-driven games. Through a 15+ year career in game industry and academia, she has established cross-borders programs for business and cross-cultural regional developments via local talents and expertise. She remains active in academic research on interactive storytelling with quantum computing, and teaching courses in game design and game (digital) art production at University of Turku in Finland and Ashesi University in Ghana.  

Christopher Hamilton is a Helskini-based veteran game industry specialist focused on production, developer and publisher relations, and business development. He has worked with companies including Rovio, Genvid Technologies, GameHouse, and Nevosoft on games for PC, mobile, web, and emerging interactive platforms. He advises indie game developers and game-adjacent startups, and works as a fractional Partner Relations Manager at Aiba, helping studios build safer player communities through LLM-powered moderation tools. Through leadership roles with IGDA Finland, We <3 Games, and The Finnish Game Jam, Christopher aids in creating opportunities for game developers and strengthening connections between communities through international and cross-cultural collaboration. 

Mark Stanley is a global games industry executive, advisor, and founder of Syndicate of Play, with leadership experience across Xbox, PlayStation, SEGA, and GameStop, among others. His career spans 25 years and 40+ countries, driving growth, publishing, market expansion, and strategic partnerships across the gaming ecosystem. By combining operational execution with long-term industry vision, Mark advises studios, publishers, and industry organizations on growth, global expansion, and sustainable value creation. He also serves in board leadership and advisory roles with Games for Change, Playing for the Planet, and the Oceanic Society, reflecting his commitment to advancing the positive impact of games on culture, communities, and the planet.

“Natasha and Christopher each bring valuable institutional knowledge, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to IGDA’s mission of supporting game developers around the world,” said Dr. Jakin Vela, Executive Director. “We are also delighted to welcome Mark, whose perspective and expertise will bring fresh energy to the Board as we continue advancing our global strategy, strengthening member support, and expanding the impact of IGDA’s programs.’

The IGDA recognizes Zak Whaley, Nazih Fares, and Valentina Birke for their service and leadership as they conclude their terms. Their contributions have helped advance IGDA’s global support programs, mentorship efforts, and event presence.

The board has also appointed its executive officers for the 2026-2027 term, with Limpho Moeti  serving a second term as Chair of the IGDA Board. The board further appointed Mafalda Duarte as Vice Chair, Jennifer Estaris as Secretary, Tim Cullings as Treasurer, and Christopher Hamilton as Treasurer-Elect.

About the IGDA

The International Game Developers Association is the largest nonprofit membership organization serving game developers worldwide. The IGDA is committed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.

For more information, please visit www.igda.org.

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Media Contacts

Haylee Kiedrowski / Brigitte Gautreaux

Stride PR for IGDA 

haylee@stridepr.com / brigitte@stridepr.com / press@igda.org