Wednesday 9 July 2025 Session 11-11.45am, with one-to-one meetings 9-10 July: 12pm-6pm on Wednesday 9th July,
10am-4pm on Thursday 10th July

Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FU.

The WorkWise for Screen session at Develop: Brighton 2025 will support employers and hirers in the games industry with expert guidance on UK employment law, HR best practice and people management.

The session is free and will take place within the Develop Expo. 
 

Topics covered include:

• Recruitment and fair selection
• Contracts and legal compliance
• Team management, motivation and skills

One-to-one meetings with experts will also be available 9-10 July, offering tailored HR guidance and legal expertise.

Keynote Speaker: Tara Mustapha, Founder and CEO, Code Coven

Tara Mustapha is an award-winning founder, game developer, and strategic advisor. With over two decades in the industry, from AAA titles like the Skate franchise to pioneering indie initiatives, Tara is recognised for her bold leadership, strategic clarity, and commitment to reshaping how the games industry supports creative excellence.

She is the Founder and CEO of Code Coven, the launchpad for marginalised game developers. Through world-class education, mentorship, and business acceleration, Code Coven nurtures the next generation of diverse studios and storytellers built to thrive, not just survive.

Tara’s work spans collaborations with Netflix, Epic Games, Riot, Meta, and the BFI. She has raised over £1 million to create meaningful access, opportunity, and impact in games. She’s known for building things that last, asking better questions, and refusing to compromise on the vision of an industry that reflects the brilliance of its people.

She’s also a proud Gooner, fuelled by caffeine, is mildly obsessed with romantasy fiction and trying to raise a kind and boundary-ed toddler - while helping reshape an industry to make space for both.

Speakers:

Keith Arrowsmith, Programme Director, WorkWise for Screen

Keith is the Programme Director for WorkWise for Screen. Keith qualified as a solicitor in 1995 and specialises in providing advice and guidance to the creative sector. He works with media companies, festivals and funders on contracts, data protection, confidentiality, finance, intellectual property, employment and other legal aspects of good business practices. He is Clore Leadership’s Governance Associate and his work has been recommended by independent publications Legal 500 and Chambers UK. Actor Joel Fry portrayed Keith in the recently released Netflix film, Bank of Dave.

Sarah Brewster, Managing Director, Fresh Seed 

Sarah Brewster is founder of Fresh Seed, a People & Culture consultancy to the Creative Sector with a wide-reaching roster of clients across the sector from Games, to TV and the Arts and much more. As an Organisational Psychologist Sarah recognised a gap between small businesses and culture. The hustle hard, grow fast ethos of the industry has often overlooked the talent within and so Sarah founded Fresh Seed to give the people at the heart of it the best support possible.

Fresh Seed specialises in transforming workplaces into thriving, people-first environments. The team goes beyond traditional HR, offering down-to-earth, honest advice across all aspects of People & Culture. Their approach is holistic, drawing on positive psychology, strengths-based strategies, and best practice to ensure employees feel connected to their organisation’s vision, enjoy their work, and perform at their best.

Leon Killin, Strategic People Consultant, Balance Patch

Leon is an award-winning expert on strategic people organisation and inclusive work practices with 15+ years’ experience. 

Leon has worked with over 50 games studios on a variety of projects aimed at improving working environments, creating more effective processes, and producing meaningful policies that support both businesses and the people that make them. He also provides risk assessment for games content, communications, and employee resource group support.

He holds a Foundation Degree in Psychology and First Class Bachelor of Arts Degree from Goldsmiths, University of London in Social & Cultural Studies, a Masters Degree with Distinction in Critical Thinking & Global Studies, and is currently undertaking a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management.

Adam McGlynn, Employment Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP

Adam is an Associate in the Employment department of Mishcon de Reya LLP, specialising in supporting innovative start-up and scaling businesses.   

He advises across both contentious and non-contentious UK employment matters with particular expertise managing employee relations, supporting share and asset transactions, and delivering employment law training to businesses. The Legal 500 has recommended him as a 'contactable, proactive and commercially focused' Associate. 

Adam regularly presents on the legal considerations of emerging and disruptive industries, informed by both his work and his personal interest in technology. Recent engagements include presenting on workplace innovation with Legal Geek, AI in the workplace with CIPD, and the law and business of esports with Mishcon's Sport's Law Academy and various universities.

Adam describes himself as a 'side quest completionist' and his favourite game of all time is Age of Empires: Rise of Rome.

Moderator: Jonas Gawe, Program Manager for Limit Break and Community Manager for Electric Saint

Working in the UK Games Industry, Jonas performs a number of different roles utilising his communication and problem-solving skills for the good of games development. His primary roles include Program Manager of Limit Break Mentorship and Community Manager of Electric Saint. He also works as a professional voice actor, events host and DnD Gamesmaster.

Tailored for employers and hirers in the UK games industry, studio leaders, managers, team leads, recruiters, and anyone responsible for people, culture or HR will benefit from the insights and support on offer.  It is also open to employers and hirers in Animation, VFX, Production, Distribution and Exhibition.