Opening the industry to all

How is the IDGA Foundation pushing for a more global, diverse set of game-makers?

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From the start of his second term as US President, Donald Trump has used executive orders to attack diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. It's part of a wider cultural political movement that wants to demonise DEI, most visible in videogames last year through an online campaign of harassment and disinformation targeting consultancy firm Sweet Baby Inc. Looking on with concern is the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Foundation, a charitable organisation serving underrepresented developers and individuals interested in a game industry career, with programmes and mentorships designed to prepare marginalised people for their next steps. Its executive director is Alyssa Walles, whose career in business strategy, sales and marketing has included launching Sony's PlayStation and relaunching the Atari brand. Here, she tells us more about the foundation and addresses today's issues around DEI.

What kind of programmes does the foundation offer?