Framework: an essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object. “a conservatory in a delicate framework of iron”
Framework Event: A special event as part of the Queensland Games Festival to bring our local studios together for connection, discussion, panels and networking.
Studio to Studio Engagement
Framework is about community resilience. The event is based on an original concept by Tony Reed that invites our wider community of game developers to talk with each other about game dev business and issues both here in Queensland, in Australia – and the world – in order to strengthen our community. Join us in the elegant surrounds of the Brisbane Powerhouse Rooftop Terrace for our inaugural Framework Industry Event.
Scaffold Panel – Speaker Bios
Liz Ballantyne, Studio Art Director at Gameloft Brisbane and Women in Games Ambassador, is a leader driven to create work that promotes both meaningful change and positive disruption. Celebrating 20 years in games, Liz has collaborated with global brands such as, Netflix, Apple, Hasbro, Disney and SEGA. Leading the artistic vision behind beloved classics, Carmen Sandiego™ and the critically acclaimed The Oregon Trail™, celebrated for their striking visuals and inclusive representation. A mentor at heart, Liz empowers others through initiatives like Women in Games International, IGEA Mentors, and The Rookies. Recognized for her contributions to gender equality in the industry, Liz also serves on the QUT Industry Advisory Board and the Screen Queensland Equity and Diversity Taskforce, continually advocating for positive change.
Hannah Crosby is a Lead 3D Artist with 20 years experience across games and film, working with Gameloft Brisbane on titles including Carmen Sandiego, and My Little Pony: Mane Merge. After working as a Character Artist with games companies THQ and Rare on multiple console titles such as the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, Hannah branched out into film. Her prop sculpture and art finishing can be seen in Thor: Ragnarok, Aquaman and Love and Monsters. Hannah is committed to mentoring upcoming digital artists, and is an active participant in the online games community, fostering diversity within the industry.
Supaglu founder and director Kirsty Parkin has been finding careers for screen creatives for more years than she likes to count. Beginning her career as a writer somewhere back towards the dawn of time, she began working in creative staffing in the advertising sector before moving into VFX and games training and recruitment. She’s seen tens of (maybe even hundreds of?) thousands of portfolios and showreels, and found jobs for thousands of animators, designers, VFX artists, game developers, modellers, matte painters, layout artists, engineers, producers, art directors, compositors – the list goes on. Kirsty loves seeing great work. She loves working with people to power their careers, and businesses to power their productivity.
Jed Dawson is the Head of Games at Screen Queensland where he creates and manages government programs to uplift and support the Queensland games industry. Prior to that, Jed worked in the games industry for 7 years, starting at Halfbrick Studios as a game designer and product manager, before co-founding Affable Games. Jed has credits on 8 games, including Speaking Simulator and Jetpack Joyride, and has launched titles on mobile, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Zahra Winstanley (they/them) – I moved to Brisbane in 2013 to study games design, and now I’ve been a part of Zed Games for 5 years, manning the helm for 3. From Covid we got to watch a new wave of developers rise, joining familiar names and faces. We also team up with Netherworld to bring quarterly Indie Dev Nights together, stick our beaks into various events, and focus on amplifying our local developers.
I like to think that we’re everyone’s number one fan.
Tales from the Trenches Panel – Speaker Bios
With almost 40 years of experience in the games industry, Jon Cartwright has worked in a variety of senior and executive roles in the UK and Australia. After stints at Big Red Software and Blitz Games in the UK he relocated to Brisbane in 2004 and worked for THQ, KIXEYE, and Prideful Sloth.
Since 2019 he has been providing consulting services to developers, screen agencies, investors, and publishers around the world from Brisbane, Australia. Offering local production and representation to international publishers notable successes include DREDGE, CONSCRIPT, Moving Out 2, and Before We Leave for Team17.
Nicole Stark has worked on games about surfing, skating, exploring, delivering pizza, solving puzzles, and hitting things with boomerangs. She has held senior art positions on games released on every major console since the PlayStation 2. Her career highlights include winning the inaugural Australian WIG Creative Inspiration Award, having her Barbie costumes praised by Mattel, being allowed into the Nintendo headquarters in Kyoto, and making indie games with her family.
Mitch Clifford is an animator and co-founder of 5 Lives Studios. His game-dev journey began at Krome Studios in 2007, followed by roles at Team Bondi, KMM Games, and Sega Studios Australia. In 2013, he co-founded 5 Lives Studios after a successful Kickstarter campaign for their debut game Satellite Reign. Currently, he and the 5 Lives team are developing Cozy Caravan, where his dog Koji helps keep up morale as the studio’s unofficial HR manager.
Cheryl Vance has 20+ years of experience as a programmer, business development manager, producer, community manager, and designer spanning AAA to Indie game development. With extensive knowledge in both product and project management, Cheryl has been an institution within not only Prideful Sloth but also across the Australian industry – helping many professionals across the region plan, prepare and bring their games to market.
John Passfield has been making games since the mid 1980’s. His first games, Halloween Harry and Chilly Willy, were published for the Australian Microbee computer system while still in school. John co-founded Krome Studios, worked at Pandemic Studios, RockYou and Mighty Games. He co-created TY the Tasmanian Tiger and has produced over 30 games. His games are included in the ACMI Play it Again II: Games Collection, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Hive interactive space in Canberra, and the Nation Communications Museum in Victoria.
Megan Summers is an experienced Release Manager at Tantalus North, with over 17 years of experience in the video games industry. Her background spans production, product management, release management and quality assurance, and she has worked for companies such as Pandemic, EA, Krome Studios, THQ, Defiant Development. As well as running indie studio, Screwtape Studios for 14 years. Megan has lead QA teams on Hand of Fate and Hand of Fate 2, and has overseen the production, release or porting of titles such as Damsel, Unpacking, Cities: Skylines Remastered and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition for PlayStation 5.
Thank you to our wonderful 2025 sponsors
