Game-changing Lessons in Creative Leadership, Harnessing Talent & the Power of Teams

Audrea Topps Harjo

COO – A44 Games, Founder – InclusionFX

Gaming is a global industry worth more than US$300bn. More than music and film combined. And it’s only growing – there is even a new spectator market with 18-25 year olds more interested in watching other people play than watching regular sports. The number of spectators was expected to overtake the number of gamers this year.

Come and hear from Audrea Topps Harjo who has navigated the exponential growth and light-speed change across her 25+ years in the entertainment industry with flair and strength.

In the entertainment industry deadlines can literally be hard stops – when it’s showtime, the curtain rises and everything must be in order and ready to go. What can be learned from the process of creating great content and companies? Audrea will address questions such as how to galvanize individual talent to create more than the sum of their parts, how leaders can optimize collaboration, and how to get moving if you’re "stuck”.

Using her long experience in this industry, Audrea will share vital lessons in getting programmes and products out the door and some of her war stories and success stories: from making content and building talented teams to achieving moving and memorable outcomes.

About Audrea

‘Transforming Chaos into Order’ is Audrea’s superpower – variations on the tagline are found on online profiles and bio, and this skill – paired with an Master in Fine Arts in Film set the stage. Launching her film career as a student by producing, directing, and writing two short films (Raw Intensity and Hard Candy) Audrea garnered numerous awards – including a Student Academy Award nomination.

Audrea has worked for Sony Pictures (Contact) Rhythm and Hues, Electronic Arts, WETA Digital (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment (Avatar Sequels), as well as producing three independent films.

Now Audrea has brought that experience to New Zealand’s own international success, A44 Games, where she is the COO. Audrea also founded InclusionFX in 2020, a platform designed to support and amplify underrepresented voices working in VFX (Visual Effects) for the feature, television and games industries.