More Speakers: From AAA to Venture Capital

February 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce our latest addition of global experts joining the lineup for Expo Gamers 2026. 


This group brings great experience and knowledge to the tracks of Expo, spanning legendary art, cinematic sound, external development, and the future of game investment.



The Creative Visionaries

Iga Oliwiak

An internationally acclaimed artist from Poland with over a decade of experience. Her work has shaped iconic worlds like Magic: The Gathering, The Wagadu Chronicles, and the Oscar-nominated Loving Vincent.


Nikola Jeremić

CEO of Waveform Studio and the sonic architect behind some of the biggest titles in gaming, including Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, and the Warhammer 40K franchise.


Strategic & Business Leaders

Sam Carlisle

Co-founder of XDS Spark and former Director of External Partners at Xbox Game Studios. With 20 years of experience, Sam is a global authority on external development and strategic partnerships.


Nazih Fares

Vice Chair of the IGDA Global Board and founder of Cabinet du Savoir Ludique. A BAFTA member with 90+ titles under his belt, Nazih is a leading voice in localization, culturalization, and inclusive development.


Investment & Education

Mikael Hietala

Representing Feelsgood Capital Partners, Mikael focuses on social impact VC and scaling "Culture & Creativity" companies that drive positive change in the gaming sector.


Nick Sweetman

Founder of Game Art Co. and a premier educator who has trained over 28,000 learners worldwide. Nick bridges the gap between talent and industry, working with giants like Fingersoft and Critical Force.



This lineup isn’t just about big names and impressive resumes, it’s about bringing the right people to one event in Opatija to share what they’ve learned. Whether you’re a solo indie dev or leading a major studio, these are the conversations that help us all level up together.


We’re building something special this May, and we’d love for you to be part of the story.


Early Bird tickets are available until March 1st. Secure your spot before March 1st.

March 30, 2026
Our Commitment to Transparency: No More Price Increases for Expo Gamers 2026 
March 25, 2026
We are thrilled to announce that two iconic voices from Larian Studios ’ global phenomenon, Baldur’s Gate 3 , are coming to Opatija this May. Tim Downie Actor, Writer & Podcaster Best known to the gaming world as the wizard Gale of Waterdeep, Tim is an accomplished actor and writer whose work spans film, television, and games. His film credits include the award-winning The King’s Speech, Paddington , and Les Misérables , as well as Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose alongside Simon Pegg. On television, he has appeared in Outlander , Good Omens, and most recently, Netflix’s Geek Girl . He will next be seen in the HBO series Half Man . Outside of acting, Tim co-writes and co-hosts the global hit podcast FolkLands , reaching listeners in over 120 countries. Andrew Wincott BAFTA-Winning Actor The voice behind the legendary Raphael , Andrew’s masterful performance in Baldur’s Gate 3 earned him a BAFTA for Performer in a Supporting Role. A veteran with over 30 years of experience, Andrew voiced five different characters in the game, including Haarlep and the Kuo-Toa tribe. He is a frequent collaborator in the Warhammer 40k universe, notably the Night Lords trilogy and Space Marine 2 . His extensive credits include The Witcher, Dying Light 2, and Divinity: Original Sin , alongside three decades of elite audio drama work on programs like The Archers and Doctor Who.
By Andro Demiri February 26, 2026
Featured Speakers Juha Huhtakallio CEO, Edugametion | Discovery at PlayStack Juha is the architect of premier online game design education, leveraging a 22-year career and 90+ published titles. As General Manager at Playstack, he leads game discovery and publishing services. A veteran of Housemarque and Digital Chocolate with 30+ industry awards, Juha sits on the NeoGames board and remains a driving force in bridging the gap between game education and global commercial success. Topics: #GamePublishing #Discovery #GameEducation #BusinessDevelopment Marijana Sarolic Robic Vice President, CroStartup A leading legal expert in the Adriatic tech ecosystem specializing in startups, investment, and regulatory frameworks. Marijana is a co-founder of CroAI and Vice President of CroStartup. An EMBA graduate and advocate for AI Ethics and Data Science regulation, she also serves as President of PWN Zagreb and on the Supervisory Board of MBA Croatia. Topics: #StartupInvestment #AIEthics #LegalFrameworks #RegulatoryAffairs Risto Holmström Design Director & Studio Lead, Kuuasema An industry veteran with three decades of experience across 10+ studios, Risto specializes in the intersection of game design, leadership, and business strategy. With over 20 titles released, his expertise ranges from hypercasual to MMORPG productions. At Kuuasema, he focuses on F2P economy, monetization, and creative direction. Topics: #GameDesign #F2PEconomy #Monetization #LeadershipStrategy Uros Banjesevic Chief Creative Officer, Mad Head Games (Saber Interactive) A pioneer of regional development and Game Director on Mad Head Games' first unannounced AAA project based on a major global franchise. With two decades of experience, Uroš led the studio’s transition into core AAA gaming, including titles like Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. He is also a co-founder of the Serbia Games Association (SGA). Topics: #AAADevelopment #CreativeDirection #RegionalEcosystems #GameDesign Chee Wong Co-founder & Creative Director, Opus Artz Chee leads a London-based visual design agency specializing in concept design and IP development. His collaborative portfolio includes nearly 20 years of expertise on titles such as Diablo IV, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarök, Hitman, Mafia 3, and FC. Topics: #VisualDesign #IPDevelopment #ConceptArt #ProductionPipelines Niko Mäkelä External Development Director, Housemarque After contributing to Supercell’s Clash of Clans and Hay Day, Niko shifted to console development, leading to the AAA title Returnal for PS5. A veteran in art direction and management, he has managed External Development full-time since 2018 for all Housemarque titles. Topics: #ExternalDevelopment #OutsourcingManagement #AAAProduction #ArtDirection Registration Information Join these experts in Opatija this May for two days of high-level networking and professional development.  EARLY BIRD TICKETS: Available at preferential rates until March 1st, 2026.
January 20, 2026
We are incredibly proud to announce a landmark partnership for this year’s Expo Gamers: a special delegation from Women in Games will be joining us in Opatija!