Speakers Lineup Expanded

Andro Demiri • February 26, 2026

We are pleased to announce the latest addition of industry experts to the Expo Gamers 2026 lineup. 

This selection of speakers reinforces our commitment to delivering high-level professional content across game publishing, design leadership, AAA production, and visual IP development.

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.


Tickets

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.

Women in Games to Join Expo Gamers 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!

First speakers confirmed

January 18, 2026
First Speakers Confirmed for Expo Gamers 2026 We are incredibly excited to share the first wave of speakers joining us this year in Opatija. Our team is honored to host these global experts as they share their insights across our three dedicated program tracks. Vlad Rannik, CEO, CM Games A mobile gaming pioneer and Hall of Famer who has led titles with over 400 million downloads and $100M in revenue. Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO & Co-Director Women in Games A global leader and award-winning consultant dedicated to building a fairer and more inclusive games ecosystem. Stanislav Stanković, Senior Game Design Director, EA An industry veteran with 14 years of experience at Rovio, Supercell, and EA, specializing in massive free-to-play titles like SimCity BuildIt. Julie La’Bassiere, Chief Strategy Officer, DDA A veteran branding strategist with 25 years in entertainment, contributed to the historic Best Picture Oscar win for CODA. Borislav Slavov, Composer and Music Director, Larian Studios The award-winning musical mind behind the iconic soundtracks of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2. Ben Reichstein, CEO & Recording Artist, Field & Foley A specialized sound designer and podcast host focused on the art of immersive field recording and game audio. Early Bird Tickets: Available Until March 1st Join our growing community at the best possible price. Secure your tickets early to lock in the special rate.

Tickets are live!

January 13, 2026
Expo Gamers 2026 Early Bird Tickets Are LIVE!