Festival Patrons

We are incredibly grateful for the support of our Festival Patrons

Norwich Games Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration of video games, brought to you by The Forum. 

Norwich Games Festival is a non-profit event run by The Forum Trust, the self-financing charitable organisation which manages The Forum building in Norwich. All money raised by the festival is invested back into the event. 

Dan Scales

Daniel is a Principal Gameplay Developer at Saltwater Games, originally from Norwich. Daniel has worked on a number of titles from indie games such as 10 Second Ninja X to VR titles - having most recently finished work on Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom.
Daniel has a huge passion for making games accessible to everyone and encouraging young people to explore careers in games; having produced the Norwich Games Festvial with The Forum for a number of years. In 2019 his work on the festival saw him nominated for the MCV 30 under 30 award.

Stuart Ashen 

Stuart Ashen is a comedian from Norwich, whose YouTube channel “Ashens” boasts over 1.5 million subscribers. He has written two books on video games: Terrible Old Games You’ve Probably Never Heard Of and its follow-up Attack Of The Flickering Skeletons. He also co-wrote and starred in the comedy films The Quest For The GameChild and The Polybius Heist.

"I’m very pleased to be an ambassador for the Norwich Games Festival. It’s a great event for both gaming enthusiasts and the general public alike – it’s wonderful to have a local event like this."

Stuart Ashen

Melissa Phillips 

Melissa Phillips is an Operations Consultant and Leadership Expert working with Leaders across the Games Industry to help them navigate challenges, grow their confidence, and support their teams. As founder of the Games Leadership Academy, she’s passionate about creating resources and programmes that reflect the real-life experiences and needs of Leaders in Games.

Her flagship Games Leadership® Blueprint course is a 12-week journey designed to equip Leaders with the tools and space to reflect, adapt, and lead with purpose. With over a decade of experience in roles such as Head of Studio and Operations Director, Melissa brings a practical, down-to-earth perspective to her work. She recognises the unique pressures Leaders face in creating Games and is dedicated to helping them build trust, navigate challenges effectively, and foster a positive impact within their teams.

Melissa returns as Patron of the Norwich Games Festival for her seventh year in 2025. In addition to her work with current industry Leaders, she is enthusiastic about connecting those curious about making Games to the industry, and deeply values the festival’s role in inspiring future Leaders to take their first steps towards a career in Games.

Find out more about what Melissa offers at www.gamesleadershipacademy.com

"The Norwich Games Festival is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the Games Industry and find out more about how your favourite Games are designed and created. It inspires young designers to explore careers, offers hands-on workshops, and creates a welcoming, family-friendly space to celebrate all things Games - right in the heart of Norwich."

Melissa Phillips, Director of Games Leadership, Patron of Norwich Games Festival