Global Game Jam®️ (GGJ) is excited to announce that Tim Cullings has been confirmed as our new Executive Director after serving as Interim ED for four months since the departure of Kate Edwards in March.
In this role Cullings will focus on strengthening the foundations of our current events, community, and industry partnerships along with building new opportunities for current and aspiring game developers to participate in GGJ events worldwide.
Tim started out with GGJ in 2016 as a site organizer for Seattle Indies in Seattle, WA, USA, became a Regional Organizer for the US Pacific Northwest in 2018, then joined the Executive Committee in 2019. He was hired as Director of Operations of GGJ in 2020 and oversaw the 2021 and 2022 editions of GGJ in addition to GGJ Next 2021, the Cultural Heritage Game Jam in 2021 and the May Day Mental Health Game Jam in 2022.
“I am honored to be appointed to the role of Executive Director of GGJ and respect the amount of responsibility that comes along with it. The event, the community, and all of the people I have worked with over the years have meant so much to me and my personal and professional growth in the industry that I can’t think of a better place for me to be.
We are coming up on the 15th edition of GGJ in 2023 and I am excited for the jam, the stories, the games, and the memories that come out of the event every year. The new partnerships we are working on with like-minded companies will really bring the event to the next level and set us up for the next 15 years of GGJ. I am beyond thrilled to be leading the amazing team of our board, staff, and volunteers who make GGJ what it is and to learn and grow with them.
GGJ has faced its share of challenges. For a relatively young global organization, we have accomplished so much, but there have also been missteps. Community trust is paramount to GGJ and I fully intend to focus on building up and restoring that trust. As someone who has served GGJ in just about every capacity as a volunteer and organizer I fully understand and believe in the mission of the organization. I will do my very best to meet your expectations as we continue to grow and build positive pathways for people to enter the industry and have a great time at our events.”
Tim is a Seattle area games industry veteran of over 12 years and has served with multiple industry organizations including Seattle Indies, IGDA, IndieCade, Games For Our Future, and more to champion game development, climate science, mental health awareness, and safe and inclusive communities, events, and spaces for game developers from every walk of life. His previous professional experience includes 6 years at Oculus supporting the teams that launched Rift, Quest, Portal and more and 4 years at Airtight Games helping ship Murdered: Soul Suspect and Quantum Condundrum.