Top 100 listing leads to unique award

A passion for the games industry has led to a prestigious award for an inspirational academic.

Gabrielle Kent, Senior Lecturer in Computer Games Development at Teesside University, was one of three Women of the Year recipients at the MCV awards.

She was selected from a group of 100 women who games industry magazine MCV had listed as being the most influential in the games industry.

The top 100 list recognised women from all areas of the games industry working in the UK, from influential leaders to unsung heroes.

During a lavish ceremony in London early this month, Gabrielle was handed the Ambassador Award for her tireless work to influence and inspire others to succeed in the games industry.

She said: 'To be listed as one of the top 100 women, alongside some truly inspirational people, was amazing. But then to win one of the Women of the Year Awards was incredible and something I never expected.

'I’m passionate about games and just try to use my experience and position to guide others to break into what can be a difficult industry.

'Teesside University is a fantastic place to work and we have a reputation as a leading institution for games courses. Students who come here are extremely talented and dedicated and that makes my job so much easier.'

The MCV award followed a successful month for Gabrielle, after she again organised and hosted Teesside University’s annual Animex Festival, which this year welcomed leading games studios such as Valve, Microsoft and Epic, as well as Zach Parrish who was Head of Animation on Disney’s Big Hero Six.

Gabrielle has worked in and around the games industry for almost 20 years and has a strong interest in encouraging women to pursue careers in games.

During her career, she has worked on console and PC titles for Accolade, Infogrammes, Atari and Midway, as well as contributing to independently developed titles. On six occasions Gabrielle has acted as a judge on the BAFTA Games awards.

She added: 'I have been really fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career so far, doing something I love. It is great to receive this kind of recognition and to know that I have been able to make a difference for young people who are just getting started in an incredibly exciting, and rapidly changing, industry.'

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Watch a video about Gabrielle which was played before she received her award