11:00am

REGISTRATION

12:00pm

Welcome and Introduction of Lunch Keynote

Keynote Lunch: Imagining the Ideal Video Game Cluster

• Jason Della Rocca, Executive Director, International Game Developers Association 

As longtime leader of the game development community around the world, Jason has had the opportunity to witness first hand what regions have the perfect vibe to attract the right talent, the most active finance and the most significant momentum. What is the idea mix of dynamics, incentives and opportunities that make some place better places than others for video game development? What can provinces like Ontario do to create the ideal environment?

1:00pm

Networking Break

1:20pm

Presentation: Ontario 2012

A presentation of research into the Ontario video game industry and a summary of key findings and recommendations.

• Presenter: Lisa Woznica, SECOR
• Introduction by Raina Wells, OMDC
  
  

1:40pm

Panel: Ontario’s Got Talent

How can Ontario educators and trainers work closely with industry and government to continue to build a world-class talent pipeline? How do prop up enrolment in critical programmes like Computer Science?

Moderator:
Laura Jo Gunter, Dean – Information Arts & Technology, Seneca College

Panelists:

• Dr. Gerri Sinclair, Executive Director, Masters of Digital Media Program, Centre for Digital Media
• Trevor Fencott, CEO, Bedlam Games
• Steve Engels, Lecturer, University of Toronto
• Bill Kapralos, Assistant Professor, UOIT
  
  

2:20pm

Come Together: Achieving Critical Mass in the Ontario Game Cluster

If Ontario’s video games industry is to double in size in the next five years, it will need to attract outside investment as well as build a healthy and vibrant domestic cluster. Beyond financial incentives, what are the critical elements to make Ontario a magnet for new business opportunities?

Moderator:
Ian Kelso, President & CEO, Interactive Ontario

Panelists:

• Jeff Chesebrough, Executive Director, nGen
• Gerry Pisarzowski, VP Business Development, GTMA
• Darius Basarab, Senior Business Consultant, Ministry of International Trade & Investment
• Nathon Gunn, CEO, Bitcasters
  
  

3:00pm

Networking Break

3:20pm

The Bottom Line: Increasing Liquidity and Leveraging Investment in Ontario Video Games Companies

Ontario has become a lot more competitive with its tax credits in the last few years. As a financial tool though, they are not effective at providing working capital. In fact, it can take up to five years from first application to receive the funds and they are difficult to interim finance. Are there ways that current regulations can be tweaked to provide more liquidity to developers? What other government programmes could increase the level of risk capital available to the industry? Does Ontario need to create its own publishing entity?

Moderator:
Bob Shoniker, President, Courage Capital

Panelists:

• Rick Segal, JLA Ventures & Blackberry Partners Fund
• Paul Woolford. Partner, KPMG
• Damir Slogar, CEO, Big Blue Bubble
• Derek Van Der Plaat, CEO, Silverbirch
  
  

4:00pm

A Tale of Two Start-ups

First-person perspectives recounting the start-up phases of two independent games companies, one by the bootstrap, the other in the company of angels.

• Keith Makse, President, Cerebral Vortex
• Julian Spillane, CEO, Frozen North

4:30pm

Special Presentation: CONCERT

A report from the Consortium on New Media, Creative, andntertainment R&D in the Toronto Region (CONCERT), a artnership of universities, colleges and industry highlighting its ecent research into the games digital cluster and the development
of a comprehensive regional innovation strategy.

• Presenter: Allan Anderson, CONCERT Project Manager
  
  

4:50pm

The Public Interest

What are the challenges and opportunities working with the public sector? How does this industry compare to other sectors? What are the unique challenges of addressing policy and programmes for a new and emerging sector like games?

Moderator: Rob DePetris, VP Finance, Silicon Knights

Panelists:

• Karen Thorne Stone, CEO, Ontario Media Development Corporation
• Bob Seguin, ADM, Ministry of Economic Development
• Donna Ratchford, Director (Acting), Policy Branch, Ministry of Culture
  
  

5:30pm

Defining a Plan of Action

What can the Ontario video game industry do to build momentum and create a robust network for development in this province? What are the key strategies that can better engage all stakeholders in working toward the goal of substantially growing the industry here in Ontario?

Moderator:
Ian Kelso, CEO, Interactive Ontario

Panelists:

• Rob DePetris, VP Finance, Silicon Knights (and Chair, Ontario Games Committee)
• Laura Jo Gunter, Dean – Information Arts & Technology, Seneca College (and Chair, Talent Sub-Committee)
• Bob Shoniker, President, Courage Capital (and Chair, Finance Sub-Committee)
  
  

6:00pm

GameON: Finance crossover reception

Join the delegates from GameON: Finance for a cross-over networking event featuring cocktails and delectable snacks.

7:00pm

GameON: Finance Welcome & Opening Remarks

The Honorable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture

9:00pm

END OF EVENT