The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Foundation announced three new appointments to its board of directors with a new chair, vice chair, and secretary, focused on enriching representation with more diverse voices.
Limpho Moeti will take over as chair, succeeding Zak Whaley whose term concluded earlier this year in June, but Whaley will remain on the board as chair emeritus until March 2026. Moeti, a South African business developer with nine years of industry experience, is known for work at Free Lives (Gorn, Broforce), Nyamakop (Semblance), RocketRide Games, and co-founding the Playtopia festival. Moeti is also the first IGDA chair from the Global South.
Other new additions include Nazih Fares as vice chair and Mafalda Duarte as secretary, as well as Tim Cullings continuing as treasurer.
Fares is a veteran of Blizzard and EA with 17 years of experience in localization, esports, and communications, and now leads consultancy Le Cabinet du Savoir Ludique, which supports underrepresented creators. Duarte is a Women in Games ambassador and former Telescope Game Studios director, and has helped build Portugal’s game development scene through Game Dev Lisbon and Game Dev Camp. Cullings is known for leadership with Seattle Indies and past roles at Oculus and Global Game Jam, and brings continuity as treasurer.
Collectively, the IGDA’s executive leadership team reflects a broader and more inclusive vision for the global developer community with a majority of women and non-binary developers alongside leaders of color.
“Limpho, Nazih, Mafalda, and Tim bring passion and unique approaches to supporting the organization,” IGDA executive director, Dr. Jakin Vela, said in a prepared statement. “Their leadership and expertise will strengthen IGDA’s global connections, expand mentorship offerings, and create lasting partnerships that empower game developers at every stage of their careers.”
Diversity in leadership has long been a challenge in the global games industry, where boardrooms and executive teams have historically skewed heavily toward white, Western, and male representation. By elevating leaders from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, as well as women and non-binary voices, the IGDA is signaling a commitment to making its leadership more diverse, like the community it represents.
For the world’s largest nonprofit membership group for game developers, these changes are not just symbolic, as they can carry weight for mentorship, networking, and advocacy efforts that can directly influence opportunities for the next generation of creators.