Meet the Team

Richard Wilson

CEO 

Dr Richard Wilson is CEO of TIGA. Richard was previously Director of Communications at the Royal Academy of Engineering (2006-2008). Prior to this, Richard was Head of Business Policy at the Institute of Directors (1998 – 2006), one of the UK’s leading business representative bodies. At the Institute of Directors (IoD) Richard played a key part in developing the IoD’s policies and representing the membership vis-a-vis Government, the media and other interested third parties.

Richard has a strong interest in politics. He has taught politics at Reading University and was awarded a PhD for his thesis in political theory.

Richard has served as a non-executive director of Improve, the sector skills council for the food and drink industry (2004-2007). He also served as a non-executive director of the Adult Learning Inspectorate (2005-2007). He was Chair of the Better Payment Practice Group (2004-2006). He has also served as a member of Edexcel’s Qualifications Committee (2006-07).

Lorna Evans

Project Manager 

Lorna Evans is TIGA's Project Manager. Lorna is working to implement the TIGA-Nesta Shared Resources Project. This Project, to be delivered via a database driven portal, will help games development businesses to find talented recruits, share personnel and facilitate job swaps between complementary industries, which will ease skill shortages and aid knowledge transfer.

Lorna brings 15 years' experience of working in games, television and innovative technologies. She worked on some of Eidos's largest titles in the 1990s, launched Sky+ and brought Sponge Bob to the UK.

lorna.evans@tiga.org

Business Development Consultant & Exhibitor Funding Manager

Vanessa Joyce is TIGA's New Business Development Consultant. She previously worked as a business marketing manager for an IT solutions company. In this role she was responsible for strategic online marketing and co-ordinating events to promote Microsoft products to a range of industries across the UK and the rest of Europe.

Vanessa also manages all funding applications for trade events in the Games Industry, working closely with UK Trade and Investment and The British Consulate. She represents TIGA on all overseas missions to conferences such as GDC, Gamescom and Game Connection.

vanessa@tiga.org

Nisha Valand

Head of Member Services

Nisha Valand is TIGA's Head of Member Services. Nisha develops relevant member services which serve the interests of Tiga members and ensure that they get the support they need to compete in the games industry effectively.  Prior to joining TIGA, Nisha held a pivotal role at the Institute of Directors (IoD), where she worked closely with high profile business leaders to raise the profile of the IoD membership and build relationships with third party organisations to increase the exposure and appeal of the IoD across the business spectrum.

She set up events focusing on a wide range of subjects from leadership, entrepreneurialism and employment to innovation, technology and global markets in order to help members. Nisha graduated from the University of Manchester with an honours degree in International Business, Finance and Economics.

nisha@tiga.org

Eva Whitlow

PR Manager

Eva Whitlow is TIGA's PR Manager. Eva Whitlow has over 10 years' experience in PR, working both in the UK and abroad. Eva started her career at Eidos Interactive working on specialist press games PR. After leaving Eidos she worked at a number of leading London PR agencies serving clients such as BT, Activision, LucasArts, Toshiba, Microsoft Xbox and Warner Home Entertainment.

In 2006 Eva joined Weber Shandwick’s China office as Business Development Director, where she drove the company’s new business strategy and also assisted multinational companies such as New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Bayer Healthcare and A1GP World Cup of Motorsports. Eva joined Tiga in May 2009 following her return to the UK.

eva@tiga.org