Programme

Videogames became an essential part of our culture finding their way to every aspect of our everyday life. Yet, they are more than just entertainment. They offer bigger endeavors, such as development and transformation of personal and professional skills. Our discussion will address how virtual worlds become training grounds for strategic thinking, resource management and teamwork offering unique opportunities to test them in real life. What games are great tools for developing such professional skills as strategic planning and team management? Can gamification of everyday life boost one’s productivity and personal development? Is there a risk for a spillover of gaming elements in non-gaming environments? How do virtual and augmented reality technologies affect the understanding of gamification in education and professional environment? Do they provide opportunities for a more involved experience in education and development?

Moderator
Ilya Moroz, Project Director of the Center for Youth Initiatives, Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Ilya Moroz

Project Director of the Center for Youth Initiatives, Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Panellists
Gaukhar Aldyyarova, Head of the Moscow Division, Lesta Games
Sergey Izrailit, Vice President for Development and Planning, Skolkovo Foundation
Anatoly Kazakov, Head of Game Design at the School of Design of the National Research University Higher School of Economics
Vasiliy Ovchinnikov,
Vladimir Prokuronov, Deputy Director for Development, Digital Economy
Dmitry Smith, President, Russian eSports Federation (ReSF Russia)
Aleksey Fedoseev, President, Association of Technology Kruzhoks; Leader, National Cyberphysical Platform "Berloga"

Gaukhar Aldyyarova

Head of the Moscow Division, Lesta Games

Gauhar Aldyyarova, General Manager of the Moscow subsidiary of the Lesta Games group of companies, the largest video game developer and publisher in Russia and Belarus.

She graduated from the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Oriental Studies. Aldyyarova also received a master degree in finance, graduating from the British College of Banking and Finance, where she later taught in English, and Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and IT.

Since 2003, she was a co-founder of the game development studio Ice-Pick Lodge, where participated in both development and PR. Later, she was involved in games and platforms PR and promotion at the New Disk and 101XP companies.

In 2017, Aldyyarova moved to the position of Senior Brand Manager at Innova, a publisher of multiplayer online games, and two years later headed the Brand management and public relations department.

In 2022, she was appointed as the Business Development Director of the Lesta Games studio in Moscow. In 2023, Aldyyarova met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the Zotov Center and discussed the inclusion of game projects into the Domestic software register, IT-benefits, issues and difficulties in the development of the video game industry and cybersport.

Sergey Izrailit

Vice President for Development and Planning, Skolkovo Foundation

Anatoly Kazakov

Head of Game Design at the School of Design of the National Research University Higher School of Economics

Vasiliy Ovchinnikov

Vladimir Prokuronov

Deputy Director for Development, Digital Economy

Dmitry Smith

President, Russian eSports Federation (ReSF Russia)

Dmitry Smith was born in 1977.
He graduated from a physics and mathematics school at MIPT, and received his higher education at the Moscow Economics and Statistics Institute (MESI, now part of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics).
One of the first successful cyber-sportsmen in Russia (he participated in real-time strategy competitions).
In 1997 ranked eighth in the international rating of WarCraft 2, in 1998 became the leader of the legendary eSports team Orky, in 1999 came second in the international rating of StarCraft. Multiple champion and medalist in major tournaments. Performed under the game name Dilvish.
In 2000 Dmitry became one of the founders of the Russian Federation of Computer Sports. Was the organizer and chief referee at the Russian qualifying games of the World Cyber Games (WCG), the most prestigious cyber-sports tournament in the world. Organizer and referee of many domestic Russian competitions.
Currently holds the position of the President of the Russian Federation of Cyber Sport. He represents Russia in the International Esports Federation (IESF). The area of responsibility of Dmitry includes strategic management of the Russian CyberFight Federation, cooperation with the state authorities and partners, supervision of all-Russian tournaments.

Aleksey Fedoseev

President, Association of Technology Kruzhoks; Leader, National Cyberphysical Platform "Berloga"