About Us – IGDA
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the world’s largest nonprofit membership organization serving all individuals who create games.
We bring together developers at key industry conferences and in over 150 chapters and special interest groups (SIGs) to improve their lives and their craft. Whether you’re a student with a goal to become a game developer or a seasoned veteran; whether you’re based in the United States or any other country or region in the world; whether you’re an indie developer or in a AAA studio; whether your primary platform is a PC, console, mobile device, VR/AR, or a tabletop—we welcome you home to the IGDA!
Our Mission
Our mission is to support and empower game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.
mission
Who We Are
We are a global network of collaborative communities and individuals from all fields of game development, including programmers and producers, designers and artists, writers, business people, QA team members, localization experts, and everyone else who participates in the game development process.
Our mission is overseen by the IGDA Board of Directors, which consists of both elected and appointed members. The IGDA Executive Director and core staff are responsible for executing on the vision and directives of the Board and, together with our operational partners, are the force behind the day-to-day running of the IGDA.
The IGDA is an independent, nonprofit membership association and is recognized as a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization by the US Internal Revenue Service and as a mutual benefit nonprofit association under California state law.
History
1994 
Ernest Adams establishes the Computer Game Developers Association (CGDA), with the aim of creating a true professional association to give game developers a voice and a way to come together to advance the state of the art.
Jennifer Pahlka becomes the organization’s first executive director.
The Computer Game Developers Conference is sold to Miller Freeman (later CMP, then Think Services, and now UBM TechWeb).
1999
To better reflect its growing global scope and platform agnosticism, the CGDA is officially renamed the International Game Developers Association.
2000
Jason Della Rocca is named executive director.
2009
Joshua Caulfield is named executive director.
2010
Gordon Bellamy is named executive director.
2012
Kate Edwards is named executive director.
2014
In partnership with Western University (Ontario, Canada), M2 Research, Georgia Institute of Technology, and TÉLUQ University (Québec, Canada), the IGDA launches the first annual Developer Satisfaction Survey.
2016
The IGDA Career Center is launched.
2017
Jen MacLean is named executive director.
The IGDA relaunches with updated member benefits and a new mission statement: “IGDA supports and empowers game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.”
2019
Renee Gittins is named executive director.
The IGDA.org website is relaunched with an all-new design.
2022
Dr. Jakin Vela is named Executive Director.