The Inven Global Esports DEEP DIVE slated for Tuesday, May 1st on the campus of the University of California-Irvine, will feature an emphasis on women in Esports seldom seen at Esports conferences. The DEEP DIVE will commence with a keynote address by Kim Phan, Director of Esports Operations for Blizzard Entertainment, developers of such renowned gaming franchises as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm. Kim Phan’s association with Blizzard Entertainment spans over a decade. She has held Senior Producer and Senior Manager positions in a number of Blizzard corporate divisions.

Susie Kim, General Manager for the London Spitfire of the Overwatch League and one of the most renowned translators and shout-casters in all of Esports, will moderate a panel devoted to “How Korea is Fostering the Next Generation of Fakers.” Faker is, without doubt, the most famous Korean Esports celebrity. Susie Kim was one of the earliest translators in StarCraft and has been connecting Western fans to South Korean pro players since 2007. Her myriad connections in the global Esports world have earned her the nickname of “The Esports Mom.”

Susie Kim will also be moderating a panel devoted exclusively to the topic of Women in Esports where in addition to herself, Susie will be joined by Mandie Roman, Producer and host of Game Talk Live and a celebrated Twitch streamer, along with Skye “Nightris” Bui, content manager of Echo Fox, the Beverly Hills-based professional Esports organization with teams in multiple Esports leagues.

Nicola Piggott, co-founder of “The Story Mob,” the first international communications consultancy focusing on Esports, will participate on a panel discussing “Should Esports Attempt to Emulate Traditional Sports?” The Story Mob was co-founded by Nicola Piggott (former lead of Esports communications at Riot Games), Anna Rozwandowicz (former VP of Communications at ESL), and Kalie Moore (former head of communications at BITKRAFT Esports Ventures), with a combined 12 years in shaping how the world views Esports.

In addition, the Inven Global Esports DEEP DIVE will highlight research undertaken at the University of California-Irvine on high school Esports in Orange County, CA, and its impact as STEM education. That panel will feature Samantha Anton, High School League Coordinator at UCI Esports; Mizuko Ito, Ph.D., UCI Faculty and cultural anthropologist of technology use; Katie Salen, Ph.D., UCI faculty member who works at the intersection of games, design and learning; and Constance Steinkuehler, Ph.D., UCI Faculty who studies games that improve cognitive well-being, especially among young people.

Further information, the agenda, and registration for the Inven Global Esports DEEP DIVE can be obtained via this link: https://www.invenglobal.com/igec