Interview: Jo Twist, Ukie

Dr Jo Twist OBE, the head of games trade body Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment), is very clear about the potential for esports – and wants the government and broadcasters to know about it.

“Esports presents a huge opportunity to the UK,” she says. “The market will continue to grow and develop naturally, but the combined commitment of the government, the industry and broadcasters would see the sector’s audience, talent pool and infrastructure evolve in a way that is multinational in nature, inclusive, and lucrative.”

Before being made CEO of Ukie in 2012, Twist was Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Education and worked for the BBC before that, and so is acutely aware of many of the issues surrounding the interface of esports and broadcast.

She was awarded an OBE for services to the creative industries in 2016, and in July this year was made Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee.

Esports is a steadily increasing part of her brief at Ukie, which has put a lot of effort into trying to persuade legislators that they need to create an environment for it to grow and flourish.

“Lots of policy makers are…