Last week, we welcomed Mariam, our new Head of Content, to the team!

Q: Welcome to the Gamesforum team, Mariam! Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Mariam: Great to be here - I'm so excited to be joining Gamesforum as Head of Content! I see my passion as the intersection where gaming enthusiasm meets journalistic rigor. Just a little bit about myself - I grew up in Dubai and then went on to do my Bachelors in Canada. Later, I pursued my Master's degree in London. I'm thrilled to utilitise my diverse background and enthusiasm in driving engaging content here at Gamesforum.

Q: Talk to us about your career in journalism and adtech so far.

Mariam: My career in journalism has taken me from travel writing and energy all the way to the ad tech industry, where my feet are firmly planted. My journey in ad tech writing zeroes in on curation, in-game advertising, and monetisation, exploring how these elements drive user engagement and revenue, among many other things. I’ve also deep dived into the shifting sands of privacy laws and the imminent end of third-party cookies, highlighting the challenges and innovations reshaping the industry as a whole.

Q: What led you to join the team here at Gamesforum?

Mariam: I saw in Gamesforum an opportunity to leverage my background in ad tech and journalism within an industry I'm passionate about - gaming. It's the ideal platform to apply my expertise in new and exciting ways.

Q: Can you tease what is to come from Gamesforum Online? What projects are you excited to kick off?

Mariam: Everyone should keep their eyes peeled for the renewal of our webinar series, where we’ll be hearing from some gaming industry luminaries. I’m also hoping to kick off the Gamesforum podcast series. There are also a few things in the works but I can’t quite announce those yet!

Q: What do you see as some of the defining challenges in the online advertising space?

Mariam: One of the defining challenges in the online advertising space is navigating the evolving landscape of privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, which require advertisers to rethink their data collection and usage strategies. The impending demise of third-party cookies also poses a significant challenge, pushing the industry towards more transparent and consent-based advertising models.

Q: How will Gamesforum Online help the mobile games industry stay up to date on the latest challenges?

Mariam: Gamesforum Online will serve as a vital platform for the games industry by providing timely insights and expert analyses on the latest challenges and trends. Through webinars, articles, and discussion panels featuring industry leaders, it will facilitate knowledge sharing and foster a community ready to adapt to new technologies and regulatory shifts.

This continuous engagement will help professionals anticipate changes, innovate solutions, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

Q: Talking of gaming, what are some of your favourite games?

Mariam: Where do I start?! I recently loved Quantic Dream’s Detroit Become Human, and SuperMassive’s The Quarry. I am, of course, a huge Red Dead Redemption fan and have played the second game at least three times over. As for MMOs, I’d have to say Old School Runescape, and for mobile games it has to be Clash of Clans!

Q: And outside of gaming, what are your hobbies?

Mariam: Reading and travelling are two I can think of off the top of my head.

Q: What are you most excited for when joining the team at our events?

Mariam: I’m very excited to be on the ground to interview gaming industry luminaries to gain some of their insight into topics of interest. I’m also excited to be hopefully hosting a few panels eventually!