Behind the Screen Esports Symposium

Join us for the Behind the Screen Esports Symposium, an interactive day of industry panels, networking, activations, and, best of all, free giveaways!

This event will pull back the curtain on the different and varied career pathways that esports offers. From content creation, to marketing, to game development and more. Whether you're just starting out, or have a bit of experience in the industry, Behind the Screen is the perfect launch point to learn about the thriving career paths in esports!

Important Note: This event is strictly open to current full-time Durham College and Ontario Tech University students.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, October 7
• Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Doors open at 9:30 AM)
• Location: Student Centre Building, Oshawa Campus (12 Commencement Dr, Oshawa, ON)
• Admission: Free (Registration required via Eventbrite)

Panel Lineup & Agenda

• 10:00 AM | Doors Open & Speed Networking Get in early, grab a spot, and connect with fellow students and tech enthusiasts before opening remarks start at 11:00 AM.

• 11:15 AM | Panel 1: Student Leaders to Program Leaders
  • Speakers: Sinthuyan Uthayanan (Ontario Tech Student Union), Alex Estrela (Durham College Student Association), and Bernard Mafei (Humber Esports)
  • Overview: Discover how three student leaders turned their passion for campus esports into full-time careers. Hear about their personal journeys, the obstacles they overcame, and concrete advice on how to turn student involvement into a professional program leadership role.

• 12:15 PM | Lunch Break & Interactive Activations

• 1:15 PM | Panel 2: The Reality of Content Creation
  • Speakers: Billy Santoso, Juan (Snipeshot5000), and GamerDad
  • Overview: With a growing interest in content creation join our panelists and learn insights from Twitch streamers, a video editor for a professional esports organization and other professionals as they discuss the various pathways of content creation.

• 2:00 PM | Break & Giveaways

• 2:15 PM | Panel 3: From Sketch to Screen (Game Art & Game Dev)
  • Speakers: Jessica Le, Marcus Vine, and Alexander Ahilov
  • Overview: Featuring industry professionals and professors from DC and OTU who have worked with top studios like Ubisoft on AAA franchises including Assassin's Creed and Battlefield. Learn about game design, art pipelines, portfolio building, and how to break into the game industry.

• 3:30 PM | Closing Remarks