Dear lovely DiGRA Australia members,

I’m saddened to inform you that I’ve decided to temporarily step down from my role as DiGRAA President, along with Madeleine Antonellos. This is due to recent events surrounding the conduct of the international DiGRA’s board.

Over the last few weeks, several board and committee members of international DiGRA, including myself, have resigned from our positions in protest of that board’s conduct. More information about this situation will be shared publicly in the coming weeks. In the meantime the ongoing situation places me in a conflicted position as president of DiGRA Australia, and so I’m regretfully stepping away from this position for the time being to ensure DiGRA Australia may continue to support the local game studies community.

In the meantime, the DiGRA Australia board has appointed Dr Brendan Keogh as interim President, who will act in the role until next year’s elections.

Please still feel free to reach out to either myself, Brendan, or other board members if you have any questions, concerns, or would like more information on the current situation.

I’m thankful and grateful for the wealth of support and kindness from our inclusive and wholesome community in DiGRA Australia. I love you all very much, and feel very lucky to be part of a wonderful cohort of colleagues and friends.

Even if I’m stepping down as DiGRA Australia President, please know that this community is and will always be my home. Thank you for being “my people” <3 I cherish you all so very much!

Warmly,

Mahli-Ann

The Digital Games Research Association Australia (DiGRAA) extends our profound gratitude to Dr Brendan Keogh for his exemplary leadership as our President from 2018 to 2023, and his service on the board up until he graciously stepped down from his position earlier this year. Dr Keogh is esteemed globally as one of the foremost scholars in game studies, and we are exceptionally fortunate to have him as a cornerstone of the Australian game studies community.

Dr Keogh’s outstanding contributions have transformed the field of game studies in Australia. Under his stewardship, DiGRAA has flourished as a bastion of multidisciplinary academic excellence, fostering critical dialogue, collaboration, and exponential growth. Dr Keogh was an inaugural recipient of the Dr April Tyack Distinguished Scholar award in recognition of his ongoing dedication to mentorship and community-building efforts in fostering diversity and inclusivity. His commitment has left an indelible legacy, cultivating a welcoming and vibrant community that will continue to thrive for years to come.

Thank you, Dr Keogh, for your unwavering guidance and support. Your leadership steered us through the challenges of COVID-19, as the only DiGRA Chapter that continued annual national conferences online. Your excellence in research and writing has inspired us to become better academic thinkers and writers, while your presence in the community has always been welcoming to newcomers, and made all of us better people. As you step down from your service on the board, please know that your impact endures and your efforts will be forever deeply appreciated.

While Tampere counts Time-to-Huizinga, DiGRAA proudly celebrates counting Keogh citations!

With heartfelt gratitude,

The DiGRAA board