The Black In Gaming Foundation (BIG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Black leadership, innovation, and opportunity in the gaming industry, has announced the winners of its 2026 BIG Awards. Hosted by Dr. iAsia Brown, the annual ceremony recognizes leaders, creators, and changemakers whose work continues to shape the gaming industry across media, artistry, programming, development, and social advocacy. This year’s class of honorees is as accomplished as any in the award’s history.
Gerald “Jerry” Lawson Lifetime Achievement Award — Lisette Montgomery
A veteran of 24 years in the games industry, Lisette Montgomery has shipped 15 titles across multiple platforms and IPs, with credits including Psychonauts 2, The Sims 4, and properties based on South Park and The Simpsons. Her work in art direction has earned nominations from BAFTA and The Game Awards, among other prestigious organizations. Montgomery is currently co-founding Cornerstone Interactive Studios, a new venture focused on games that encourage cross-generational collaborative play.
Excellence in Education Award — Dr. Akil Fletcher
Dr. Akil Fletcher is an anthropologist and Cotsen Postdoctoral Fellow in the Society of Fellows at Princeton University, where his research sits at the intersection of anthropology, African American Studies, and game studies. His dissertation, Playing in Color: An Exploration of Black Gaming Communities and Practices, examines how Black communities use digital platforms like Final Fantasy XIV and Discord to form identity and community while navigating racism in online spaces. At Princeton, Fletcher is developing a book project on “Black worldling”—exploring how Black gamers use game technologies to imagine new worlds within existing game frameworks.
Excellence in Media Award — Stephanie Ijoma
Stephanie Ijoma is the CEO and founder of NNESAGA, the UK’s leading platform for gaming and media from a diverse perspective, as well as co-founder of ION Agency and GGNI Events. Over her nine-plus years in the industry, she has worked with major brands including Sony PlayStation, Xbox, EA, Sega, Apple, and 2K, delivering consulting, brand marketing, and DEI services. Her work has been recognized with the BTA Gaming Award, the Best Gaming & Media Entertainment Organisation Award, and the BBC 1Xtra Future Figures Award.
Excellence in Artistry Award — Danielle Wallace
Danielle Wallace is a 3D environment artist and art director currently working at both Self Hunter Studio and Heart Machine, the studio behind Solar Ash and Hyper Light Drifter. Beyond her professional work, she co-owns and manages Gamedev PerkUp LA and serves as Scholarship Manager at Game Devs of Color Expo, actively investing in the next generation of diverse game creators. Her artistry centers on stylized environments and world-building with a focus on creating spaces that leave a lasting impact.
Excellence in Programming Award — Jarryd Huntley
Jarryd Huntley is the DevOps Director at Owlchemy Labs, the VR studio known for titles like Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Huntley brings technical leadership to one of the most prominent studios in the virtual reality space. His recognition in the programming category highlights the importance of behind-the-scenes infrastructure work that makes game development possible at scale.
Indie Developer Award — Adanna Nedd
Adanna Nedd is a narrative designer, games writer, and games researcher with a background in Information Sciences and Technology from Penn State University. She has been recognized as an IGDA Scholar, a Grace Hopper Celebration Scholar, and a Millennium Scholar, among other honors, reflecting her commitment to both craft and community. Currently working under NDA, Nedd brings a multidisciplinary approach to game development that spans writing, research, and program management.
Industry Champion Award — Alice Winter
Alice Winter is a game designer with over nine years of experience working across indie and AAA teams, currently based in the Greater Coventry area and affiliated with Paper Flower Games. Named to The Game Awards Future Class of 2023, she specializes in systems and content design, Unreal Engine development, and project management, with expertise spanning gameplay, narrative, level, and quest design. Winter also serves as a Limit Break mentor, using her platform to support the next generation of game designers.
Industry Spotlight Award — Destinee Cleveland
Destinee Cleveland is the founder and president of Dames 4 Games, a nonprofit amplifying women and femme-identifying individuals in games, and also serves as Marketing Manager at the IGDA Foundation and in games marketing at Atari. She co-hosts the Lv1 Gaming Podcast, hosts the Black Voices in Gaming Showcase, and holds board memberships with Make-A-Wish (Gaming Sector) and Stream For a Cause. With over 15 years in the art and game industry, Cleveland’s work sits at the intersection of advocacy, storytelling, and community building.
Social and Economic Change Award — iAsia Brown
Dr. iAsia Brown is an executive leader working at the intersection of games, animation, education, and cultural impact, currently affiliated with Kiro’o Games and the University of Southern California. A veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, she holds a doctorate focused on the power of media and game design to support learning and human development. Her long-term mission centers on shaping the future of interactive storytelling across global entertainment, media, and educational ecosystems—particularly where technology and audience impact converge.
Honoring Black Leaders, Creators and Changemakers
Black in Gaming’s Chairwoman of the Board Trinidad Hermida expressed immense pride in this year’s class of honorees: “This year’s honorees are true trailblazers, and their contributions to the gaming industry have opened countless doors for the next generation of Black gaming professionals. It’s an honor for us to shine a spotlight on their achievements,” she said. For more information about the Black In Gaming Foundation and its mission to advance Black leadership and opportunity in gaming, join the Discord community, follow @BlackinGaming on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook, and search for #BlackInGaming on social media. .
