NEXT year’s GameHorizon Conference is to take place on June 27 and 28 at its usual haunt, The Sage Gateshead.

The fifth-year conference will return to the south bank of the Tyne next summer with keynotes and presentations from leading figures in the games industry, as well as those in creative and interactive entertainment. Organiser Codeworks has also announced it is partnering up with Yorkshire and UK games network Game Republic for the conference.

Game Republic managing director Jamie Sefton will join the conference advisory board, and said he was “delighted” to be part of shaping “a fantastic and unique event on the UK games industry calendar”.

Last year’s event featured talks from figures including author and editor Tom Chatfield, BBC Worldwide’s Robert Nashak, Zynga’s Louis Castle, Schell Games’ Jesse Schell and FluffyLogic’s Ana Kronschnabl. CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson also gave a presentation, a year after the Icelandic games company announced it had set up an office in the North East.

Longtime conference director and GameHorizon founder Carri Cunliffe has since started her own consultancy business, but will continue to be involved with the event as an advisory board member.

Cunliffe has been director of the conference for five years, but has set up Secret Sauce to help companies deliver projects and develop business relationships. Cunliffe said: “I am very much looking forward to being a delegate at this great conference and will be supporting the GameHorizon members and team as best I can.”

Former GameHorizon business development manager Nina Cliff has returned to take the role of event producer alongside Elspeth Lawson.

Cliff said: “I'm very excited about returning to GameHorizon. It's amazing how the event has grown and the loyal community it has created over the years. We're working closely with the advisory board to ensure 2012 will continue the great work achieved.”

Tickets will be on sale soon, while speakers will be announced over the coming weeks.