MEET YOUR COMMITTEE FOR 2024/25
Learn a little about us and why we got involved in Melbourne Meeples … maybe you’ll be inspired to join the committee one day!
The Melbourne Meeples Committee serves from the Annual General Meeting (normally held in July) of one year to the next.
Chris Ingold
PresidentWhen and what game got you into the board gaming hobby ?
Originally it was probably Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs, Taxi! and Buccaneer back in the 80s! As for many of us there was a drought whilst I stepped away from board games only to discover that a new wave had arrived. Catan prised the door ajar and Scythe reopened it for good.
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
My top 100 can be found on the Friendly Meeples Lounge podcast so head on over and find out! There's a good chance 97 of those are now at least in the wrong place but the top three will be pretty hard to shake.
Who is your favourite designer, publisher, YouTuber or podcaster ?
Podcaster, that would have to 'absolutely!' be our FML co-host Jen. I also love Tom Vasel as he and I still have such similar likes and dislikes (both games and headwear) that it's like having personalised reviews just for me.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
My first in-person board game with people outside my family after moving to Australia during the pandemic. It was OzBunnyCon 2021, I knew no-one in the room but ten minutes in I was sat playing Red Rising with five strangers and I'd call each one a friend today. That tell's you everything you need to know about why our hobby is so amazing!
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community ?
To get to GenCon, and to actually finish one of my in-progress game designs...
What book, movie, TV show or world event/location do you wish was made into a board game ?
Danger 5. Maybe I'll have to design it myself!
Originally it was probably Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs, Taxi! and Buccaneer back in the 80s! As for many of us there was a drought whilst I stepped away from board games only to discover that a new wave had arrived. Catan prised the door ajar and Scythe reopened it for good.
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
My top 100 can be found on the Friendly Meeples Lounge podcast so head on over and find out! There's a good chance 97 of those are now at least in the wrong place but the top three will be pretty hard to shake.
Who is your favourite designer, publisher, YouTuber or podcaster ?
Podcaster, that would have to 'absolutely!' be our FML co-host Jen. I also love Tom Vasel as he and I still have such similar likes and dislikes (both games and headwear) that it's like having personalised reviews just for me.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
My first in-person board game with people outside my family after moving to Australia during the pandemic. It was OzBunnyCon 2021, I knew no-one in the room but ten minutes in I was sat playing Red Rising with five strangers and I'd call each one a friend today. That tell's you everything you need to know about why our hobby is so amazing!
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community ?
To get to GenCon, and to actually finish one of my in-progress game designs...
What book, movie, TV show or world event/location do you wish was made into a board game ?
Danger 5. Maybe I'll have to design it myself!
Stuart Bettiss
SecretaryWhen and what game got you into the board gaming hobby ?
I grew up playing Dungeons and Dragons in the 80’s (like the kids from Stranger Things) but lost touch with the gaming industry from my late teen’s through to my early 40’s. About 10 years ago my wife bought me Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne as Christmas presents and I haven’t looked back since. I now own roughly 300 games (which includes 80 expansions) and the collection keeps growing.
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
Currently my Top 3 are Distilled, Earth and Barcelona - but I’m sure if you ask me in a few months time, this list will have changed - as I’m discovering new and old games all the time now.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
I was lucky enough to be asked by Jamey Stegmaier, co-founder of Stonemaier Games, to record a video with him last year for his YouTube channel. I chose the topic of Top 4 games to play with your partner, and myself, Jamey and Felipe from Germany spoke about these for over an hour - it was a lot of fun, and great to engage with a well known designer in the Industry.
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community ?
I would love to one day travel to the US and Europe to attend some of the large gaming conventions, in particular GenCon in Indianapolis and EssenSpiel in Germany, and to meet some of the designers and content creators (YouTube) that I follow/admire.
What are you most looking forward to during the 2024/25 membership year?
Getting into my new role as Secretary and meeting new people at all of our regular gaming events - in particular Meeplecon in November and Bunnycon next April. Outside of the meeple events, I’m really looking forward to PAX Australia in October - I had a blast attending this event last year.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee?
I discovered the Melbourne Meeples at the first Melbourne Board Game Market last year and subsequently attended the first Board in the East (BiTE) event last July. I joined because I loved the community spirit at meeple events, and I’ve made many great new friends who are just as passionate about the board gaming industry as me. After volunteering for the Meeples at a number of events last year, I felt I could contribute more by joining the committee and to help plan and run more events for our great members.
I grew up playing Dungeons and Dragons in the 80’s (like the kids from Stranger Things) but lost touch with the gaming industry from my late teen’s through to my early 40’s. About 10 years ago my wife bought me Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne as Christmas presents and I haven’t looked back since. I now own roughly 300 games (which includes 80 expansions) and the collection keeps growing.
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
Currently my Top 3 are Distilled, Earth and Barcelona - but I’m sure if you ask me in a few months time, this list will have changed - as I’m discovering new and old games all the time now.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
I was lucky enough to be asked by Jamey Stegmaier, co-founder of Stonemaier Games, to record a video with him last year for his YouTube channel. I chose the topic of Top 4 games to play with your partner, and myself, Jamey and Felipe from Germany spoke about these for over an hour - it was a lot of fun, and great to engage with a well known designer in the Industry.
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community ?
I would love to one day travel to the US and Europe to attend some of the large gaming conventions, in particular GenCon in Indianapolis and EssenSpiel in Germany, and to meet some of the designers and content creators (YouTube) that I follow/admire.
What are you most looking forward to during the 2024/25 membership year?
Getting into my new role as Secretary and meeting new people at all of our regular gaming events - in particular Meeplecon in November and Bunnycon next April. Outside of the meeple events, I’m really looking forward to PAX Australia in October - I had a blast attending this event last year.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee?
I discovered the Melbourne Meeples at the first Melbourne Board Game Market last year and subsequently attended the first Board in the East (BiTE) event last July. I joined because I loved the community spirit at meeple events, and I’ve made many great new friends who are just as passionate about the board gaming industry as me. After volunteering for the Meeples at a number of events last year, I felt I could contribute more by joining the committee and to help plan and run more events for our great members.
Matt Utting
TreasurerWhen and what game got you into the board gaming hobby ?
For modern boardgaming, Carcassonne
Favourite game?
Power Grid
Favourite Designer/style?
Designer is Friedemann Friese (whose designs aren’t always amazing, but are always interesting) and style is probably bidding/economicy kind of games.
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
The people. Oh and the games.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
The free secret jetpacks are pretty cool. Oh… I wasn’t supposed to talk about those. Um... it keeps me busy?
For modern boardgaming, Carcassonne
Favourite game?
Power Grid
Favourite Designer/style?
Designer is Friedemann Friese (whose designs aren’t always amazing, but are always interesting) and style is probably bidding/economicy kind of games.
What do you like most about the tabletop hobby?
The people. Oh and the games.
Do you have a favourite meeple colour?
Purple
What do you like most about being involved in the Melbourne Meeples Committee?
The free secret jetpacks are pretty cool. Oh… I wasn’t supposed to talk about those. Um... it keeps me busy?
Jennie Howard
General Committee MemberWhen and what game got you into the board gaming hobby?
I grew up playing the classics with my brothers (Monopoly, Operation, Scrabble) and then for a long time was more into LARP and TTRPG. When I was in my early 30's, my partner at the time brought home some pretty fun board games, and I dabbled a little, but it wasn't until I was in my mid 30's that I went to Cafe Games in Hawthorn with a friend, and found the truly, vast array of amazing games that exist. Happy coincidence, I also met my husband there!
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
Obsession, Everdell and Ticket to Ride.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
Meeting my husband at Cafe Games and thinking he was a really rude a$$#@!&, but finding out that he was just having a pretty crap day and we'd misheard each other. My first BunnyCon and meeting the Meeples Crew!
What are some things on your bucket list that you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community?
I would love to go both to Essen and GenCon at some point. One of my dreams was to meet Stella and Tarrant from Meeple University, and then I discovered they live in Melbourne, about 5 minutes away from me, and have become good friends with them. They are both even more lovely in person than they seem on their videos.
What are you most looking forward to during the 2024/25 membership year?
Other than loving my board games, I am also a big crafter. This is the first year I'll be going to PAX (shocking, I know) and I'm looking forward to going with a big group of my friends, all dressed as Regency Era Courtiers (Bridgeton Style) in costumes that I am making.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee?
I love having the opportunity to introduce more people to this wonderful hobby. There are few occasions where anyone from any background can walk into a room and find something in common with a person they have never met before, and probably never would have met without the events like the ones we run. I have heard some of the most heart-warming and lovely stories from people attending, who were feeling so lonely and are so glad they came along, because they now have friends they didn't have before, and no idea how they would have otherwise forged those friendships. There are a lot of people who do this hobby who are parts of minority communities, and it's wonderful to see them all coming together, in a safe space, where they can feel happy and welcome, without judgement.
I grew up playing the classics with my brothers (Monopoly, Operation, Scrabble) and then for a long time was more into LARP and TTRPG. When I was in my early 30's, my partner at the time brought home some pretty fun board games, and I dabbled a little, but it wasn't until I was in my mid 30's that I went to Cafe Games in Hawthorn with a friend, and found the truly, vast array of amazing games that exist. Happy coincidence, I also met my husband there!
What are your current Top 3 favourite games of all time ?
Obsession, Everdell and Ticket to Ride.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
Meeting my husband at Cafe Games and thinking he was a really rude a$$#@!&, but finding out that he was just having a pretty crap day and we'd misheard each other. My first BunnyCon and meeting the Meeples Crew!
What are some things on your bucket list that you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community?
I would love to go both to Essen and GenCon at some point. One of my dreams was to meet Stella and Tarrant from Meeple University, and then I discovered they live in Melbourne, about 5 minutes away from me, and have become good friends with them. They are both even more lovely in person than they seem on their videos.
What are you most looking forward to during the 2024/25 membership year?
Other than loving my board games, I am also a big crafter. This is the first year I'll be going to PAX (shocking, I know) and I'm looking forward to going with a big group of my friends, all dressed as Regency Era Courtiers (Bridgeton Style) in costumes that I am making.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee?
I love having the opportunity to introduce more people to this wonderful hobby. There are few occasions where anyone from any background can walk into a room and find something in common with a person they have never met before, and probably never would have met without the events like the ones we run. I have heard some of the most heart-warming and lovely stories from people attending, who were feeling so lonely and are so glad they came along, because they now have friends they didn't have before, and no idea how they would have otherwise forged those friendships. There are a lot of people who do this hobby who are parts of minority communities, and it's wonderful to see them all coming together, in a safe space, where they can feel happy and welcome, without judgement.
Francois Grobler
General Committee MemberWhen and what game got you into the board gaming hobby ?
I started my journey into the hobby as a Magic The Gathering player back in the previous century. I started playing around the release of the first Invasion set. I became a tournament organizer for the game, but we had no venue to play at. The easy solution was to start the first Local Game Store in the city I lived in at the time (Durban, South Africa). The Unseen Shoppe is still running today. We started selling (and playing) board games as a family when I started the shop. I now play way more board games than Magic. We even had a fan make up a Magic Card for me and the co-owner Andrew.
What is your favourite game mechanism?
I love worker placement games. I love games that I can learn while playing the game. No prior knowledge required to be good at the game. Slowly building up your recourses and achieving goals give me a great sense of achievement. This feeling is even better than the feeling of winning the game.
My favourite board game YouTuber?
I love teaching games. The team at Watch It Played are amazing and I admire the way Rodney Smith Teaches games. You really admire his dedication and ability to throw a board game box in the air, and catch it with at exactly the right time to have the tile readable by the viewers. The theme of a game is a big reason why I enjoy playing games. My family enjoys the mechanisms in the games. This is why I really enjoy the Thinker/Themer YouTube channel. Once Amy and Maggie review a game, I know I will enjoy it or have to avoid it.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee ?
Joining the committee gives me a chance to give back to a community that has given me so much. I have great skills carrying tables and setting up chairs. This is my biggest contribution to the committee and organising events. The committee is an amazing group of people making amazing things happen.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
I have many favourite board game memories. One was playing at BunnyCon in 2018 (my first meeple event!). I came home and told my wife that it was the best weekend of my life! Another is playing board games on a weekday for a whole day at a friend’s house! Yes, Stu looking at you!
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community?
I would love to attend EssenSpiel in Germany! 😊
Most anticipated experiences you’re looking forward to in the 2024/25 membership year?
I am looking forward to all the big Meeples events this year! Can’t wait for MeepleCon! Also looking forward to the next new game I will play, no matter what the game is it is great to play new games, with friends, old and new!
I started my journey into the hobby as a Magic The Gathering player back in the previous century. I started playing around the release of the first Invasion set. I became a tournament organizer for the game, but we had no venue to play at. The easy solution was to start the first Local Game Store in the city I lived in at the time (Durban, South Africa). The Unseen Shoppe is still running today. We started selling (and playing) board games as a family when I started the shop. I now play way more board games than Magic. We even had a fan make up a Magic Card for me and the co-owner Andrew.
What is your favourite game mechanism?
I love worker placement games. I love games that I can learn while playing the game. No prior knowledge required to be good at the game. Slowly building up your recourses and achieving goals give me a great sense of achievement. This feeling is even better than the feeling of winning the game.
My favourite board game YouTuber?
I love teaching games. The team at Watch It Played are amazing and I admire the way Rodney Smith Teaches games. You really admire his dedication and ability to throw a board game box in the air, and catch it with at exactly the right time to have the tile readable by the viewers. The theme of a game is a big reason why I enjoy playing games. My family enjoys the mechanisms in the games. This is why I really enjoy the Thinker/Themer YouTube channel. Once Amy and Maggie review a game, I know I will enjoy it or have to avoid it.
Why do you like being a Melbourne Meeples member, and why did you join the Committee ?
Joining the committee gives me a chance to give back to a community that has given me so much. I have great skills carrying tables and setting up chairs. This is my biggest contribution to the committee and organising events. The committee is an amazing group of people making amazing things happen.
What is your fondest gaming/game related memory?
I have many favourite board game memories. One was playing at BunnyCon in 2018 (my first meeple event!). I came home and told my wife that it was the best weekend of my life! Another is playing board games on a weekday for a whole day at a friend’s house! Yes, Stu looking at you!
What do you still want to experience in the gaming industry/community?
I would love to attend EssenSpiel in Germany! 😊
Most anticipated experiences you’re looking forward to in the 2024/25 membership year?
I am looking forward to all the big Meeples events this year! Can’t wait for MeepleCon! Also looking forward to the next new game I will play, no matter what the game is it is great to play new games, with friends, old and new!
