There are many great women in the gaming industry, and we're not just talking about the pro gamer groups you guys may know about. There are the industry leaders - those with key roles to play in the development of new games we may be seeing in the near future.

Now, if the gals care to know more about what kind of responsibilities await them in the near future, we're letting them know about the upcoming Women In Games Conference 2007.

This year's conference is titled "Aesthetics in Play: new platforms, new perspectives, new players", and is hoped to help increase overall awareness of women as designers, consumers, and contributors within the constantly growing video game industry.

"The event was created as a forum to discuss a wide range of issues relating to women in games and to help develop ways of engaging girls and women in science and technology," said Emma Westecott, a researcher at the University of Wales' Synergy research lab. Synergy will be hosting the conference, which is expected to  have these highly influential females as keynote speakers:

• Sharon Knight, Vice President & General Manager, Europe Online Electronic Arts
• Alice Taylor, Vice President of Digital Content, British Broadcasting Channel (BBC)
• Karen Wilkins-Mickey, Diversity Staffing Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
• Dr. Mary Flanagan, Associate Professor and Director, Tiltfactor Laboratory
• Raina Lee, publisher and editor, 1-Up MegaZine