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PAX Aus has confirmed Holly Longdale, Executive Producer of World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment, as the Storytime speaker for this year’s event, which takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9 to 11 October.
Longdale brings more than 20 years of experience in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), having worked across franchises including Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and the long-running EverQuest series during stints at Blizzard Entertainment, Disney and Sony Online Entertainment.
Overseeing One Of Gaming’s Longest-Running Franchises
In her current role at Blizzard Entertainment, Longdale oversees both World of Warcraft Classic and Modern, including the recently released World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion. Her remit covers the ongoing direction of a franchise that continues to engage millions of players globally.
Her Storytime session at PAX Aus will focus on career highlights and the lessons she has drawn from leading teams that build and maintain large-scale online communities, particularly in the MMO space.
“I’m honoured to be joining PAX Aus to celebrate the power of games and the communities that grow around them: places where people come together through play, creativity and connection,” Longdale explains. “From World of Warcraft to gaming more broadly, it’s those communities that shape what we build and I’m looking forward to sharing how we’re thinking about the future of Warcraft with the same focus on listening, creativity and deep respect for the players who make Azeroth feel like home.”
A Career Spanning EverQuest, Disney And Blizzard
Longdale’s career began at Sony Online Entertainment, where she worked across multiple EverQuest expansions. She rose to Assistant Lead Designer before later returning as Executive Producer overseeing the entire franchise. During her time there, she led the development of expansions, live content strategies and the evolution of business models that helped shape how persistent online worlds operate.
Between her two stints at Sony Online Entertainment, Longdale moved to Disney Interactive Studios as a Senior Producer, providing creative direction and design leadership across a slate of licensed titles including Cars Mater-National, Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell, Up! and The Princess and the Frog.
She subsequently took on a Lead Producer role at the Walt Disney Internet Group, where she led the development of online experiences connected to major franchises such as TRON, Pirates of the Caribbean and Hannah Montana.
“Uniquely Positioned To Speak To The Future Of Interactive Worlds”
Lauren Luciani, PAX Aus Event Director, points to Longdale’s breadth of experience across the MMORPG genre as a natural fit for the Storytime format.
“Holly Longdale represents the very best of what PAX Aus celebrates: creativity, community and the power of games to bring people together,” Luciani remarks. “Her experience in shaping MMORPGs and globally recognised franchises makes her uniquely positioned to speak to the future of interactive worlds.”
PAX Aus 2026
PAX Aus 2026 runs from 9 to 11 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event forms part of Melbourne International Games Week, Australia’s annual games festival, which is now delivered by ACMI, the national museum of screen culture.
Badges and further information are available through the PAX Aus website.
Last Updated on May 19, 2026 by Nick Ross
