Meet the Team
Director / Trustee
Rhyannon Smith
(She / Her)
Bio
I thrive on projects, event organising, and teaching in community settings, always eager to learn new skills and use my creativity. I'm wholly responsible for transforming the idea of a one-off board game event into VoNCon, a charitable organisation with purpose, community aims and a governing document. Sorry Jess! 🤣
Board Game Background
I’ve been with my partner, Geraint, since 2013, and thanks to him, I’ve discovered the world of board gaming. This hobby has brought me countless friends and strong connections. I fell in love with Geraint, his passion for board games, and the amazing community. I enjoy worker placement, Euros, push-your-luck, cooperative, drafting, and deck-building games, but it’s the themes that captivate me most: plants, exploration, survival, cats, books, maps, animals, dual-use cards, and character or story-driven games. Some favourites include Grand Austria Hotel, Lewis & Clark, Village, Dead Man’s Draw, Ark Nova, Clank Legacy, Lorenzo and Suburbia.
Dream Game World
If I could live in one game, it would be K2. I’d bring my Kindle loaded with books, “accidentally” twist my ankle at base camp, and spend my days reading in my tent with hot chocolate from Nate, the base camp chef.
Extra Info
Please be patient and let me do my own mental arithmetic / maths unless I specifically ask for help (learn more about dyscalculia)
Trustee
Ceri Willcox
(They / Them)
Trustee
Jess Wilson
(She / Her)
Bio
I always loved board games as a kid, Cluedo was my favourite and I still enjoy it now! My journey into modern board games began with a game of Carcassonne. From there I sought out a local(ish) board game group and began a proper love affair with gaming. I soon started collecting and that's when I met Rhyannon and Geraint. After buying some games from them we became bestest besties and somehow that turned into VoNCon 😝
Board Game Background
Worker placement are my favourite games, though I also enjoy engine building, Euros, co-op and Legacy games. I don't usually enjoy games that are particularly "take that" as I can take it a bit personally. The Castles of Burgundy, Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle, Dinosaur Island, Wingspan, Ark Nova, Legacy games in general
Dream Game World
Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle so I can finally fulfill my lifelong dream of being a witch at Hogwarts!
Extra Info
I laugh loudly and often, sorry about that!
Trustee
Geraint Evans
(He / Him)
Bio
I am a lifelong gamer, though fell in love with 'modern' board games in the early 2000s. I've always loved the idea of putting on gaming events, and thanks to Jess' idea and Rhyannon's organisation it has become a reality! I love learning and teaching games, so volunteering for VoNCon as a 'DemoGod' is my ideal way of spending my free time.
Boardgame Background
I will play just about anything you put in front of me as long as it has at least some measure of decision making - I dislike randomness in games. Worker Placement is probably my favourite mechanism, though I also like games with modular setups and multi-use cards to increase replayability. I also love legacy/campaign games, and have recently developed a liking for asynchronous games where each player is doing something different to try and win.
Anything by Vital Lacerda, his games burn my brain in a way I really like, particularly Kanban EV. I am a huge Marvel fan, and I love the Marvel Champions card game, either solo or with more players. Civolution by Stefan Feld is a recent favourite too.
Dream Game World
The Search for Lost Species - exploring various landscapes for near-extinct creatures sounds like a great way to spend my days!
Trustee
Sam Donnachie
(She / Her)
Bio
Mid thirties, size 5.5 feet, glasses, geek, likes engaging in my creative hobbies on my own and with friends. Married to partner of 18 years, cat mum to Lorenzo the Magnificat. Despite a loud personality, I'm sensitive to my emotions and those of others.
Boardgame Background
Worked in a boardgame store in the past, but now more of a casual player. My niblings are frequently gifted games at Christmas and birthdays by myself so I stay up to date as much as I can to find them the best. I enjoy co operative games, set collection, eurogames and party games. Beautiful art, well constructed mechanics and a properly laid out rulebook are essential! I enjoy competitive games depending on my mood - my most memorable Battlestar Galactica game was with Geraint and Rhy and victory came down to a single, final dice roll and it was incredibly satisfying.
Dream Game World
Tokaido. Just leave me to travel Japan eating food, bathing in hot springs and buying gifts.
Extra Info
I have ME/CFS, so my physical abilities can vary across interactions. My ADHD means I can hyperfixate on things (oftentimes rules) which can come across as rudeness, but this is just me trying to understand why and how I got it wrong. It is not a challenge to you or your interpretation, I'm just testing what you've told me so I don't make the mistake again. On the other hand, I'm also terribly forgetful! If you need to nag me, please do. Thank you for your patience <3
Volunteers
Partners, Supporters, Friends
