Yoshinori Ohsumi
2016 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine | Discoverer of Autophagy Mechanisms | Honorary Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo
James Waugh
SVP, Franchise Story & Creative Strategy, Lucasfilm | Star Wars Universe Architect | IP Builder & Cross-Platform Storyteller | Former Blizzard Entertainment
James Waugh has spent nearly a decade inside the Star Wars creative brain trust, shaping how one of entertainment's most valuable franchises lives across film, TV, animation, games, parks, and immersive media. As Lucasfilm's SVP of Franchise Story and Creative Strategy, he has guided projects from The Mandalorian and Visions to Jedi: Fallen Order and The High Republic. On stage, he offers a rare executive view of how iconic IP is built and reinvented.
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James Waugh biography
James Waugh is Senior Vice President of Franchise Story and Creative Strategy at Lucasfilm, where he has been a member of the Star Wars creative brain trust since 2016. He leads narrative development and creative strategy for one of the most valuable storytelling franchises in the world, working across film, television, animation, video games, theme parks, publishing, immersive entertainment, consumer products, and digital content.
Entertainment speaker James Waugh has guided Lucasfilm’s transmedia efforts for major Star Wars feature films including Rogue One, Solo, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker, as well as series such as The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Star Wars Rebels, The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, LEGO Star Wars, and Star Wars: Visions. He has overseen the Lucasfilm Story Group’s development of multiple video game titles, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Star Wars Outlaws, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Vader: Immortal. He also spearheaded the StarWarsKids YouTube channel and the launch of The High Republic, Star Wars’ first new fictional era since the Disney acquisition.
In animation, Waugh has executive produced Star Wars: Visions Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (earning a Primetime Emmy nomination and a Lumiere Award for Best Animated Series), Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (a Children’s and Family Emmy nominee), and a slate of LEGO Star Wars titles including The Holiday Special, Rebuild the Galaxy, Terrifying Tales, and Summer Vacation, alongside Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures and Star Wars: Galaxy of Creatures.
From Blizzard to a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Before joining Lucasfilm, Waugh was Senior Director of Story and Creative Development at Blizzard Entertainment, where he led the company’s Creative Development Department and oversaw narrative, IP, and transmedia for its blockbuster franchises. He served as Narrative Director on StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void and StarCraft II: Nova, and as Story Director on Overwatch, leading the development and writing of the franchise’s celebrated short films. He also received a Story Consultant credit on Warcraft: The Beginning, directed by Duncan Jones.
As a speaker, James Waugh offers a rare inside view from one of the most influential creative roles in modern entertainment. He speaks on building and stewarding iconic IP across decades and platforms, designing transmedia strategies that connect films, series, games, parks, and consumer products into a single living universe, creative leadership at scale, and the future of storytelling at the intersection of cinema, gaming, immersive experiences, and emerging media.
James Waugh Speaking Videos
STAR WARS VISIONS Interview! Lucasfilm Vice President James Waugh & Kanako Shirasaki!
Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures Creator Interviews: Michael Olson, James Waugh, & Lamont Magee
James Waugh Keynote Topics
What does it take to build and protect a story-world that lives across films, series, games, parks, and consumer products for generations? Drawing on his work shaping the Star Wars galaxy and his earlier role leading Overwatch and StarCraft narrative at Blizzard, James Waugh shares the principles, creative governance, and decisions that turn an idea into a durable cultural and commercial asset.
The most powerful brands today do not live on one screen, they live across many. James Waugh breaks down the discipline of transmedia storytelling, exploring how Lucasfilm coordinates story, character, and tone across cinema, streaming, video games, animation, immersive entertainment, and publishing, and what business leaders can learn about consistency, fan trust, and creative scale.
Behind every iconic franchise is a creative organization built to deliver vision under pressure. Waugh shares lessons on building and leading high-performing creative teams, managing creative risk, balancing legacy with reinvention, and creating the conditions where talent — from directors and writers to game designers and animators — can do its best work.
Audiences, technology, and business models are shifting faster than ever. James Waugh examines how generative AI, real-time engines, immersive media, gaming, and the creator economy are reshaping how stories are made and experienced, and how brands and entertainment companies can lead through that change rather than be disrupted by it.
FAQs on Booking James Waugh
Why James Waugh?
Booking James Waugh is a strategic choice for events that want a true executive-level perspective on how the world's most iconic stories and brands are built today. As Senior Vice President of Franchise Story and Creative Strategy at Lucasfilm, Waugh sits at the center of one of the most influential creative organizations on the planet, shaping the Star Wars universe across film, television, animation, video games, theme parks, and immersive entertainment. He combines two decades of experience at the highest levels of entertainment — including senior creative leadership at Blizzard on Overwatch and StarCraft — with an unusually clear, business-minded view of how IP, transmedia strategy, and creative teams actually work. The result is a keynote that is rare, substantive, and immediately useful for senior leaders in entertainment, media, marketing, brand-building, gaming, and innovation. To bring James Waugh to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is James Waugh at Lucasfilm?
James Waugh is Senior Vice President of Franchise Story and Creative Strategy at Lucasfilm, where he has been a member of the Star Wars creative brain trust since 2016. He leads narrative development and creative strategy across the franchise's films, series, animation, video games, theme parks, publishing, immersive entertainment, and consumer products, effectively coordinating the storytelling that connects every form of Star Wars content.
What Star Wars projects has James Waugh worked on?
James Waugh has led Lucasfilm's transmedia and Story Group efforts on major Star Wars films including Rogue One, Solo, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker, as well as series such as The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, The Bad Batch, LEGO Star Wars, and Star Wars: Visions. He has also overseen story development for video game titles including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Star Wars Outlaws, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Vader: Immortal, and spearheaded the launch of The High Republic, Star Wars' first new fictional era since the Disney acquisition.
What topics does entertainment speaker James Waugh cover?
James Waugh speaks on building and managing iconic IP, transmedia and cross-platform storytelling, creative leadership at scale, the business and craft of video games, animation, and immersive entertainment, and the future of storytelling in an era of AI, gaming, and new media. His keynotes are ideal for entertainment, media, marketing, brand, gaming, and innovation audiences, as well as leadership and strategy summits where senior executives want a true insider's perspective. To book James Waugh as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book James Waugh as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book James Waugh as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about James Waugh's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for James Waugh or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is James Waugh speaking fee?
James Waugh speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire James Waugh to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book James Waugh.
How can I contact James Waugh?
We only work with James Waugh on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking James Waugh and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having James Waugh speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact James Waugh for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book James Waugh for a virtual keynote?
Yes, James Waugh is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book James Waugh for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
