2024 Global Excellence Award Winner: Jamie Barr
Meet Jamie Barr: League Owner, Regional Professor Coordinator for the UK & Ireland, and contributor to the smooth running of hive operations at an international level.
Jamie’s initial involvement with Pokémon came through local League events. He’d experienced inclusive spaces where players could come together, connect, and enjoy the game. When he moved to a new city and found no Leagues nearby, he saw an opportunity to build a community of his own from the ground up. He became a Professor, started up his own League, and hit the ground running. That act proved to be a catalyst to deeper involvement with Play! Pokémon and ultimately becoming something of a role model to fellow Professors.
Jamie speaks animatedly during his role as Hive Lead at the 2023 Utrecht Regional Championships
Many of his standout memories reflect this observation. One World Championships event holds a particularly special place in Jamie’s heart, as it was at this event that he and many of his closest friends—who had all become Professors around the same time—achieved their first leadership roles. “It was a clear moment of growth and felt like we’d all achieved our goals as a team.”
Some memories are more melancholy, including moments where Jamie has had to bid goodbye to several fellow Professors due to life leading them in a new direction. “It’s uniquely bittersweet... A testament to the quality of the moments we’ve shared and how lucky we’ve been to have met.”
He truly paints a picture of a community founded on a culture of collaboration, one that goes beyond individual events here and there, and instead, spans a wide network of Professors who thrive by building shared experiences and opportunities for fans.
Jamie’s hopes for the future of Play! Pokémon also focus on collaboration and inclusion. He envisions growth overflowing into new regions and demographics and hopes especially that bonds can form across program boundaries with Judges in Southeast Asia.
Jamie starts up his software of choice from his usual spot in the hive at a Regional Championships event
To those looking to walk a similar path, Jamie offers the following advice: “Treat the Professor Program as a platform for personal development and growth. Find an area you’re passionate about and put all your care and effort into learning, broadening your skill set, and granting yourself wonderful social experiences. It’s a unique environment to collaborate with people from all sorts of backgrounds. Approach every task as a team, rely on others to cover for your own limitations, and work to mutually achieve your goals together. There’s no destination—enjoy the journey.”