Erik is Head of Virtual and Adaptive Production at the Entertainment Technology Center at USC and an Unreal Fellow, working at the intersection of AI, real-time technology, and filmmaking to translate emerging tools into scalable, production-ready workflows. His expertise spans AI-enabled production, virtual production, Unreal Engine, in-camera VFX, and cloud-driven pipelines, with a strong focus on strategy, execution, and transformational change across film and media.
Laura spent her early years as a lighting programmer on rock tours with David Bowie and Madonna, Broadway shows and global television events. After a decade of refining a media delivery workflow, she established herself as a Screens Producer leading a highly regarded Media Operations team on shows including the MTV Video Music Awards and The Game Awards. She is the author of two textbooks and the Exec. Director of a nonprofit that advocates for the creative video technology community.
Robert is a multi-award-winning Director and Cinematographer with over 30 years’ experience in production. An early adopter of LED and Virtual Production techniques, Rob has for the last 4 years consulted on Virtual Production for productions houses, agencies, studios and universities, supporting Directors and DP’s in making the transition to filming on LED environments.
He has directed and shot over 40 hours of broadcast TV, and over 150 commercials in 40 countries. A passionate filmmaker whose enthusiasm for imagery and storytelling is infectious.
Jamie is an Unreal Engine Education Advisor for Epic Games Education and an instructor and advisor in virtual production and visualization. His academic and professional work focuses on enabling emerging creators to use real-time, interactive 3D as an accessible form of artistic expression, alongside experience as a documentary producer, researcher, and film editor with a strong focus on digital humans and avatars.
Dani is a Virtual Production Producer and Supervisor with more than twenty years of experience delivering complex projects across virtual production, theme parks, touring productions, and immersive environments. Her career includes work with Walt Disney Imagineering, Cirque du Soleil, Lux Machina, and Magnopus where she recently led the virtual production team on Fallout Season 2.
Carlos has over 15 years of experience in VFX, CGI, and education, with a strong focus on blending technology, creativity, and innovation in the entertainment industry. His career spans roles as Senior Mocap TD at Industrial Light and Magic, virtual production technologist, face photogrammetry scan engineer, and educator, contributing both to cutting-edge production and the development of future talent.
Justine is a Director of Photography based in Montpellier, France, working across television series, documentaries, music videos, and fiction with a focus on visual storytelling and socially engaged projects. She is also the VP Training Lead at École Méliès, where she connects real-time tools with cinematographic practice, and supports the national development of virtual production in France by helping align emerging roles and technologies with professional needs.
Dafydd is a filmmaker, researcher, and educator whose work explores how emerging technologies reshape storytelling, culture, and human connection. He is Associate Professor and Associate Head of School (International and External) at Auckland University of Technology, Director of the Virtual Creative Design Research Centre, and Head of Animation, VFX, and Game Design, with a strong focus on virtual production, immersive media, and documentary-informed practice.
Rodrigo is the Lead Lighting Artist at Bell VFX, specializing in lighting for both film and interactive environments. With a focus on real-time rendering, Rodrigo brings expertise in Unreal Engine’s lighting and environment techniques, creating cinematic, immersive visuals for virtual production.
Mata is Professor of Creative and Entertainment Games at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) and a writer/designer of video games. They have worked on indie and AAA games, including well-known IPs such as Resident Evil, Dying Light, Aliens Vs Predator, and Satisfactory.
Jodi is a strategist and learning transformation specialist who helps organisations align learning, digital transformation, and leadership to accelerate growth. With over 20 years of experience building global learning frameworks and digital-first programmes, she bridges strategy, education, and creative technology to enable future-ready teams and measurable business impact.
Eva is an award-winning researcher, educator, and filmmaker, and a Professor and Program Coordinator of the VP Graduate Certificate program at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto, Canada, where she has taught for 17 years. Eva has been developing and implementing innovative VP and future-focused curriculum for years and currently teaches a variety of courses in VP. She has led nationally funded, cross-disciplinary research projects to connect academia to industry.
Robert Okker, Planet X’s Head of AI & Tech, is a top VFX and Virtual Production expert, overseeing the real-time department, in-camera visual effects and related innovative developments. He leads R&D at Planet X and ReadySet Studios, the largest studios of their kind in the Netherlands. Previously, he supervised VFX at leading Amsterdam studios and ran Darlings Productions, managing various media projects.
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