Immersive Technologies
Driving Industry
Transformation

CEO, Queensland XR Hub

Rhiannon brings more than 20 years experience in business, leadership, software design and development, and event direction.

Driven by an enduring passion for innovation and emerging technologies, Rhiannon has led pioneering software projects in health, education and video games, and worked on a range of complex R&D projects in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

Founding Director and CEO, Meta Moto

With over a decade of experience as the Founding Director and CEO of Meta Moto, a leading provider of strategic management, project management, and technology consulting services, Richard is a passionate and visionary leader who thrives on delivering innovative and impactful solutions for complex challenges.

Richard aims to leverage his expertise in digital twin, smart cities, BIM and spatial data infrastructures to help government and industry sectors improve their planning, decision-making, and performance for societal, economic and environmental well-being.

Head of Spatial Computing, XYZ Reality

Mark C Ransley is the Head of Spatial Computing at XYZ Reality where he leads development of the ATOM - the world’s first and only engineering-grade XR headset that’s been purpose built for construction. In his talk Mark will cover the development of the ATOM, the unique challenges posed by bringing XR to the AEC industry, and numerous case studies where XYZ’s solution has delivered huge wins on mission-critical building sites around the world. Mark has worked in the industrial XR space since 2014 and holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University College London.

Pre-Sales Manager AU & NZ, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Herman has 26 years of experience in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) consulting, implementation, business development, data migration and systems integration, as well as extensive experience as an architect, business analyst, and industrial mechanical engineer. He has worked onsite at RocketLab, Downer, Futuris, Holden, Ford, ASC, BAE, Caterpillar, Austal, Aristocrat, Weir, Proton, and many others.

At Siemens, Herman is responsible for Pre-Sales and Business Development, facilitating pre-sales activities, training and implementation, and driving problem definition and solution design.

Herman holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Postgraduate Degree in Industrial Engineering, and Parietal Masters in Logistics.

XR Strategist, Queensland XR Hub

Karen earned a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Queensland, marking the beginning of a multifaceted career that transitioned from technical engineering to groundbreaking work in Extended Reality (XR). As a co-founder of a globally recognised XR studio, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry.

With 17 years of experience in engineering and over 15 years in XR, Karen blends technical expertise, innovative thinking, and strategic vision. Her dedication to integrating technology into project delivery drives initiatives with measurable impact, reflecting her belief that innovation and technology are cornerstones of a sustainable and prosperous future.

Chief Executive Officer, Master Electricians Australia

Kate commenced as CEO, MEA in April 2024. She has over 25 years’ experience working in the construction industry and not-for-profit sector, including industry associations, senior executive public sector roles and has worked as a construction lawyer in the private and public sectors. She is also a non-executive board member of a community housing provider.

Kate is a proactive, strategic leader with a passion for delivering solutions to complex problems. She has a focus on creating positive, collaborative work environments and achieving goals while enhancing team well-being and development.

Manager - Experience and Engagement, Queensland XR Hub

Alanna is a multifaceted professional specialising in project and event management, stakeholder engagement, and creating impactful communications.

Alanna has played an integral role in shaping the foundations of the Queensland XR Hub, engaging both industry and XR representatives to drive partnerships, initiatives and opportunities.

A passionate advocate for XR technologies, she has led more than 50 XR demonstrations across a diverse range of sectors such as energy, education, health, manufacturing and tourism.

APAC Channel Partner Manager, Reality Labs B2B (Commercial), Meta

As the APAC Channel Partner Manager at Meta Reality Labs, Ben leverages his 15+ cumulative years of experience in strategy planning, performance marketing, and digital marketing to help B2B enterprises adopt emerging technologies such as mixed reality, artificial intelligence, and immersive media.

Ben's mission is to enable businesses to transform the way they go to market, communicate, and collaborate with their customers, employees, and stakeholders using Meta Reality Labs' hardware and software products, such as Quest Headsets (Mixed Reality hardware), Meta Horizon Managed Solutions (Enterprise MDM), and drive new revenue streams for the partners to grow in this ecosystem.

CEO, Next World

Next World is a global leader in immersive learning, providing a subscription-based library of VR safety and soft skills training modules specifically designed for high-risk industries.

Hayden brings a wealth of knowledge on how to unlock unique value for organisations who desire to think differently and innovate for the future of learning.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bright People

Ryan is an accomplished senior HR leader, business executive (CHRO), and company director renowned for partnering with organisations to deliver innovative solutions and lift capability. He has a track record in successfully delivering value through his expertise by developing and implementing commercially focussed, innovative, people and organisation projects and initiatives. He has been recognised as an innovative, values-based leader, with significant experience leading teams in complex, global and challenging environments. He has led geographically dispersed teams operating across 21+ countries in high reliability, capital-intensive industries.

Business Director, Real Serious Games

Emma is passionate about applying extended reality technologies to solve real-world problems and wants to share this excitement with those new to XR.

After graduating with a Civil Engineering degree from QUT, Emma worked in the construction industry before spending two years working as the General Manager of a youth leadership organisation. She joined Real Serious Games in 2010, working cross-functionally with developers, 3D artists and production staff to deliver products for clients. She oversees the coordination and management of projects and handles client interactions by virtue of her technical knowledge and communication skills.

Immersive Software Designer, Composit

Having grown up with an unhealthy obsession for both Lego and MacGyver, Ben was destined for a career rooted in both problem solving and making things.

Drawing on his experience designing real-world products for people, his approach to building immersive experience mixes learnings from the psychology of user-centred design and behavioural economics.

Ben is a diligent devotee to the evolving practice of building compelling virtual reality experiences that make looking at a 2D screen feel like reading latin off a stone tablet.

Director – Program Delivery and Commercial, Manufacturing Skills Queensland

Kris McCue is seasoned executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across the private, public, and community sectors in QLD, NSW, and the NT. At Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Kris leads strategic workforce and skills investment for the state’s manufacturing industry. Kris has deep expertise in business transformation, regional economic development, and stakeholder engagement, partnering with government, industry, and community stakeholders to shape and implement impactful policy, programs and workforce strategies at national, state, and regional levels. Kris also has a strong track record of leading and delivering innovative, industry-led initiatives that drive innovative and sustainable skills and labour market outcomes for diverse industry sectors and communities.

Head of Product ANZ, HTC VIVE

Nandun Abeynayake is the Head of Product for HTC VIVE across ANZ and comes with a wealth of knowledge having been in the industry in various roles for the past 15 years. He is a skilled technical expert across all areas of the XR / AR / VR eco-system and has been able to utilise this to support key developer relationships, product roadmap development and lead product and software partnerships that have delivered unique user cases across the region.

Head of Sales ANZ, HTC VIVE

Ian Walls is the Head of Sales for the ANZ region and has held a number of tech-based roles across various organisations over the last 20 years. He has an extensive track record of product launches with telecommunications companies, retailers, and B2B channels. He has driven and supported innovative XR (Extended Reality) solutions with global partners across various industry verticals that include, location-based entertainment, soft skills training, education, and healthcare.