Muse XR: Innovation, Creativity & Technology Collide

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.

Curator, Venice Biennale’s International Film Festival's Venice Immersive

Liz is Curator of Venice Biennale’s International Film Festival's Official Selection and Competition programme Venice Immersive. She is an Executive Producer of award-winning immersive content and helped found and lead accelerator programme, CreativeXR, managed by Arts Council England and Digital Catapult. Liz is CEO & Founder of trail-blazing innovation company Power to the Pixel. She has an extensive network and knowledge of international talent, financiers and distributors across the immersive entertainment and arts space.

The VR Critic

Dr Luke Buckmaster is a professional film, TV and virtual reality critic who has been writing film reviews since 1997. He is film critic for The Guardian Australia, chief critic of Flicks.com.au (Australia’s most popular movie publication) and runs the world-first virtual reality review website The VR Critic.

Buckmaster has contributed to a wide range of other publications including BBC Culture, VICE, The Griffith Review, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Senses of Cinema. In 2022 he completed a doctoral thesis on VR as an emerging art form, arguing that virtual and mixed reality are unique mediums requiring their own language, syntax and critical discourse.

Associate Dean External Engagement, Associate Professor, Film, Screen and Creative Media, Faculty of Society & Design, Bond University

Dr James Birt is Associate Dean External Engagement and Associate Professor of Film, Screen and Creative Media at Bond University, where he leads initiatives connecting research, industry, and education through emerging technologies. A recognised leader in immersive design, games, and XR, his work explores how simulation, virtual production, and serious games can enhance learning, wellbeing, and creative practice.

Head of Games, Screen Queensland

As Head of Games at Screen Queensland, Jed Dawson leads government programs designed to uplift Queensland’s games industry. He created and oversees 3 core games programs to achieve this: The 15% Digital Games Incentive, Games Grants, and the Games Residency. He has fond memories of his prior life as a game developer with credits on 8 games.

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.

Art Director, PlaySide Studios

Jason Dalton is an Art Director with 25 years of experience in the video game and visualisation industry. He has contributed to over 12 titles across PC, console, mobile, and VR, including AAA titles such as; Rome: Total War, Medieval II: Total War, Shattered VR and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII VR. Jason has led multidisciplinary teams across the full art pipeline, from early concept to final in-engine execution, with a focus on high fidelity characters, immersive environments, cinematic lighting, gameplay clarity, and technical performance. He is currently the Art Director at Playside Studios, Australia's biggest game development studio.

Studio & Production Manager, Phoria

Cass Gray is a Producer and Events Manager living and working in Melbourne, Australia. Currently working as Studio & Production Manager at PHORIA, Cass has previously worked at studios across Australia and New Zealand, including Weta Workshop, Dinosaur Polo Club, and Samurai Punk. During her eight years in the industry Cass has helped to ship titles such as Dr. Grordbot’s Invaders, Mini Metro, Mini Motorways, and Justice Sucks.

In addition to her work as a developer Cass also served as Chairperson of the New Zealand Game Developers Association from 2018 to 2020, as well as managing events and sitting on the committee for the New Zealand Games Festival.

CEO & Co-Founder, Ardacious Pty Ltd

With over 25 years experience in technology and education leadership, Ralf knows that games have the power to teach more than any other tool. Ralf’s extensive work within some of Australia’s leading universities designing IT and Media curriculums and chairing business committees has led to Ardacious becoming a powerful tool for educators to revolutionise their classrooms.

CEO & Studio Director, Actuator Digital

Seb has a head for technology, and a heart for games. Through his years of experience in software and games, he has become devoted to creating quality code, architecture and processes. He loves building software, and seeing great ideas realized. He brings exceptional people who share his passion together to work on projects they care about, and creating them the right way.

Founder & Director, Interactor

Georgie Pinn is an interactive creative technologist who makes large-scale multi-sensory art experiences in public space using projection mapping and interactive generative animation. Her creative process is driven by a long term research into how immersive tech and intimate storytelling can be used to connect people, dissolving prejudice, bias and fear through empathy. She has over two decades of experience working as an audiovisual content creator, developing ideas for festivals, cultural institutions, AR and VR experiences, music videos and sets for Theater, Opera and Fashion.

Founder & CEO, Mod

Michela Ledwidge is an award-winning creative and technical director who specialises in real-time and virtual production (using game engines for film & TV). She is known for interactive and immersive productions Through The Eyes of Our Ancestors (2023), A Clever Label (2021), ACO Virtual (2013) and Horses for Courses (2001). She has extensive experience leading teams, working hands-on with digital tools like Unreal Engine, Houdini, TouchDesigner and PyTorch. She writes words, code and music, directs, and produces. She has been building and shipping software products since the 00s.

Head of School, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, School of Creative Arts, QUT

Damian provides a unique nexus between academia, research and professional industry practice. He has extensive experience across all aspects of the creative industries with senior leadership and supervision experience managing teams across academia, research and the film industry. Areas of expertise include immersive media and virtual reality, spatial sound design, film, television and music. Damian has been nominated and awarded at both national and international levels including: a Centenary Medal, awarded on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the City of Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition, and many peer reviewed awards.

Lecturer in Animation, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, School of Creative Arts, Film, Screen & Animation, QUT

Paul is an award-winning lecturer and researcher in QUT’s School of Creative Arts, specialising in Virtual Production, Real-Time Animation, and experimental screen practice. He leads the development of QUT Virtual Production capabilities advancing new forms of storytelling through real-time and hybrid production research. His practice-led approach bridges creative arts, health, and technology, attracting national recognition and research funding that supports cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation.