A graduate of HEC Montréal, Jeanne Dompierre has worked in the fields of culture, communications and digital media for 15 years. She has been the head of Xn Québec, the association of digital producers of Québec, since October 2023.

Lakshminarayanan Vijayaraghavan is a Senior Software Engineer with a passion for crafting immersive experiences in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. He is currently building the content creation engine for TikTok’s Effect House, enabling users to unleash their creativity with cutting-edge tools. Previously, Lakshminarayanan worked on groundbreaking Mixed Reality headsets such as Magic Leap 2 and has led the development of popular VR titles, including Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted VR and NASA’s Astronaut Training experience at the Kennedy Space Center. Based in Silicon Valley, he draws inspiration from the vibrant tech scene and the talented individuals around him. When not coding, Lakshminarayanan enjoys competing in Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, or taking some time off to explore new destinations.

Derek Ham is the Director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, where he leads innovative research and collaborative projects at the intersection of technology, design, and storytelling. With a deep commitment to fostering creativity and advancing the future of interactive entertainment, Derek brings a wealth of experience as a designer, teacher, and leader in the fields of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and immersive media. Prior to joining CMU, Derek served as the Head of the Media Arts, Design and Technology department at North Carolina State University’s College of Design. There, he led the department’s transition to an emphasis on cutting-edge technologies, such as game based learning, algorithmic thinking, and immersive storytelling. He also founded the College of Design’s Mixed Reality Lab, where he worked with students to find new ways to utilize VR & AR technology and expand the possibilities of interaction design. In 2017, he completed the VR project “I Am A Man.” Set during the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike and the last days of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “I Am A Man” makes the history of the Civil Rights Movement alive and present by immersing users in the period. The project won multiple prizes, including the Perspectives Award for Immersive Storytelling at the 42nd Cleveland International Film Festival, VR Best of Show at the 2018 Nashville Film Festival, and the 2018 FoST Prize in the category “Bridging the Divide.” In 2022, his interactive VR experience “Barnstormers: Determined to Win,” which places users on the baseball field in the Negro Leagues, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. He completed his doctoral work in Design Computation from MIT, holds a Master’s in Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Hampton University.

Thirteen years’ experience in immersive technologies for Culture, Arts, Games, Education and Advertising. My expertise in this emerging field and the cross-disciplinary nature of my position enable me to manage and produce a wide variety of exclusive projects. I believe in passion, creativity and knowledge to give meaning to innovation.