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MaryKate Mahoney is the Global Head of VR for Healthcare at HP Inc. In her role she works to enable cutting edge capabilities for the different uses of virtual reality across the healthcare industry, both in the hands of the clinician and in the hands of patients. Today her main focus is finding solutions backed by clinically proven results and bringing those to market. MaryKate is eager to connect new experiences that will improve wellness and health engagement globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree Centre College and received her M.B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis.
Hussein Hallak is CEO and Founder of Next Decentrum, a blockchain education company. Evangelist at Launch Academy, one of North America’s leading tech incubators with over 600 tech startups incubated and over $150 Million raised. Serial entrepreneur and startup founder with over 25 years of business experience.Developed 20 startups and mentored and trained thousands of entrepreneurs. Creator of Intro to Blockchain, The Blockchain Course, Blockchain Business Fundamentals, Make the LEAP, The Startup Course, and the Lean Entrepreneur Acceleration Program. Strategic advisor for several successfully funded tech and crypto startups including Fintrux, Interfinex, Traction Health, and Peace Geeks. Marketing advisor for leading conferences including Fintech & Funding, Traction Conf, CIX, and Van Funding. Graduate of the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme. BSc in Electronics Engineering. Featured in Forbes, BBC, Entrepreneur, Roundhouse Radio, and Notable.
James Basnett, Founder @ Answer Agency James is a futurist and often travels between the years 2018 and 2038. He focuses on the synthesis of human and technology systems and he helps organizations map emerging technologies to their future states. At Answer Agency, James builds innovation teams and supports them in bringing new products to market with the right strategy to scale. He has worked with global brands including Verizon and Lululemon to bring their AR and VR visions to reality.
Dr. Patrick Pennefather
Patrick, recently appointed at UBC’s Theatre & Film program in Production and Design, is passionate about bridging partnerships between various stakeholders in the academic, cultural, service and digital media industries. He’s developed a successful rapid prototyping methodology focused on mentoring teams co-constructing scalable digital prototypes with over 45 companies and organizations (Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, Blackbird, Finger Foods, Kabam and more) over the past ten years with sessions focused on aligning priorities, research initiatives, vision, strategy, problem-solving and scalability. Institutionally, he has designed and implemented learning with the Master of Digital Media Program, BCIT, Ryerson University, University of Wuhan, Chinese University of Communication, North Chinese University of Technology, UBC and SFU. Within the digital media industry he has facilitated small teams internationally, with Riot Games, EA, Microsoft Big Park, Fujitsu, Procon Mining Safety, Crystal CG China, the City of Fukuoka, NGX, Ballet BC, British Columbia Museum Association, Arts Club Theatre, and British Columbia Lottery Corporation. His research interests and scholarly activities are focused on rapid prototyping for mixed realities as well as designing spatial audio in physical and virtual environments. Whatever the pursuit, he draws from his work as an award-winning sound designer and composer for live and mediated productions having worked on over 250 productions in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia.
In the moving target rapidly becoming categorized as xR (substitute x to denote any virtually mediated human computer interface that merges with, augments or hijacks reality), through the MDM Program, Patrick has worked on research-driven projects, public VR projects for good, iPad/mobile VR projects for older adults as a development partner with AgeWell NCE, AR projects with British Columbia Lottery Corporation, small stage dance producer, Virtro VR and UBC Film & Theatre/Arts Club Theatre. He has also written about xR development, is currently researching rapid prototyping xR pipelines, has published in a variety of journals with others in the field of project-based learning and VR, and has presented scholarly work in VR in the area of improving public exposure of VR experiences to the general public.
