Great speaker lineup for De Montfort University Games Festival

1. DMU Games Festival Speaker Biographies
Tre Azam Feb 26th “Using brainwave technology in serious games”
Feb 28th “Myndplay and brain controlled interactive
entertainment”
Tre Azam is founder and CEO of MyndPlay; a London based brainwave
technology and immersive media solutions company and creator of the
World's first mind controlled interactive video and movie platform.
Tre has always had a passion for the mind and qualified as a therapist in
2010; which is how he came to combine his 2 passions of media and the
mind to create MyndPlay.
Tre however is most famous for his part in the BBC Apprentice in 2007
and his subsequent radio show on LBC.
David Burden Feb 27th” Virtual Worlds for healthcare training”
David Burden (aka Second Life’s Corro Moseley) is one of the world’s
most respected developers of virtual world applications, particularly in
Second Life. His fantastic knowledge and understanding of the potential
of virtual world technologies is perfectly matched with his modesty and
generosity of spirit in supporting the activities of the Serious Games
Institute. David’s company, Daden Ltd has pioneered and developed
many important applications for virtual worlds, including the ability to
visualise real world data in three dimensions through the Datascape
virtual control room application within second Life. David is a deserved
winner of a number of international awards for his work and his
evangelising for virtual worlds has played an important role in
developing the West Midlands global presence in this sector.
Jacqueline Cawston Feb 25th “Shakespeare! Mandela! – immersive digital culture”
Feb 26th “Drugs or Games? – a look at the development of Games
for Health”
Jacqueline Cawston’s role is to develop global and national consortiums
in the new digital media arena. She manages a multi million pound
portfolio of projects, linking industry with academics and cutting edge
digital media companies. Working with serious games, virtual worlds,
augmented reality and related digital media technologies for pc, mobile
and tablet she has developed a wide range of projects in health,
education, arts and heritage including health games for autism and
dating violence and cultural projects with the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust and the Robben Island Museum in South Africa about the story of
Nelson Mandela.

2. Sean Clark Feb 28th “Bridging Art and Science”
Sean Clark is a digital artist, a PhD researcher, the director of
web/mobile developer Cuttlefish and the curator of Interact in
Leicester.
In his commercial work he is interested in social networking, mobile
multimedia, collaborative computing and location-aware information
systems. In his arts work he is inspired by systems theory, the nature of
interactivity and creative explorations of flow and connectedness.
As a researcher he has published over 20 research papers and have
spoken at numerous conferences and seminars. He has an Honours
Degree in Computer Studies from Loughborough University, a Masters
in Digital Arts from Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts
London and is currently working towards a practice-based PhD in
Systems Theory and Digital Arts at De Montfort University
Annette Crisp Feb 27th” Engaging with Avatars as Preparation for the Real
World”
Annette Crisp is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Criminology, Psychology
and Policing at De Montfort University who has, for the past few years,
created and used machinima and avatar action as the foundation for her
teaching of practice based and theoretical concepts. In addition to
Criminology students Annette has developed presentation materials for
Probation and Police Training
This presentation will review some of the materials that Annette has
used when teaching students in criminology related disciplines to engage
students and prepare them for future practice. Annette will focus and
show examples of her work particularly to future practitioners on
domestic violence, media, crime and justice process and anti-social
behaviour.
Ernest Edmonds Feb 28th “Immersive Systems: Experience and Engagement”
Ernest Edmonds is a pioneering digital artist and international expert on
creative human-computer interaction. He has exhibited computer-
based and systems art around the world since 1970. He has created
internationally recognised research groups at Leicester Polytechnic,
Loughborough University and at the University of Technology, Sydney.
He currently has two part-time positions, Professor of Computation and
Creative Media in the University of Technology, Sydney and Professor
of Computational Art at De Montfort University. He is Editor-in-Chief of
the Transactions, fast track, section of the leading MIT Press journal
Leonardo. His most recent exhibition was at Site Gallery in Sheffield from
last November until February.

3. David Fried Feb 25th “Using Interactivity to Create A Great User Experience”
Feb 26th “Virtual Rehab: Interactive Technologies in Healthcare”
David Fried is the General Manager of Virtualware UK, a company within
the Virtualware Group that designs and develops interactive and
immersive installations for a wide variety of sectors.
As a trained architect, he worked in Canada, the UK and Spain before
deciding to open his own company specializing in interactive marketing
solutions in 2003.
David joined Virtualware Group in 2011 bringing a decade of know-how
and real world experience of touch technologies and interactive content
development to the company. Since then he has headed up the
company Innodevices which develops proprietary interactive solutions
for Virtualware Group as well as being responsible for the UK market.
Nick Higgett Feb 25th “Virtual Romans - Digital Heritage and Gaming”
Feb 27th “Virtual Romans - Digital Heritage and Gaming”
Nick Higgett is Programme Leader for MA Multimedia Design at De
Montfort University and is also project director for the Virtual Romans
Project. This project is funded by Leicester City Council and its aim is
the3D digital reconstruction of Roman Leicester Ratae Corieltavorum.
http://www.facebook.com/VirtualRomans
He is also currently leading and working on several Connected
Communities AHRC funded projects concerned with Digital Heritage and
also the creation of a National Heritage Project Network.
Duncan Lawson Feb 26th “Putting gaming into healthcare , what can we learn ?“
Duncan Lawson , born and educated in Scotland, graduated with Bsc
Hon,s Degree in Plymouth , and went windsurfing building one of top
teams in the UK in the early ‘80’s , where he learnt many of his
marketing and business skills.
He is the Founder of Fithealth Ltd and purchased Instyle Aerobiking, and
rebuilt the company to fund the development of what has become the
Webracing™ concept. Developing integrated cardio fitness products that
link in virtual world over web, with ability for activity data to be
recorded and collated on central server database.
He recently combined his medical knowledge with interactive fitness to
kick off research into Parkinson’s disease.

4. John Martin Feb 25th “Beat the Ministry – Wartime Farming Game”
John Martin is a Reader in Agrarian history in the Faculty of ADH. He has
written several books and numerous articles dealing with the issue of
food security. He was appointed Series Consultant for the BBC’s
“Wartime Farm” and subsequently the WF Christmas Special. He is the
co-author of the Open University (OU) booklet which accompanied the
series acted as an adviser in the production of the OU “Beat the
Ministry” game. This provides the opportunity for participants to
compare their performance with that of the Ministry in directing the
wartime food production campaign (1939-45).
Dylan Menzies Feb 28th “Next Generation Environmental Sound Synthesis for
Virtual Worlds”
Dr Dylan Menzies is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Technology at De
Montfort University. He research includes work in spatial sound theory,
loudspeaker arrays, binuaral sound, modelled sound synthesis for virtual
environments, musical synthesis and interface design. He holds a PhD
from the University of York and has also worked as a design engineer for
Sony Professional Audio. Dylan is a keen saxophonist.
Jude Ower Feb 27th£ Social Network Games for Charitable Causes”
Jude Ower has spent 11 years in the games industry, creating games for
training, education and raising awareness. Her passion is using game
play to make the world a better place. Jude founded PlayMob, creating
the world's first platform profitably connecting games to social good. A
win win for all. She has taken the company through raising angel and
seed capital in order to build and scale the platform. She is now in the
process of taking it global and signing up strategic partnerships. Jude
also has a passion for ideas, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Voted top 100 women in Tech in Europe, Growing Business 'Young Gun'
2012, and Shortlisted on Red's Hot Women Awards 2012 and runner up
Young Entreneur of the Year 2012. Built Playmob up to be winner of Best
Start Up 2012 Launch Conference and finalist in Europas 2011 and BBAA
awards.
BAFTA games judge, member of NEXTERS, UKIE (UK Interactive
Entertainment), and speaker at various events such as Iod, MADE
Festival, SXSW, Women in Games, Browser Games Forum, Games for

5. Brands, London Games Conference, Social Games Summit and
Tech@State. Also a Titan for Doug Richards School for Creative
Kate Owen Feb 26th “Developing an immersive 3D sling and hoist simulation”
Kathleen (Kate) Owen, Back Care Advisor has worked at Great
Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) since August 2005. She trained
as a nurse, qualifying many years ago in adult general nursing.
Kate’s current role is to devise and undertake appropriate moving
and handling training and training programmes for all GOSH
employed staff, to undertaken on-site and small group training.
Another dimension to Kate’s role is to advise and give assistance
regarding complex moving and handling issues along with product
information and advice.
Kate also develops the Trust’s policy, procedures and guidelines
for moving and handling, along with investigations of moving and
handling accidents and incidents when required.
Cat Oxley Feb 26th “Developing an immersive 3D sling and hoist simulation”
Cat Oxley, Learning Innovations Lead at Great Ormond Street Hospital
(GOSH). In 2007 Cat established GOLD – GOSH’s Online Learning &
Development portal, enabling all staff to have access to learning and
educational resources 24/7, at work or home.
Her role involves the design, development and implementation of online
learning, games-based learning and the use of social media/collaborative
learning within the NHS. Cat’s passion for online learning encourages
staff to use and experiment with the emerging technologies bringing
into their day-to-day activities learning as part of the Trust’s educational
strategy.
Lucia Pannese Feb 26th “Virtual Environments for Games Based Reflective
Learning focused on health applications”
Feb 27th “SuperHUB: Engaging Citizens for Green Mobility”
Lucia Pannese has more than 15 years management experience in
innovation & research projects with a special focus on technology
enhanced learning solutions. She is the Founding Director of imaginary, a
leading European Serious Games developer where she acts as CEO and
manager for international (research) activities. Lucia is heavily involved
in European research around Serious Games and digital interactive
technologies for learning and training across several sectors, particularly
health and care, smart cities and societies, culture and business.
With numerous Italian and international publications and presentations
about Serious Games, learning and training, she is often invited at
international conferences dealing with the Serious Games and digital
interactive technologies topics.

6. Lorenzo Picinali Feb 28th “3D Audio Applications for the Blind”
Dr. Picinali is currently employed as a Senior Lecturer in Music/Audio
Technology in the Department of Media Technology at DMU and an
active researcher in the Virtual Reality and Assisted Living (ViR.AL) and
Interactive and Media Technologies (IMT) research groups. His teaching
duties are in the area of audio technology, musical acoustics and digital
signal processing.
His research activities are mainly focused on the development of audio
and haptics interactive technologies and applications for people with
perceptual disabilities, in particular visually and hearing impaired
individuals. He is also involved in projects linked with data sonification
(in particular related with computer fluid dynamics and bio-informatics
tasks), with dance and music production using immersive 3D audio
technologies, and with the creation of haptic devices for training
purposes.
Michael Powell Feb 25th “Roslyn Chapel Project for 3D interactive visualisation”
Michael Powell is the Course Leader for the Game Art Design Degree
Course in the Art, Design and Humanities Faculty at De Montfort
University. He is largely responsible for his course being the first Skillset
industry accredited course in the UK and his graduates have a great
record in securing jobs in some of the biggest names in the computer
games industry.
The Roslyn Chapel project is an excellent example of the very high
quality visualisation standards delivered by his students. Michael is also
in demand as a speaker at digital creativity conference.
Martin Rieser Feb 28th “Creative Technologies: Immersive and Locative
Experiences”
Professor Rieser has worked in the field of interactive arts for many
years. He is research Professor in the Institute of Creative Technologies
in The Faculty of Art Design and Humanities at De Montfort. His art
practice in internet art and interactive narrative installations has been
seen around the world including Cannes; Holland, Paris; Vienna,
Thessaloniki, London, Germany, Milan and Melbourne, Australia. He has
published numerous essays and books on digital art including New
Screen Media: Cinema/ Art/Narrative (BFI/ZKM, 2002), and has recently
edited The Mobile Audience, a book on mobile and locative technology
and art from Rodopi

7. James Roadley-Battin Feb 28th “Developing commercial games at Codemasters”
James Roadley-Battin is a Lead Artist for Codemasters video games
developer. Most recently he has worked on F1 Online the game. A
message from James:
“You’re all invited to a talk that will give insight to the challenges that we
face in this rapidly changing industry. Feel free to ask questions and
hear my personal thoughts. If you don’t ask any questions worry not, I’ll
talk about the questions I constantly ask myself:
• How do we play?
• Who plays?
• Why will they play?
• How do we stay creative?
• What is Ux?
Find out why I sometimes feel like a rabbit in your headlights. How I
tackle this and ultimately encourage us to develop ourselves and
become creative thinkers.”
James is a graduate of De Montfort University and often contributes to
the Game Art Design course led by Michael Powell. He is a regular
contributor at the Game Alliance Middle England (GAME) project
meetings with insightful updates on trends and challenges in the games
industry.
Helen Routledge Feb 28th “Using 3D immersive Worlds for Health and Safety
Training.
With a background and passion in behavioural sciences and psychology
Helen Routledge has over a decade of experience of applying
behavioural and cognitive theories to highly-interactive serious games.
Helen’s knowledge of psychology and game design mechanics has been
applied to an incredibly varied range of solutions including team
building, leadership, sales training, IT security, disease control and health
and safety for some of the world’s largest and most successful
organisations.

8. Peter Shelton Feb 27th “Interactive Immersive Installations for the
Disadvantaged”
Peter Shelton is an artist, musician, experimenter and Strategic
Executive of First Movement: the National Centre for Arts Installation
with learning disabled people. He has lead the development of several
new technology projects within First Movement including: Live Room
(music technology), Towards a New Arts Language (contemporary arts
technologies), Time Slices (digital video), New Worlds (internet), Level
(video conferencing collaboration) and Raise (games-based intuitive
interfaces).'
Eric Tatham Feb 25th “Virtual Romans - Digital Heritage and Gaming”
Feb 27th “Virtual Romans - Digital Heritage and Gaming”
After studying for degrees in Electronics and Computer Science, and a
PhD for work related to visual integration of objects in augmented
reality, Eric Tatham swapped industry for academia and has since
lectured in 3D Computer Graphics and Software Engineering at various
UK universities, including; Coventry University, the Open University and
the University of Bradford.
He currently lectures in 3D Computer Graphics, Animation, and Games
Programming at De Montfort University and also runs a software
development company called Mixed Reality Ltd. He is a self-confessed
Augmented Reality fanatic and hence, possibly, in need of counselling!
Steve Thompson Feb 25th “Culture and Heritage -Real world issues in virtual world
settings
Feb 27th “ Engaging Communities – The Great Adventure”
Steve Thompson is a Musician, Composer, Multi Media Artist,
Technologist, Educator and Academic. Through his work at Teesside
University he is recognised in the UK as a leading figure in the world of
community engagement through Community Media and ICT. Steve has
been described by "Future Democracy" as “one of Europe's most original
thinkers on community engagement using new technologies”.
Steve began his working life as a Steelworker at Consett Steel Works and
then moved to the music industry. He has written songs for many
international recording artistes such as Sheena Easton, Celine Dion,
Elaine Page, Sarah Brightman, and Elkie Brooks. In recent years, Steve
has managed a community radio station, taught BTEC Music
Composition and BTEC Music Technology and now develops and teaches
Community and Social Media for Teesside University

9. Kevin Williams Feb 25th “Edutainment – Interaction and Immersion”
Kevin Williams is the founding chairman of the Digital Out-of-Home
Entertainment Network Association (DNA) is a not for profit trade
associations focused on the emerging digital out-of-home entertainment
(DOE) sector; representing the rapid expansion of interactive digital
based entertainment hardware, in the attractions, amusement, retail,
hospitality, museum and leisure industries. Members of the association
comprise developers and manufacturers alongside operators and
suppliers of the technology in the sector, as well as those investing in the
future of the business.
David Wortley Feb 25th 28th “Welcome Introductions and Hosting”
David Wortley is a Research Fellow at De Montfort University co-
ordination the Games Alliance Middle England (GAME) project. He was
the founding Director of the Serious Games Institute and is also a
freelance consultant on the strategic use of immersive and emerging
technologies such as serious games, virtual worlds and social networks.
His mission is to help organisations and individuals, leverage the power
of these technologies for competitive advantage and business/personal
development