Tom Shannon is a creative technologist who built the interactive backbone of Consensus Gentium, creating the mobile systems that respond to a viewer’s eye-gaze and emotional cues. With a background in physics and space-science research, along with work in spatial computing, he explores how emerging mediums such as augmented reality, intelligent agents, and immersive environments can open new possibilities for storytelling.
Tom Shannon is a creative technologist who built the interactive backbone of Consensus Gentium, creating the mobile systems that respond to a viewer’s eye-gaze and emotional cues. With a background in physics and space-science research, along with work in spatial computing, he explores how emerging mediums such as augmented reality, intelligent agents, and immersive environments can open new possibilities for storytelling.
Diane Knarr is an executive producer based in Philadelphia who specializes in creative technology. Over the past decade-plus, she’s worked across advertising, e-commerce, experiential marketing, and software development, producing interactive projects for clients like Google, Meta, Netflix, and Salesforce. She collaborates with digital development and engineering teams to build smooth technical workflows while guiding creative direction, connecting the dots between big creative ideas and how to actually make them happen.
Diane Knarr is an executive producer based in Philadelphia who specializes in creative technology. Over the past decade-plus, she’s worked across advertising, e-commerce, experiential marketing, and software development, producing interactive projects for clients like Google, Meta, Netflix, and Salesforce. She collaborates with digital development and engineering teams to build smooth technical workflows while guiding creative direction, connecting the dots between big creative ideas and how to actually make them happen.
Co-founder and CEO – BlackRhino VR
Board Member, Global Future Council on the Future of the Metaverse at the World Economic Forum
Brian Afande is a creative technologist and agent of change dedicated to accelerating the adoption of XR technologies across Africa. He envisions a future where young Africans are not just consumers of technology but pioneers of innovation, shaping the continent’s technological evolution.
With a mission rooted in designing, democratizing, demystifying, and deploying XR, Brian is equipping the next generation with essential skills to drive economic transformation.
By fostering new ideas, business models, and job creation, he is positioning Africa’s youth at the forefront of global technological advancement, ensuring they actively shape their own futures.
Co-founder and CEO – BlackRhino VR
Board Member, Global Future Council on the Future of the Metaverse at the World Economic Forum
Brian Afande is a creative technologist and agent of change dedicated to accelerating the adoption of XR technologies across Africa. He envisions a future where young Africans are not just consumers of technology but pioneers of innovation, shaping the continent’s technological evolution.
With a mission rooted in designing, democratizing, demystifying, and deploying XR, Brian is equipping the next generation with essential skills to drive economic transformation.
By fostering new ideas, business models, and job creation, he is positioning Africa’s youth at the forefront of global technological advancement, ensuring they actively shape their own futures.
INNOVATION, AI STRATEGY & IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP
Nigel Guy is a strategic innovator and award-winning leader shaping the future of AI, fintech, and digital transformation. He has played a pivotal role in advancing interactive storytelling and consciousness-driven AI and Gen AI projects, including Consensus Gentium and Ascended Intelligence, bringing technical direction, commercial leadership, data management , data strategy, and product vision to life. With deep expertise in AI adoption, automation, Agentic AI and digital ecosystems, Nigel bridges commercial acumen and creative technology with enterprise-scale innovation to deliver measurable impact across financial services and immersive media.
INNOVATION, AI STRATEGY & IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP
Nigel Guy is a strategic innovator and award-winning leader shaping the future of AI, fintech, and digital transformation. He has played a pivotal role in advancing interactive storytelling and consciousness-driven AI and Gen AI projects, including Consensus Gentium and Ascended Intelligence, bringing technical direction, commercial leadership, data management , data strategy, and product vision to life. With deep expertise in AI adoption, automation, Agentic AI and digital ecosystems, Nigel bridges commercial acumen and creative technology with enterprise-scale innovation to deliver measurable impact across financial services and immersive media.
