Speaker Biographies
Neal McDougall | McGavin McGarry | Rob Mclaughlin | Robert Rice
Neal McDougall
Canada Media Fund
Neal McDougall, Policy Analyst at the Canada Media Fund, has researched and shaped the policies and programs of the funding agency, as well as its predecessor, the Canadian Television Fund, since 2005. A lawyer by training, Mr. McDougall received his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2003. Previously, he worked in the film and television industry in a variety of writing and production roles. He holds a BFA in Film & Video Production from York University.
Gavin McGarry
Jumpwire Media.com
Before founding Jumpwire Media in 2009 Gavin worked for online video start up Joost and was the Head of Cross Platform Business Development at global television production company Endemol.
Gavin has a been working in media space for over 15 years. His past experience includes positions at major television networks as well as owning and operating a television production company and a boutique advertising agency. His company created some of the first cross media TV content and worked with major networks including NBC, Discovery, CTV, and Global Television. The full service ad agency serviced two national clients and explored integrating brands into television and online properties. In 2004 he moved from his native Canada to the UK to better understand the rapidly emerging mobile phone space. Through his position at Endemol he worked closely with the UK’s largest mobile operator O2 and helped develop leading edge content for multiple platform release. In 2007 he moved into the web video arena with Joost. He has spent time in Japan, Africa, Europe and China exploring and understanding the global digital media content market place. He is invited to speak at industry conferences on a regular basis including Banff World Television Festival, MIPCOM, LATVfest. He lives in New York.
Rob McLaughlin
National Film Board
Rob is currently heading digital and interactive content production and strategy for the English Program at the National Film Board of Canada. His work has been awarded dozens of major international and national honours including the 2010 Webby Award for Online Documentary program and Best Cross Platform program at the 2009 Canadian New Media Awards. Prior to joining the NFB, Rob was a Director, Digital Programming at CBC responsible for creative and business development around documentary, network radio and arts and entertainment programs. He was also was Executive Producer of CBC's acclaimed online radio and multimedia service, CBC Radio 3.
Robert Rice
Neogence Enterprises
Robert is an author, futurist, entrepreneur and a recognized world leader in pioneering commercial augmented reality. Robert is the author of MMO Evolution and a contributing author in Working Through Synthetic Worlds. Robert is the CEO of Neogence Enterprises and Chairman of the AR Consortium, an international group focused on developing tools, technology, applications, and content for AR, and working to greater cooperation among consortium members, faster market penetration, robust technical standards, and a strong focus on the end-user's experience.
He is an authority on mobile augmented reality, persistent immersive environments, virtual reality and worlds, massively multiuser online games, and simulations.
With more than 17 years of experience he is a passionate innovator and is continually seeking to advance the state-of-the-art of dynamic and interactive technologies.
