Judges, Speakers and Mentors
Our Labs' judges, speakers and mentors will be announced monthly between now and the 26th of June 2025. Visit us regularly for new updates.
Vanessa RosaVanessa Rosa is a US based Brazilian visual artist. Her work merges physical and digital media into a storytelling continuum. Murals become portals to an imaginary world with projection mapping, ceramics metamorphose into living entities with the aid of AI models. She creates fictional tales about world history, past and possible futures intertwined. Some of the most important projects include: 'Little Martians' sci-fi universe featured in the Nvidia AI Art Gallery (2023-2024), the art history children’s book series 'Diana’s World'(2020-), performance in Gray Area (San Francisco 2022), a large scale mural for Pioneer Works (New York City, 2017) and a commission for UN Women (2014). Inês AlmeidaInês Almeida is the Chief Transformation Officer at Now Next Later AI, an AI advisory business supporting organizations with their AI strategy, transformation, and governance. She is a strong proponent of human-centered, rights-respecting, responsible AI development and adoption. Ignoring both hype and fear, she provides a balanced perspective grounded in scientific research, validated business outcomes and ethics. Under a variety of pen names, Inês is the author of both fiction and non-fiction books including the award-winning Spiral Worlds series. She is a regular speaker at industry events such as Gartner Symposium, SXSW, and ADAPT. Nik KleverovNik Kleverov is an Emmy-grade storyteller known for his clean and captivating commercial style paired with a distinctive design sensibility. As an immigrant and son of a nonconformist artist that was persecuted by the Soviet government, Kleverov has a layered and unique story to tell. His life story and varied experience informs his diverse approach to creative work, from explorative use of AI within storytelling, to design-led title sequence work, and live action commercials. As a creative director, he’s won numerous advertising and creative industry awards. As an entrepreneur and executive, he has started and operated successful businesses like Native Foreign. |
Jon DraperJon Draper is a seasoned animator and AI creative consultant with over 20 years in the animation and video industry. After founding a successful animation studio in the UK in 2013, he shifted his focus to AI animation in 2022, launching aianimation.com—a leading platform featuring a directory of AI creative apps, showcasing AI talent, offering comprehensive courses, and providing consulting services with a dedicated team of experienced AI creatives. Jon also runs a popular YouTube channel, where he shares tutorials and insights on the latest AI animation tools and techniques, alongside pioneering innovative AI software and creative projects. Jeff AluJeff Alu is a former exhibitions director at the orange County Center. Prior to his life as a photographer, Jeff worked for a number of years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory hunting for asteroids and comets. Alu's approach to AI filmmaking focuses on accessibility and experimentation. Alu has been published in Black and White Magazine, Lenswork Extended, Adori Noir, Shots, as well as online at the Art Photo Index and the aCurator blog. A book of his images, “Jeff Alu:Surrealities” is published through Zero+ Publishing. He has also been a guest speaker for the Apple Store in Santa Monica, the Walt Disney Imagineering Photography Group, as well as the Marks Art Center in Palm Desert, CA. |