Key Achievements

• Successfully led the studio transition from RenderHeads SA to Yellow Lab Games following its acquisition by Reforged Studios, ensuring seamless continuity across all projects and teams
• Oversee all day-to-day and strategic studio operations, including HR, resource planning, budget management, and long-term project scheduling
• Serve as the primary contact for all external stakeholders
• Producer on all internal and external projects, ensuring delivery and maintaining quality standards throughout

On the Production side, primary responsibilities involve managing project managers and developers to ensure projects are delivered as expected, acting as client/partner liaison and handle external interactions. Oversee production management for both code and asset teams, streamlining internal processes and stimulating productivity. Provide international on-site installation and support for travelling exhibits.

As COO, duties include overseeing general company functions, long-term scheduling, recruitment, and HR. Develop and implement strategies to drive efficiency and effectiveness across all levels of the business. Collaborate with external partner teams to integrate processes and enhance performance. Mentor and empower staff, fostering a high-performance culture and aligning with overall objectives. Manage budgets, allocate resources, and analyse monthly results with finance team. Identify growth opportunities, manage operational costs, and generate reports to support strategic decisions. Manage weekly Board/Shareholder meetings.

Key Achievements

• Instrumental in scaling the business 5X from 7 to 35 employees
• Successfully delivered 45 apps for the SAASCC museum in Kuwait within 14 months
• Managed a R20m kids’ entertainment center project, coordinating efforts among developers, architects, and product designers
• Project managed a R40m museum project at KAUST in Saudi Arabia, including on-site installation and sign-off
• Set up weekly MasterClass sessions to stimulate employee growth and encourage learning

RetroEpic is dedicated team of independent developers based in South Africa. The team specialised in offering top quality development services to national and international clients for projects ranging from educational software to downloadable games on a variety of platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Looking for new opportunities to create partnerships in both service work and own IP.
• Sourcing new clients and projects.
• Client liaison for existing projects.
• Production management for both the code and asset teams, to help streamline internal processes and stimulate productivity.
• Taking care of the Niggly Little Things (TM) that developers and artists don’t have the time or inclination to do.

Key Projects

Contributed to various projects while at the studio, including:

• Flash Point: Fire Rescue
• Carrier Deck
• Afghanistan ‘11

Skills: Team Management · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Team Leadership · Software Project Management · Problem Solving · Game Design · Project Management · Communication · Game Development · Production Administration

I was tasked with setting up a new 2D pipeline in ToonBoom Harmony for a new show, Shutterbugs, for Big Jump Productions and Amberwood Entertainment. This included training the team of 50 animators and artists on the tools and processes required.

After my on-site contract ended, I continued to work remotely as a rig and asset checker.

Key Responsibilities

• Provided additional ToonBoom training for new staff. This included animation and more technical technical Harmony training.
• Designed the pipeline, workflow and processes for all departments.
• Created new libraries from existing elements according to new conventions.
• Checked existing assets and character rigs for consistency.
• Created templates and tools for various departments to ease their workflow.
• Assisted the Producer and Animation Supervisor to ensure the production started off smoothly.

Skills: Team Management · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Team Leadership · Employee Training · Problem Solving · Project Management · Communication · Production Administration · Animation Direction

I primarily looked after the Digital department at Sunrise, which involved games and web. My main focus was on the games side where I took the lead in various areas:

Game Design

• Develop initial concepts to pitch to clients
• Develop existing concepts to make them more viable
• Define game design documents and game specifications for developers
• UX/UI and design mockups
• Provide feedback from white boxing phase to ensure the game is fun

Project management

• Define overall timeline for projects
• Manage internal design team for delivery of UI and 3d assets to developers
• Manage external development teams
• Liaise with clients regarding features, schedules, testing and deliveries
• Manage release of games and updates in the app stores, including marketing materials and ASO

Testing

• Lead testing of all games
• Allocate and manage testing teams
• Manage feedback of all testers and liaise with developers to refine bug lists and feature priorities
• Game balancing to ensure the best experience for the user

Additional Departments

I continued to provide input to various other departments:

Pipeline Development

• Designed a new 3d pipeline before a rapid expansion
• Defined the folder structure as well as data flow throughout the system
• Involved in discussions about pipeline re-organisation as we planned for further expansion and larger projects

General

• Involved in Story/Tech planning sessions to catch issues before episodes went into production
• Set up and managed various company-wide Google Docs, including staff leave calendars and production schedules
• Defined budgets and timelines for Digital department
• Handled recruiting for Digital and provided input on applicants for other departments

Training

Facilitated a weekly training session for all staff. This covered a wide range of topics from Houdini Basics to drawing for animation, but also softer skills such as How to Present Effectively. I managed the curriculum and helped the lecturers to prepare for their sessions.

Skills: Team Management · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Team Leadership · Employee Training · Software Project Management · Problem Solving · Game Design · Art Direction · Project Management · Communication · Game Development · Production Administration

I ensured that the animation pipeline ran smoothly and also managed interactive media projects, working on various sports brands creating digital mascots and content for them.

Skills: Team Management · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Team Leadership · Employee Training · Software Project Management · Problem Solving · Project Management · Communication · Production Administration

I was Senior Animation Director at Clockwork Zoo, responsible for the smooth running of the general animation pipeline while assisting the the Animation Directors and Lead Animators. I was involved in the storyboard, animatic and layout processes and with the help of the production staff took various productions through to completion. New shows always required new staff, so I was involved in training them in ToonBoom as well as providing refresher and update training to our experienced team of animators.

I have a particular interest in using the camera as a storytelling device and love teaching people ways to make their work both better and faster. Setting up new pipelines and finding the most efficient ways of working are extremely enjoyable exercises and I enjoy writing production manuals and technical documentation. I firmly believe that productivity and creativity are not mutually exclusive items and that they happily can co-exist in the right environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Involved in the storyboard, animatic and layout processes prior to reaching animation
• Trained new staff in Toon Boom and provided refresher and update training to the experienced team of animators
• Facilitated leadership training for leads and seniors

Key Projects

• Florrie’s Dragons, Disney Channel, Wish Films (UK) - 52x10min
• Caillou, Cookie Jar Entertainment (Canada) - 26x24min
• Various pitches and pilot episodes
• Numerous commercials and infomercials, including for the Cape Town Stadium during the 2010 Soccer World Cup

My 2d Animation directing showreel can be viewed here: Animation Director Showreel

Skills: Cross-functional Team Leadership · Team Leadership · Employee Training · Leadership Development · Problem Solving · Art Direction · Communication · Production Administration · Animation Direction

Senior Animation Instructor for full-time, part-time and individual instruction for Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Combustion, Toon Boom and various Adobe products. I received my Autodesk Certified Instructor status each year.

Key Training Programmes

• I ran the full time programme in animation for three years. This involved a small class of first and second year students who received instruction daily.
• Afternoon classes and workshops for corporate entities with specific training requirements. These would range between one day hyper-focussed sessions to 6 weeks.
• I ran evening classes four nights a week, providing short course instruction at primary and intermediate levels.
• Devised all curriculum and testing methodologies for additional lecturers.

Key Responsibilities

• Classroom and customised training for small and large groups
• Set up curriculum for 2 year full-time and 12 week part-time courses
• Autodesk Authorised Instructor for Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Combustion
• Toon Boom Digital Pro, Animate Pro and Harmony training
• Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Premiere and After Effects
• Product demonstrations and client presentations, including for travelling roadshows and new feature releases
• Technical and installation support
• Workflow support and on-site problem solving
• Set up and maintained classroom workstations and network for the school

Leapfrog pioneered a proprietary online bingo platform that was licensed to various brands. Features included customisable animated avatars and real-time chat among players.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualised new brands with marketing department and licensees
• Researched new game play methodologies and recommended changes for implementation
• Managed design of various online gaming brands from concept to implementation
• Managed team of designers for both 2d and 3d artwork
• Created 3d artwork for use in-game
• Implemented assets in a custom game engine
• Scripted the visual setup of new games and rooms (level design/building)
• Set up an efficient asset pipeline for re-skinning of bingo platforms for new licensees
• Created assets for online marketing campaigns
• Worked closely with the development team to conceptualise new features and find creative solutions to deploy with the least effort

Involved in various aspects of interactive media production, from animation to testing, including R&D and proofreading. Responsible for video editing and camera assistance as well. This was the early days of the interactive revolution. We made lots of interactive speaker support presentations, interactive CD-ROMS (including the MWeb Big Black Box and Yebo Internet In A Can), and many first websites for large corporates, including I&J.

Production assistant to the video department, where my responsibilities included taking bookings for edit suites and camera equipment. I would also go out on shoots as a camera assistant when required and was the personal assistant to the Managing Director.

• Research stock footage items for use in local and international commercials from our internal library and those licensed from others
• Fulfil creative briefs from agencies
• Provided ad-hoc technical support