Open Source Days Program Committee

Karen Raz is the founder of Raz Public Relations, LLC, a boutique communications agency dedicated to amplifying the future of media and entertainment. Together with a stellar in-house team, Karen works with leading technology and creative companies in production, advertising, computer graphics, broadcast, visual effects and video games, including Amazon Studios, Amazon Web Services, Autodesk, AJA Video Systems, Epic Games and many more. Having experienced radical evolutions in entertainment; from analog to digital filmmaking, the disruption of content streaming, opportunities unlocked via cloud computing, and beyond, Karen’s perspective helps clients approach news and events with strategic insight. She began her career in entertainment technology on the PR team at ElectricImage Animation, and founded RazPR in 1997. Having attended over twenty Siggraph and NAB shows, and many GDC, SXSW, IBC, AICP, ASWF events, she has longstanding industry and media relationships—and an archive of photos to prove it! Karen is a member of the Visual Effects Society (VES) and served on the inaugural VES Emerging Technology Award committee in 2023.

Aliza Carpio is Director Tech Evangelist at Autodesk. In this role, she creates strategies and leads product vision and tactics that enable engineers across the globe to work in communities of practice, collaborate in the code as code stewards, work with speed and build with a platform mindset.  Previously, she was Principal Tech Evangelist at Intuit.

Driven by a passion for innovation and with a knack for merging creativity and technical expertise, Sean leverages his background as a visual effects compositor and pipeline programmer to empower VFX and animation customers at AWS. When not working, you’ll find him with his family and needy cat, playing video games, or soaring through the skies as a pilot.

Jo Ann Tan has spent the last 15 years managing technical people and projects in animation and VFX studios. As Animal Logic’s Head of Technology Talent, Jo Ann’s key focus is championing the career development, enablement and engagement of Animal Logic’s technical division. Whether it be supporting open-source initiatives or organising hackathons to promote innovation, collaboration and learning opportunities, Jo Ann is passionate about fostering conducive environments for engineers to do their best work. She has previously worked at studios such as DNEG and the Moving Picture Company (MPC).

Her film credits include The Magician’s Elephant, DC League of Superpets, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Happy Feet Two and Legend of the Guardians: The Owl’s of Ga’Hoole.

Kelli Townley is a seasoned Executive Producer and Content Lead in the creative industry. She brings a unique approach to product and content development by combining her studies in Fine Art and Business Law, plus a 20+ year professional career in roles across diverse disciplines (Production, Product Development, Technical Art and Direction). She’s worked at such companies as Double Fine Productions, Pixar Animation Studios, Maker Media, and Oculus/Meta. She currently leads a large team of technical artists and community builders in the 3D & Immersive group at Adobe.