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I’ve been involved with the ASWF for a few years now and have presented at Open Source Forum in the past. I’m a passionate graphics software professional with years of experience in both a dynamic film studio environment and as a leading technology vendor for 3D creators. Holistic understanding of the CG pipeline while working on software across multiple disciplines.
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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.
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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.
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Satish Goda is a distinguished Pipeline Technical Director at Netflix Animation Studios, with over 16 years of experience in visual effects and animation. Holding a Master’s in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, he has contributed to acclaimed films such as the Oscar-nominated Over the Moon and Academy Award-winning Life of Pi and The Golden Compass, along with The Incredible Hulk and Kung Fu Panda 3. As a founding member of the Blender Foundation and a member of the Visual Effects Society and the ASWF Digital Production and Editorial Leadership (DPEL) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Satish advances open-source tools through Python scripting, aligning with ASWF Open Source Days.
His innovative work involves developing pipeline tools and workflows, integrating platforms like Shotgrid to streamline collaboration at Netflix. Previously, he held significant roles at Rhythm and Hues Studios and Pearl Studio, serving as show technical director for The Monkey King (2023). Satish’s leadership extends to his role as a board member of Digital Pipeline Development, Inc., and co-chair of The Pipeline Conference 2022, cementing his impact in bridging art, technology, and community in animation. -
Tram Le-Jones is a media technology leader and former VFX producer with over two decades of experience empowering innovation at the intersection of creativity and software. She has held notable roles at multiple Academy Award-winning and nominated studios such as Framestore, Sony Imageworks, and Digital Domain, as well as SciTech-recognized products such as ftrack, cineSync, and Flow (fka Shotgun). She has built a reputation for transforming production workflows and fostering collaboration across global teams.
With a career that bridges hands-on production and executive leadership, Tram has built teams to support and personally advised hundreds of clients worldwide, from boutique post houses to global studios, on how to scale workflows and improve creative collaboration. Formerly at Backlight, she served as VP of Solutions, guiding cross-functional teams across six countries through strategy, client enablement, and product transformation with empathy and insight.
A passionate advocate for open source and community-driven innovation, Tram contributed to the ASWF’s first Open Source Technology in Entertainment whitepaper and has volunteered with The Pipeline Conference since 2019, having served as Co-Chair, Board Member, and a planning committee member. She also co-founded the LA Pipeline Meetup in 2013 to connect pipeline developers around shared challenges and solutions.
Whether leading change through technology or convening diverse voices to advance industry dialogue, Tram brings a unique blend of empathy, technical acumen, and operational excellence. She remains driven by her belief that open collaboration and shared tools are key to the industry’s creative future.
