Mike Ross - Director / Creative Technologist, Blue Alchemy Labs

Blue Alchemy LabsCreative Technologist / Experiential Designer / Director

Mar. 2024Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaAfter founding Blue Alchemy Labs I’ve had the privilege of working on immersive projects across the globe—from the vibrant entertainment landscapes of Macau and Singapore to unique ventures in Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond. Each project has offered an exciting challenge to craft experiences that resonate with local audiences while pushing the boundaries of what themed entertainment can achieve. My approach centres on seamlessly integrating storytelling with cutting-edge technology, adapting each concept to reflect the cultural and market-specific nuances of each region. Whether coordinating complex productions in the APAC region or collaborating with teams across continents, I focus on fostering strong partnerships with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that every element aligns with our shared vision. With each project, I aim to create experiences that captivate and inspire, merging creativity and technical precision to leave lasting impressions. For me, it’s about crafting stories and moments that people remember, no matter where in the world they are.

Themed Entertainment AssociationVice President Asia Pacific Division

Nov. 2023

7thSenseAPAC Business Development Manager and Principal Systems Engineer

Jul. 2023 - Mar. 2024Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaResponsible for overseeing and growing business relationships across the entire Asia Pacific Region. Acting as a liaison between distribution partners and integrators and the main company office in the United Kingdom. Additionally responsible for systems engineering, service and support and sales quoting globally. Local support in Asia Pacific for all on-site and remote commissioning of technology systems. Recently involved in the systems design of The Sphere in Las Vegas.

7thSensePrincipal Systems and Support Engineer

Mar. 2022 - Jul. 2023Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Themed Entertainment AssociationBoard Member

Nov. 2020 - Nov. 2023

BlueBox AttractionsChief Executive Officer and Creative Technical Director

Sep. 2017 - Mar. 2022London, England, United KingdomCEO and Creative Technical Director of BlueBox Attractions, an Award Winning Themed Entertainment Design Company. Key Focus on creating new Attractions, experiences and exhibitions with end clients focusing marrying creative storytelling with cutting edge technology. With key clients and projects I would stay on with the project to completion overseeing the technical project management during the design, build and implementation phases, often going to site and commissioning the system. Areas of focus: complex projection, audio, SFX, lighting design, live event, dark rides, show control, and Mixed Reality. Highlights: Production Manager for product launches at Nike in the London including the renowned “ThinkTank” which was a series of educational classes around design. Technical Director, AV Designer, Lighting Designer and AV Site Manager for the Fram Museum in Oslo Norway. Production Design manager for Somnai, an immersive experience based in London utilising a mixture of VR, AR and Physical spaces. Lighting Audio Designer and Technical Director for Doctor Who at Madame Tussauds Blackpool. Technical Director, AV Designer, Lighting Designer, and AV Site Manager, show control for Room on the Broom at Chessington World of Adventure. Themed walk through attraction Technical Producer with Factory 42 for Audiences of the Future Project funded by Innovate UK. Magic Leap AR headset integrated with a themed environment to deliver 2 immersive walk throughs. (Opening 2022) Show Control designer for Chailey Heritage Centre, DREAM Centre, UK Technical Director for Central St Martin MA Fashion Show on behalf of Three UK Show Control and SFX Designer for launch of Call of Duty on behalf of Three UK Lighting Designer for Museum of London’s Secret Rivers Exhibition Technical Consultant for Google’s Smart Houseboat Pop Up Technical Consultant for Chessington World of Adventures on new Tomb Blaster upgrade Technical Director and Designer for Seaton Tramway revamp

HolovisExperience Design Manager / Technical Director

Jul. 2015 - Sep. 2017LondonKey focus was on developing new business in the themed entertainment market working with the Business Development team from a technical and creative perspective. Worked with clients to develop technical criteria for projects in a collaborative approach alongside of the creative development of attractions. With key clients and projects I would stay on with the project to completion overseeing the technical project management during the design, build and implementation phases, often going to site and commissioning the system before handover. Key areas of focus were around complex projection, audio, SFX, lighting design, live event and AR app based experiences. Highlights Include: • Designed, sold and implemented £500k Immersive Roller Coaster at Kings Island Ohio • Designed, sold and implemented £4 million retrofit of a complex projection attraction in Osaka Japan, lead projectionist and media server specialist on install. • Designed and sold immersive driving simulator for Hyundai in Seoul South Korea • Designed, sold and implemented £200k Immersive Dome experience in London for the 2016 Euro Championship • Designed and implemented immersive walkthrough attraction at Madame Tussauds in London, UK • Designed main system architecture for implementations, which include server configurations, control schemes, and networking. • Lead Location Based Entertainment designer and consultant for all projects worldwide

Rethink Leisure & Entertainment, LLCTechnical Director AV and Show Systems

Aug. 2014 - Jul. 2015Burbank CaliforniaResponsible for Technical Management of all Audio/Video, Show Control, and Show Lighting design/build/install contracts. Works within the creative team for specific attractions and assignments based on need. Wrote all Technical Narratives and other required reports for Phase Deliverables to clients; Supplied Vendor facility impact information to be distributed to Project Management and other key personnel for integration into Architectural and Engineering designs; Reviewed Show, Architectural and MEP drawings for ride/show integration; Work within Technical Team for technical writing, contract changes, strategic planning, and updating Data Sheets and Element Lists. Directly responsible for Design deliverable reviews including technical review for compliance to contract standards, local standards, and third party status; internal meeting reviews and Vendor review meetings. Highlights Include: • Designed all Audio Visual and Control system aspects for the Fox Dubai Park • Designed immersive Doctor Who touring Walkthrough Attraction

HolovisSenior Solutions Architect

Aug. 2012 - Sep. 2014Lutterworth, United KingdomHolds various roles in the company that encourages a startup mentality. The primary focus of the role includes designing, selling, and implementing multi million GBP projects on a worldwide scale. Key markets were Automotive, Medical, Financial, Consumer, Entertainment, Science, Education and Military. Working across these verticals allowed for a cross pollination of technology allowing unique and new experiences for all end clients. Managed multiple teams of engineers for installation of immersive experiences. Provided a vital role of being the Innovation Pipeline for the company. Additionally was tasked to design the company webpage, manage social media, design marketing materials, run internal IT infrastructure, and attend trade shows. Highlights Include: •Designed, sold and implemented £1.8 Million immersive experience for a Theme Park in Abu Dhabi •Designed, sold and implemented £4 Million immersive experience for Theme Park in Dubai •Installed and delivered unique interactive solution at Madison Square Garden in New York City •Designed main system architecture for implementations, which include server configurations, control schemes, and networking. •Setup and Managed remote office and Demonstration systems in Los Angeles, USA •Currently working with several major entertainment companies in the US to develop new 4D and educational systems •Lead Location Based Entertainment designer and consultant for all projects worldwide •Managed all Internal IT infrastructures including assisting migrating internal mail server to the cloud •Designed and Implemented new company Website, and marketing materials

Global ImmersionSystems Engineer

Sep. 2009 - Aug. 2012Haywards Heath, United KingdomDesigned and commissioned Immersive Theatres. Designed aspects ranging from core server configurations, network (IT) system design, control system schemes, audio system design, lighting and effects design. Commissioned full dome and immersive systems, warping rectilinear images onto a spherical service using multiple interfaces. Worked on Multi Million dollar installations from start to finish. Core company trainer. Trained end users around the world on all aspects of system use. Key client contact. Work with Sales team on new bids offering engineering standpoint for possible high end projects. Work experience in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. Highlights Include: ß Lead engineer specialising in design and installation of audio systems, focusing on 15.1 THX certified systems. ß Main display engineer using a variety of manual and automatic alignment systems on spherical and non-spherical surfaces. ß Managed projects up to £8 Million in budget and maintained the target budget and completion date. ß Designed main system architecture for implementations, which include server configurations, control schemes, and networking. ß Maintained implementations for several larger clients, Moscow Planetarium (Moscow, Russia) and Adler Planetarium (Chicago, IL). ß Lead trainer and supervisor responsible for instructing on pre/post install implementation maintenance and design technology. ß Responsible for over 30% of all project revenue in the company. ß Created and developed design concepts for Disney, The Smithsonian Institute, NASA and others. ß 80% International and Domestic Travel per annum.

Swank Audio VisualsTechnical Director / Sales Manager

Sep. 2006 - May. 2009San Francisco Bay AreaWorked with Hotel CS,CA and Sales Managers on high end events and meetings. Created cost efficient Audio Visual Solutions within a clients budget for their hotel event. Designed and sold Audio Visual Events ranging from daily group meetings to full scale production events in ballrooms. Oversaw monthly, 30 and 90 day forecasting based on Group Room Nights. Created CAD drawings of high end events. Worked with Hotel staff to put together room sets to make events flow smoothly. Oversaw all technicians’ technical development in the 5 areas of audio visual services. Highlights Include: ß Sales equaled 75% of total revenue a year at approximately $400k annually. ß Main point of contact for all high profile clients. ß Streamlined sales packages based on quarterly and historical trends. ß Oversaw and led a team of 30 employees. ß Coordinated team schedules for all hotel events with Director of Audio Visuals. ß Maintained an inventory of over 200 pieces of equipment and worked with regional hotels to help maintain proper transfer of gear and people between properties. ß Liaised with hotels sales team to sell high end shows. Designed, sold and executed high end shows at the Fairmont Hotel. ß Increased Audio Visual Departments overall revenue by $200k a year, a 25% increase from previous years. ß Create classes on a national level for the company Swank Audio Visuals. ß Increased customer service relations with high profile clients such as Apple, Yahoo! and Google

Bentley Meeker Lighting and StagingShop Technician/ Field Technician/ Board Op

Sep. 2004 - Jun. 2006Responsibilities: worked in special event lighting trade (art openings, hotel parties, concerts, etc) kept inventories, packed and unpacked trucks, did maintenance on lighting equipment. Hung and focused lights at events, programmed lighting boards and did on the spot trouble shooting with lighting, sound and board operation. Used basic stage lighting, moving lights (martin, ETC, Altman). Basic sound equipment and programmed ETC, Whole Hog lighting boards. Supervising Technical Director/ Season Light and Set Designer, Peacock Players; Responsibilities: Oversaw all carpentry, rigging, lighting hangs, etc. kept track of all budgets for sets and all other tech budgets. Ran production meetings as well as scheduled them. Worked with the Young Company (summer youth theatre) in teaching them how to use tools, build sets, hang lights. Scheduled all work calls. Built and hung all shows. Designed lights for 2 main stage and 2 Young Company shows and sets for 1 main stage and 2 Young Company shows. Also designed and maintained the website for the theatre.

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