As Head of Innovation, Vladimir “Vlado” Koylazov leads the Chaos Innovation Lab and oversees Chaos’ research, development, and experiments with the latest technologies. He co-founded Chaos in 1997, developed the globally acclaimed rendering software V-Ray, and held the role of Chief Technical Officer for over 20 years. During this time, he has been the driving force behind the software development and R&D at Chaos, as well as an active member of the global CG community. Vlado is a graduate of Sofia University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics.

Christopher Nichols is Director of Special Projects at the Chaos Innovation Lab, leading virtual production and real-time ray-traced pipeline development. He is the co-founder and producer of Monstrous Moonshine, an independent creative studio and production company behind the feature film June July. Christopher also hosts CG Garage, an industry podcast now over 500 episodes strong featuring conversations with global filmmakers, artists, and technologists. Previously, he worked at Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Method Studios, with film credits including The Day After Tomorrow, Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, and Maleficent.

Sean is a resident computer graphics expert at Crafty Apes with cross-domain specialization across all aspects of the digital VFX production pipeline. His work emphasizes procedural automation, photorealistic 3D content generation, and seamless pipeline integration from initial camera capture through final delivery. At Crafty Apes, he focuses on optimizing hardware performance, mastering massive scene management, and developing custom production workflows. His technical expertise enables creative teams to push the boundaries of modern visual effects and successfully execute large-scale immersive projects at extreme resolutions.

Ivan Reel is a broadcast, media, and real-time technology specialist who recently transitioned into the virtual production space. In his role at StradaXR, he has been instrumental in helping develop, manage, and lead the studio's advanced LED volume operations. His current work focuses heavily on developing real-time production workflows, exploring immersive technologies, and bridging traditional media practices with emerging production techniques. Ivan is dedicated to reducing workflow complexity for modern virtual facilities while preserving creative intent from the stage to the screen.

Eric Pinkel is a Cloud Virtual Production Specialist with over 30 years of experience in CGI, visual effects, and digital content production. Throughout his career, he has worked with leading studios and global brands to develop scalable production workflows that connect distributed teams worldwide. Leveraging his background as a creative professional and technology strategist, Eric specializes in cloud-based infrastructure, virtual workstations, rendering, and real-time content creation. He is a frequent speaker and panel moderator at SIGGRAPH, sharing practical insights on cloud-native production.