Chris Conte
Discipline: Audiovisual Technology Design and Integration Company: Electrosonic Learn more about Chris
Celebrating 23 years with Electrosonic, Chris has been an integral part of the company’s evolution and success on some of the most prestigious projects worldwide. As part of the executive management team, Chris has helped create business strategies for Electrosonic that help grow our business in unique and creative ways. Today, Chris serves in multiple important roles throughout the company including as Executive Consultant and Global Ambassador. As Executive Consultant he works with clients in the early stages of a project to interpret the client’s vision, provide technology education to the project team, and set the unique technical direction for the client’s project. Chris also works closely with the Electrosonic Design Consulting Division and Systems Integration Engineering team throughout the duration of the project offering advice and guidance to achieve and maintain the client’s final vision. His extensive experience in technology design, production, and construction brings real value to any project team allowing him to help drive projects to success. Chris also serves as Global Ambassador to represent and present the company’s history, project portfolio, and unique capabilities to clients, industry partners, and audiences around the world. As one of the longest serving professionals at Electrosonic, and with his extensive background in technology and project development, Chris works closely with the New Business Development and Sales teams to not only seek and pursue new and unique opportunities that are a perfect fit for our company, but he is highly skilled at building and maintaining trusted relationships with new and existing clients alike. Audiovisual technology design and management is Chris’s forte, and throughout his career he has worked on projects around the world in theme parks, museums, World Expos, theater, spectacles, and hospitality. His background as a Technical Director and Executive Consultant for numerous themed entertainment projects gives him great credibility with his peers and clients alike. 
BjÖrn Heerwagen
Discipline: Show Design / Production Company: Walt Disney Imagineering Learn More About BJÖRN
Since 2019, Björn has served as Director of Show Design & Production for Walt Disney Imagineering in Paris. He is currently responsible for the expansion portfolio of works at Walt Disney Studios Park. Since beginning his Disney career in 1991 at Disneyland Paris, Björn has held a variety of roles in Maintenance, Technical Production, Special Events and Stage Entertainment across Disney Parks, Experiences and Products in Paris, London and Orlando. Björn played an integral role in the launch of the first two Disney Cruise Line ships, the construction of Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, and the launches of Crush’s Coaster®, Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Playland, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, and Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. In 2020, Björn was appointed to the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) for Europe and the Middle East Board of Directors. Björn began his career in London, where he worked for two years on musicals in the West End. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Technical Theatre from Mountview Theatre School and a Degree in Technical Theatre from Middlesex University (London). 
Karen Trott
Discipline: Scenic Artist Company: Independent Consultant Learn More About Karen
Melbourne-born Karen Trott studied Fine Art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology from 1969-1972. She then worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company for five years before freelancing with the Victoria State Opera and with Scenic Studios. Since that time, she has worked with most major ballet and opera companies and with leading Australian theatre designers including John Truscott (The Pearl Fishers), Henry Bandon (La Boheme), Kenneth Rowell (Don Giovanni) and John Stoddard (Faust). She was also scenic artist on the Lyric Opera of Queensland’s productions of The Student Prince. Her talents are wide and versatile and she is an expert in all elements of scenic art, including murals, gilding and metal, stone and marble finishes as well as complete theater, ballet and opera, soft and build scenery. Some of her artistry has been documented in approximately six books to date. In television, she was lead scenic artist on the “Water Under the Bridge” series. She has also done special effects painting on various film and television productions. She was Head Scenic Designer for the Commonwealth Games. In theme parks, she painted the whole of the interior of the Atlantis Nightclub in Singapore designed by Dan Flannery (1985-1986) and the Aiins World miniatures buildings in South Korea, designed by Vertex Productions (2003) and more recently she worked on a Private Palace in Ukraine (2007). Karen is currently Head Scenic Artist at the Australian Ballet Melbourne Australia. In addition to her craft mastery, Karen also holds a Class 2 Social Work designation and she has worked with disadvantaged persons from 15 to 25 years old. At Scenic Studios she was the designated person to shepherd many young hopefuls with some of them having gone into careers in Scenic Art. |
Robin Hall
Discipline: Theme Park Master Planning Company: Independent Contractor Learn More About robin
Robin Hall is a theme designer who has worked for 50 years in the entertainment industry. He has master planned and designed countless theme park attractions, water parks and museum exhibits around the world. Originally educated at Chouinard, and California Institute of the Arts, where he received his B.F.A. Robin worked as the Art Director of Magic Mountain. For 17 years, Robin was the Vice President of Design and Architecture at Knott’s Berry Farm. He designed all their major attractions, including Knott’s Camp Snoopy, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, Jaguar, Mystery Lodge (Thea Award), Camp Snoopy at Mall of America and Ghost Rider. Robin generated the Master Plan for Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and he designed multiple exhibits, including the U-505 Submarine Experience (Thea Award). He designed the master plan for Ocean Park in Hong Kong with Vertex Productions. Robin, as an independent consultant, has focused on planning entertainment, tourist and cultural city developments, outdoor and indoor theme parks, water parks and museums attractions around the globe. He recently has worked on master plans and attraction designs for Vidanta Parks in Mexico and consulted with Hetzel Design on master planning and attraction designs for Paramount Parks around the world. 
Jodi McLaughlin
Discipline: Executive Producer Company: Retired Learn More AbouT Jodi
Jodi McLaughlin started her Walt Disney Imagineering career as a Show Set Designer for Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Paris in 1987 and then moved on to Principal Set Decorator for Disneyland Paris and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. After nearly 10 years of project work, she changed directions to Manager of Production Design and Theme Finishes and later added Show Set and Set Decorating, supporting teams on projects across the globe. Jodi returned to project work as a Producer for Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue at Disney California Adventure followed by it’s a small world for Hong Kong Disneyland. In 2008, she advanced to Executive Producer for Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, and Toy Story Land for Hong Kong Disneyland. Concurrently, Jodi led the Imagineering producer’s studio. In 2010, she took on the Executive Producer role for Shanghai Disney Resort and in 2013 became Executive Portfolio Producer, while also assuming the role of Creative Studio Leader for the Shanghai project team. In 2018, Jodi joined the EPCOT transformation team, transitioning off of that earlier this year. Jodi again led the Imagineering producers from late 2020 until her retirement in June 2023. Beyond her project work, Jodi was a founding leader of Imagineering’s Women’s Inclusion Network, a Business-Employee Resource Group (BERG) that was established in 2014, and on which she continued to serve as executive sponsor until her retirement. She was also co-chair of the Imagineering Creative Council from 2020 - mid 2022 and was involved in a number of mentorship programs within the Disney organization. Jodi holds a degree in Art History from University of California, Santa Barbara. |
