Joseph Alan Narai

Creative Technology Innovator

Introduction

I am a technology innovator with over 35 years of entrepreneurship, business and research & development experience having created many worlds-first and award-winning companies and products across a wide variety of industries. I have founded several technology-based businesses and have held the positions of chief executive officer, chief technology officer, managing director, technical director, R&D manager, and software engineer.

The combination of my talent for real-time system design and development, my passion for intuitive, ergonomic, and joyful user experiences and my drive to be the best in whatever I do, means that I’m in my element when I’m assembling and leading a talented multi-disciplinary team as we create a visionary new product from the spark of an idea.

On the creative side, I am a sound designer and mixer, audio engineer and music composer. I’m also a film producer having produced a feature film released in 2020, along with several award-winning short films. I have also produced a world’s first VR Comic Book, released on Steam in 2017. I have also created a proof-of-concept prototype for a virtual ride recording and playback system using a VR headset and a KUKA entertainment robot. I also dabble in graphic design, writing, directing and video game creation.

I’m an avid ocean Cruiser. I love being on the open ocean, enjoying the delicious cuisine, engaging entertainment, and most importantly waking up to a new port every day, with exciting places to explore and discover.

Finally, I have a passion for space technology, exploration and research and a love of all thing’s science and science fiction. This is at the heart of what drives me to work at the forefront of technological development – the opportunity to turn science fiction into reality.

Awards

  • Runner Up “Award for Excellence in Content” for “MORIARTY: ENDGAME VR”, Inaugural Wake in Fright Trust Award, 2018
  • Winner “Award of Merit” and Finalist “Humanitarian Award” for “The Veiled”, Accolade Global Film Competition, 2017
  • Official Selection for “The Veiled”, First Glance Film Festival, Philadelphia, 2017; Real Film Festival, Newcastle, 2017; ACCTA Social Shorts, 2017; Montreal World Film Festival, Montreal, 2016
  • Winner “Desk Controller category” for “Tango 2”, Resolution Awards, 2012
  • Winner “Best product of show” for “The Smart Console” at AES, San Francisco, October 2005.
  • Winner “Australian Design Award” for “The Smart Console”, April 2005.
  • Winner “Award for Innovation in Media” for “The Smart Console” at NAB, Las Vegas, April 2005.
  • Winner “Australian Design Award” for “Postation II”, April 2002.
  • Winner 2 x “Practical Laser Physics Prize”, University of NSW, 1987, 1988.

Portfolio

Here are some of the products and projects I’m most proud of.

Skittles Vending Machine
Design to Production
for Mars-Wrigley
2023

GUILT
Feature Film
Cobalt Media
2020

Sydney 360
360 Video Travel Guide
Zenso
2020

Sotto Voce
Acoustic health monitoring system
Monarc Media Labs
2020

Bonnets & Britches
Short Film
Transmedia Entertainment
2018

ROBORIDER VR
Virtual Reality Ride System
Transmedia Entertainment
2018

Retire Right!
VR Game Show Experience
Transmedia Entertainment
2018

Moriarty: ENDGAME VR
VR Comic Book
Transmedia Entertainment
2017

THE VEILED
Short Film
Transmedia Entertainment
2016

FLIPPED CLASSROOM VR
VR Marketing Experience
Transmedia Entertainment
2015

PHASE FRAMES
Vivid Festival Interactive Experience
Transmedia Entertainment
2015

Tango 2
DAW Controller
Smart AV
2011

Tango 2 Smart Console

Release The Dove
Album
Eloael
2007

Release the Dove - Cover

Tango
DAW Controller
Smart AV
2008

Tango Smart Console

The Art Of Inspiration
Art Book
Ivankaart
2007

The Art of Inspiration Cover

Pro Series
Smart Console
Smart AV
2005

Professional Series Smart Console

Elite Series
Smart Console
Smart AV
2004

Elite Series Smart Console

Postation II
Digital Audio Workstation
DSP Media
2005

Postation
Digital Audio Workstation
dSP
1998

Boy
Short Film
dSP
1997

Boy

Skills

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Fluent in:

  • Company and team leadership, particularly across cross functional teams
  • Product ownership, research and management
  • Technology ownership, research and management
  • User and market research
  • Executive reporting, presentation and communication
  • HR and general management
  • Contract negotiation
  • R&D tax incentive management and application
  • EMDG management and application
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Fluent in:

  • Agile project management using Atlassian JIRA, Confluence and other agile platforms
  • Traditional project management using Microsoft Project and Teams
PROGRAMMING

Fluent in:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, C++, C and C#
  • Microsoft Visual Code C++, C, BASH, Python
  • Avalonia, C# (deploying to all platforms)
  • Unity 3D C# (deploying to all platforms)
  • Beyond Compare, Git
  • Windows, Mac OS, iOS and Android Operating Systems
  • GitHub and BitBucket

Proficient in:

  • Xcode, Objective-C and Swift
  • Android Studio, Java and Kotlin
  • Linux, Java
  • Javascript and Node JS for server side scalable programming
  • Microcontroller level firmware (C, C++ and assembler) programming

AUDIO RECORDING, EDITING AND MIXING

Fluent in:

  • Film Audio engineering (location recording, ADR, Foley, sound design, mixing)
  • Music Audio engineering (live and studio recording, composing, arranging, mixing)
  • Production (film, music and game)
  • Steinberg Nuendo and Cubase
  • Adobe Audition
  • Ableton Live
  • DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight

Proficient in:

  • AVID Pro Tools
  • Apple Logic

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Fluent in:

  • Camera operation and techniques
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign)
  • Frame Forge 3D Studio 2 (3D Storyboard creation)

VIDEO RECORDING AND EDITING

Fluent in:

  • Camera operation and techniques
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Adobe Premiere
  • Da Vinci Resolve.

WEB DESIGN

Fluent in:

  • WordPress
  • HTML, CSS

Proficient in:

  • PHP
  • JavaScript.

WORDS

Fluent in:

  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Visio)
  • Scrivener, Movie Magic Screenwriter 6, Celtx

LANGUAGES

Fluent in:

  • English
  • Croatian

Experience

ZENSO

December 2020 – now

Founding Partner

Zenso uses the principles of Zen and Enso to create digital experiences for humans. We are modern digital architects, enthralling storytellers and technology innovators. We are the perfect blend of technical skill, analytical focus and passionate creativity.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Company Establishment including: Initial company set-up, budget and cash-flow preparation.

Technology Evaluation and Management including: Evaluating technologies, components and systems for use in our current and future products and IT systems.

Research and Development management including: Product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

Main programming languages: C# (Avalonia, Unity), Swift

zenso.group

DEQX

March 2024 – now

R&D Manager, March 2024 – now

DEQX has been pioneering digital loudspeaker correction, crossover and room compensation technology for over 20 years.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research and Development management including product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

DEQX (deqx.com)

DESIGN TO PRODUCTION

July 2022 – now

Chief Technical Officer, July 2022 – October 2023

Senior Software and Firmware Engineer, October 2023 – now

Design to Production is passionate about designing and integrating innovative digital signage solutions, enabling brands to interact seamlessly with customers at all touch screen monitor touchpoints.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technology Evaluation and Management including Evaluating technologies, components and systems for use in current and future products and IT systems.

Research and Development management including Product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

Production debugging and testing and customer support.

Main programming languages: C# (Unity, .NET), C (RP2040 Embedded CPU)

Digital Signage Solutions Australia | Design to Production (d-p.com.au)

MONARC MEDIA LABS

December 2018 – June 2021

Co-Founder / Chief Technology Officer

Monarc Media Labs is creating media technology that empowers deep creative expression.

RESPONSIBILITIES AS CTO

Technology Evaluation and Management including: Evaluating technologies, components and systems for use in our current and future products and IT systems.

Research and Development management including: Product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

I’m also very hands on with software and am responsible for overall software architecture and development across all of the subsystems.

Main programming languages: C, C++, C# (.NET, Unity)

RESPONSIBILITIES AS CO-FOUNDER

Company Establishment including: Initial company set-up, locating and fit out of premises, budget and cash-flow preparation.

Monthly Reporting and Board Meetings.

monarc.media

TRANSMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT

July 2012 – November 2018

Founder / Managing Director

Transmedia Entertainment was a leading-edge transmedia studio, specialising in immersive storytelling, compelling universe creation, film, TV & game production, mobile apps, ergonomic UI design and general tech development.

ACHIEVEMENTS

My achievements include: successfully securing and developing a variety of transmedia projects including the world’s first Immersive Cinematic Virtual Reality Comic Book, a unique VR Game Show to help Qantas Super members engage with their super, an interactive audio visual installation for the Sydney Vivid festival as well as many other innovative VR applications and two award winning short films. I also successfully verified a novel concept design for a virtual reality recording and playback system for a KUKA Entertainment Robot.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Company Establishment including: Initial company set-up, locating and fit out of premises, budget and cash-flow preparation.

Technology Evaluation and Management including: Evaluating technologies, components and systems for use in our current and future products and IT systems.

Research and Development management including: Product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

I’m also very hands on with software and am responsible for overall software architecture and development across all of the subsystems.

Main programming languages: C# (Unity), C, C++, Node JS, Objective-C, Java

transmedia-entertainment.com

SMART AV

August 2003 – June 2012

Chief Technology Officer, 2005 – 2012

Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer, 2003 – 2005

Smart AV was a Sydney based company designing and manufacturing patented control surfaces for digital audio and video workstations.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Winning Best Product in “Desk Controller category” for “Tango 2”, Resolution Awards, 2012

2011, Developing Tango 2, a second generation touch screen based control surface, from concept to production prototype in a 9 month period.

2008, Developing Tango, a touch screen based control surface, from concept to production prototype in a 9 month period.

2005, Developing the Professional Series Smart Console from concept to production prototype in a 9 month period.

Winning Best product of show for The Smart Console at AES, San Francisco, October 2005.

Winning an Australian Design Award for The Smart Console, April 2005.

Winning an Award for Innovation in Media for The Smart Console at NAB, Las Vegas, April 2005.

Developing the Elite Series Smart Console from concept to production prototype in a 12 month period, 2003.

RESPONSIBILITIES AS CTO

Technology Evaluation and Management including: Evaluating technologies, components and systems for use in our current and future products. Considering and planning for product life cycles and finding suitable replacement components and sub systems.

Research and Development management including: Product specification and design including software, electronic, mechanical, ergonomic and UI design, Project planning, alpha and beta test coordination, as well as supervising documentation and technical support.

Software interface management and development including: Liaising with Digital Audio Workstation manufacturers, engine interface communication and protocol specification and development and debugging.

I’m also very hands on with software and responsible for all physical and virtual UI development.

Main programming languages: C, C++

RESPONSIBILITIES AS CO-FOUNDER / CEO / COO

Company Establishment including: Initial company set-up, locating and fit out of premises, budget and cash-flow preparation.

Sales and Marketing management including: Preparation of marketing materials , trade show planning and attendance, product demonstration, establishing international dealer network.

After the successful console launch I wanted to focus exclusively on product development so my founding partner and co-founder took over as CEO/COO and I became CTO.

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

January 2003 – June 2003

Technical Business Consultant

Macquarie University’s Centre for Lasers and Applications (CLA) was established in 1988 as an Australian Commonwealth Special Research Centre. It is one of Australia’s leading research organizations. Research interests within the CLA range from fundamental laser and optical physics, through laser technology and engineering, and on to related applications.

RESPONSIBILITIES

I performed a business analysis for the development of a business plan for the medical commercialisation of a patented Yellow Laser system developed by the Centre for Lasers and Applications at the university.

The business analysis included: market analysis including market size and segmentation, competitor analysis along with a detailed product review and drafting of the product specification.

I also performed a systems engineering analysis with estimated costs and timetables to take the product from its current state to full production.

AV MEDIA / FAIRLIGHT

November 2001 – August 2003

Co-Founder / Chief Operating Officer

Established in November 2001, AV Media was set up as a member of the Fairlight Group of companies. AV Media purchased DSP Media’s IP and is focusing its development on three major areas: V motion – a video hard disk recorder / player, AV transfer – a utility software program for audio and video file conversion and AV edit – a windows based digital audio and video workstation. These three products have since become the core of Fairlight’s new product line.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Keeping the key members of the DSP Media R&D team together while successfully managing the transition from DSP to AV Media / Fairlight.

Developing several new products innovative products.

Returning a profit within nine months of company start in a difficult economic and business climate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

I set up and managed the company consisting of a team of seven R&D engineers and production staff. My duties included budget and cash-flow preparation, liaising with worldwide Fairlight sales offices, new product specification and design, project planning, production management along with marketing and trade show planning and attendance and product demonstration.

Main programming languages: C, C++

DSP / DSP MEDIA

July 1991 – September 2001

Co-Founder / Chief Technology Officer, 1999 – 2001

Co-Founder / Managing Director, 1991 – 1999

Digital Studio Processing (dSP) was a pioneering player in the global digital audio post-production market. Its primary product was the Postation, a combined hard disk based audio editor, video player and mixing control surface.

DSP Media was the post venture capital form of Digital Studio Processing. It was a global company with offices in Los Angeles, London and Sydney with over 40 employees.

ACHIEVEMENTS

I managed the growth of the company from 6 staff with an annual turnover of $500k (from primarily Australian sales), to a company with 25 staff and an annual turnover of over $4M from a global distribution network.

Successful capital raising to grow the company further.

Developing two new products in very fast turnaround times. The core team consisted of 6 software engineers, 4 electronic hardware engineers, 3 mechanical engineers, 2 documentation engineers and several external consultants and manufacturing and design companies.

The main product was our second generation audio production station, Postation II. It was developed in a record time of 9 months from first concept to delivery of the first production unit.

We also evolved our disk based video recorder to be a standalone product called V motion. The V motion was redesigned in a 6 month period using a newly developed hardware video board.

Winning an Australian Design Award for Postation II, April 2002.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As Managing Director I was responsible for developing the strategy for growing the company, particularly getting the company established as an exporter. I setup distribution channels in Japan, UK, Germany and the USA.

The company applied for three successful government R&D grant applications (totalling around $1.5M over four years). In addition to my managerial duties I also led the R&D team and was a lead programmer. I continued to attend trade shows and travelled extensively for both product demonstration, sales, installation and on site research and development catering for specific customer requirements.

During 1999 we decided that additional capital was required to grow the company and I was heavily involved in preparing the information memorandum and securing the deal to raise $2M capital for expansion.

Upon successful capital raising, I moved to full time CTO to allow me to focus solely on new product development.

Product germination, product and design specification, project timelines, budget and cash-flow preparation, liaison with external design and production consultants, R&D staff management, along with programming and debugging.

Main programming languages: C, C++

In addition to my technical duties, I had sales and marketing duties both in preparing technical marketing materials as well as product demonstration at both trade shows and clients facilities.

Finally, I also had boardroom responsibilities, both reporting to and chairing board meetings, and I was also heavily involved in the raising of a second round of finance (US$4M) for the company’s continued growth.

SPINIFEX / JMC / TIME DELAY

November 1988 – June 1991

Spinifex Technologies was setup as a software consultancy / contract company.

Co-Founder / Managing Director / Lead Programmer, Dec 1990 – June 1995

In June of 1995, the founder of Digital Studio Processing Pty. Ltd. passed away and I was asked by the remaining shareholder to take over as Managing director. I accepted and this was the reason I withdrew from my PhD studies.

Development of the software for a world class audio product from initial concept through to commercial product while undertaking PhD studies in Laser Flow Cytometry.

As Managing Director and Lead Programmer, I was responsible for contract negotiation, design specification, allocation of tasks to the two other programmers, liaison with potential customers, application debugging, trade show attendance and product demonstration.

Main programming languages: C

JMC Academy of Audio Engineering was a Sydney based Audio Engineering school, and now a global media education business.

Digital Audio Course Developer / Lecturer, Nov 1991 – Dec 1993

I developed, wrote and taught JMC’s first digital audio engineering course and delivered the lectures and tutorials.

Time Delay Studios was an owner operated recording studio based in Sydney.

Owner/ Audio Engineer, Nov 1988 – Dec 1992

As well as successfully managing my first small business, during this period I also designed and developed a computer music midi sequencer for use in the studio which evolved into digital audio workstation software that was to become the basis for Digital Studio Processing’s Digital Audio Workstation.

Set up and management of a small recording studio, primarily for recording demonstration tapes for unsigned recording artists and groups.

Capital purchase decisions, studio design and wiring, studio acoustic design, audio engineering, music composition, advertising and bookkeeping.

Education

NIDA

2009

The Director – 6 month part time Directing course.

NIDA is Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art, a centre of excellence in training for theatre, film and television. Acquire the skills and confidence required to lead a creative team, motivate a company of performers and inspire audiences.

Actors Centre Australia

2003

Power of Acting – 1 Year part time Acting Course.

Australia’s premier one year part time acting program, this course is for participants to explore and claim a practical, flexible and highly effective acting technique.

Macquarie University

1990 – 1995

PhD Laser Physics / Laser Flow Cytometry

5 years research work including a final thesis outline.

Withdrawn due to business commitments, see Professional Experience (Spinifex Technologies / dSP – Digital Studio Processing).

ACHIEVEMENTS

During my PhD I developed a new technique allowing for the first time, the use of pulsed lasers in laser flow cytometry. I drafted a provisional patent which was applied for on behalf of the University.

The second achievement was being able to image every individual cell in a flow cytometer using high sensitivity cooled CCD detectors and high repetition rate pulsed lasers. Previous research had captured images of cells in flow, but we were the first to allow image capturing of EVERY cell in a given sample.

The final major achievement was toward the end of my research work, I lead the technical instrumentation team applying Laser Flow Cytometry to detect Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites in drinking water. The techniques we developed were published and are still being used today by water authorities around the world.

I was also involved in the commercialisation of other technology in the Centre for Lasers and Applications during my time at the University.

JMC Academy

1989

Sound Engineering Certificate / Audio Engineering and Production

RESULTS

Assessment: 78.8%, Theory: 95.7%, Practical: 81%.

University of NSW

1985 – 1988

Bachelor of Science, Hons (Physics)

Majors in Marine Acoustics and Computer Modelling.

RESULTS

Honours Class 2, Division 1.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Along with the basic course work, I was awarded two university prizes for my work in practical laser physics. A co-student and I developed a technique for traffic (car movement) detection using optical fibres. The technique was patented by the University and I was involved in drafting the patent as well as finding and working with a company to commercially develop the technology.

Publications

Macquarie University

1990 – 1996

Gauci, M., Vesey, G., Narai, J., Veal, D. A., Williams, K. and Piper, J. 1996. Observation of single cell fluorescence spectra in laser flow cytometry. Cytometry. 25: 388-393.

Vesey, G., Narai, J., Ashbolt, N., Williams, K., Veal, D. 1994. Detection of specific micro-organisms in environmental samples using flow cytometry. Methods in Cell Biology. 42: 489-522.

Vesey, G., Champion, A. C., Narai, J. A., Hutton, P. E., Rossington, G., Veal, D. A., and Ashbolt, N. 1993. The application of flow cytometry to the detection of pathogens in drinking water. Australasian Flow Cytometry Group Annual Meeting, Melbourne, 30 June – 2 July.

Vesey, G., Narai, J., Ashbolt, N. and Veal, D. A. 1993. Rapid detection of specific individual micro-organisms using flow cytometry. (Invited paper) Australasian Microbiologist 14 (4) A73.

Vesey, G., Champion, A.C., Narai, J., Hutton, P. E., Ashbolt, N. J. and Veal, D. A. 1993. Concentration and Detection of protozoan parasites in the Antipodies. In Proceedings of the American Society for Microbiology Conference on Water Quality in the Western Hemisphere, 17 – 22 April, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Narai J, Piper J. 1993. In flow imaging of cells using High Repetition Rate Pulsed Lasers and cooled CCD detectors in Flow Cytometry. In Proceedings of the XVI International Congress of the International Society for Analytical Cytology, March 21-26, 1993, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

Narai J, Ramsay D and Piper J. 1991. Use of High Repetition Rate Pulsed Lasers in Flow Cytometry. In Proceedings of the XV Congress of the International Society for Analytical Cytology, Aug. 25-30, 1991, in Bergen, Norway

Interests

  • I’m passionate about space, space exploration, space technology and astronomy.
  • I’m addicted to travelling, particularly ocean cruising, scenic driving, and walking.
  • I love theme parks, rides, and immersive experiences.
  • I enjoy playing and designing games of any description including; computer, board and card games as well as brain teasers and puzzles.
  • I love watching movies, particularly in my state-of-the-art home theatre.
  • I also voraciously read books, primarily in the sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, and espionage genres.

References

Duncan Ross – CEO at Monarc Media Labs

Glenn Dickins – Platform Architect at Audinate

Roger Savage – Owner of Soundfirm

Contact details available upon request.

Gallery

Here are some photos of my work.