UPINDER DHALIWAL
Product Design & Development | Innovation Evangelist | Emerging Technology - XR, Real-time | Animation Director
About me
I have a proven track record of successfully delivering products, leading teams, identifying gaps and champion innovation.
A creative leader with a solid technical skills who thrives in high-growth and high pressure environments.
I have a proven track record of successfully delivering products, leading teams, identifying gaps and champion innovation. I have been developing my skills working across United States, Australia, New Zealand and India for over 20+ years across Films & Visual Effects, Console Games, Kids Television Series, Casino & Gambling industries.
Core Capabilities:
- Product Design & Development
- Innovation Evangelist
- Uniquely skilled to understand software and creative departments needs.
- Adept in working with cross functional teams to automate and optimize product development.
- Proficient in stakeholder management, change management and business process improvements.
- Experience in managing and working with cross-cultural & multi-sourced teams – on site & offshore
- Ability to analyse, evaluate and solve problems; and to take initiative in the workplace.
Skills
A creative leader with a solid technical skills who thrives in high-growth and high pressure environments.
Experience
MARKETING INNOVATION - PORTFOLIO OWNER
Skills: Leadership · Product Development · User Experience (UX) · Creative Problem Solving · Ideas Development · Creative Strategy · Augmented Reality (AR)
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | ANIMATION
- Drive Ideas and Concepts across team, via unique gameplay animations. Focusing on creating brands and realizing patents.
- Research, develop & maintain art/animation pipeline for product Signages, delivering to global marketing teams.
- Provide creative & technical direction to project stakeholders regarding the production approach and the associated development pipeline.
- Drive continual improvement in operational efficiency via better asset management processes, aligning studios production toolset.
- Identify, communicate and resolve problem areas and risks in the production cycle and schedules.
- Work with Project Managers & Art Directors to effectively resource projects.
- Manage a team of animators.
PRODUCT OWNER
As a Product Owner, identified a gap in customer engagement to demonstrate and experience slot games and cabinet design in an immersive experience. I was seconded to a internally funded project to lead a specialist team in developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) using #AugmentedRealty technology stack.
Key Accomplishments:
- Validated and qualified the engagement gap in Customer Engagement, Product Showcase, Product Research and Development verticals.
- Partnered with Global Marketing and Sales teams, IT in developing road-map and product development strategy.
- Successfully developed Minimum Valuable Product (MVP)
- Led an agile team to develop and launch #AugmentedReality app for Marketing, resulting in very positive market response.
- Collaborated with Finance and IT Business Partners in developing Business Plan and Costing for global development and implementation of the product stack.
- Presented in executive level presentation and investment committee.
TEAM LEAD - ANIMATION
- Leading a creative team of industry veterans and creating visuals for next generation of multi platform games for global markets.
- Managing, Supervising and training team members based in Sydney and India.
- Recruiting and onboarding new hires in Sydney and India, conducting performance reviews and setting IDP’s for team members.
- Dealing with Global Marketing and Engineering for content delivery for tradeshows and product development research.
- Identifying, evaluating and overseeing production pipeline. Documentation of new processes, maintaining tools and software for global teams.
- Working with Art Directors, Project Managers and Executive Producers to scope out work, assess technical risks and scheduling resources.
- Subject matter expert in providing technical and creative solutions on projects and pipeline.
Jan 2013 - Oct 2013
Various Companies
Sydney, NSW, Australia
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Commercial Companies:
- Fuel VFX, Sydney
- AltVfx, Brisbane
- Made in Katana, Sydney
- Flying Bark Productions, Sydney
- Commercial Project – Nike Commercial
- Commercial Project – Qantas Commercial
- Music Video Project – Sony Music Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd
- Movie Project – Blinky Bill – Animated Feature Film
CREATIVE | TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
- Movie Projects – Lego – Piece of Resistance – Animated Feature Film
- Movie Projects – The Great Gatsby – Film VFX
- Movie Projects – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – Film VFX
Jan 2011 - Oct 2012
Dr. D Studios
Sydney, NSW, Australia
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
- Movie Projects – Happy Feet 2 – Animated Feature Film
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
- Game Project – L.A Noire – Video Game for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation3
June 2008 - Sep 2010
Krome Studios
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
SENIOR ANIMATOR
- Game Project – Transformers: Revenge Of the Fallen for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2
- Game Project – Microsoft Xbox360 Avatar.
March 2007 - May 2008
Red Tribe
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Senior animator
Game Project – Space Chimps for Microsoft Xbox 360 Game Project – Warner Bros: Looney Tunes Acme Arsenal
June 2005 - March 2007
Binary Star Ltd.
Auckland, New Zealand
TEAM LEAD - ANIMATION
- Game Project – Hybrid – Project for Microsoft Xbox 360 and PC platforms
Oct 2002 - June
Crest Animation Studios
Mumbai, India
SENIOR ANIMATOR
- Tv Production – The Adventures of Piggley Winks – Daytime Emmy award & Annie award winning
- Tv Production – Pet Aliens – Daytime Emmy award nominee
- DVD Production – American Greetings show
- DVD Production – Arthur and missing pals