Kader Bagli, Lead Compositing Artist, RISE | Visual Effects Studios

Kader Bağlı is a Lead Compositing Artist, working at RISE Visual Effects Studios.Beyond her professional pursuits, Kader is actively involved in volunteer work within the ACM SIGGRAPH Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, to foster a more inclusive environment for the conference throughout the year. In addition to her involvement with ACM SIGGRAPH, Kader volunteers also as a European Chapter for ACCESS:VFX, which is an e-mentoring program to pursue opportunities to step into the VFX industry. Being a visual artist and a person that values the importance of DEI, she aims to empower cultural diversity and show appreciation for storytelling through visual effects within all communities.  

Debra Coleman, VFX Career and Leadership Coach, Director of, Open Frame Coaching

Debra is a VFX veteran and the founder of Open Frame Coaching, providing coaching and leadership development for VFX professionals and studios.

Debra has enjoyed over 25 years working in the visual effects industry, progressing from Runner at Cinesite to Global Head of Compositing at DNEG, compositing on 25+ films and closely overseeing delivery of 100+ projects by hundreds of artists. Along the way, she has been involved with winning 3 Oscars and 3 BAFTAs, worked overseas, been a craft judge for both British Arrows and the Royal Television Society, is a proud parent of twins and an advocate for women in VFX including being on the board of Animated Women UK (AWUK) and as a WIA Mentor.

Carolyn Giardina, Senior Entertainment Technology & Crafts Editor, Variety

Carolyn Giardina is senior entertainment technology and crafts editor at Variety, which she joined in 2024, following more than 15 years at The Hollywood Reporter. She has also worked on titles including SHOOT, Cinema Editor, The IBC Daily and SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal.

Her commitment to education includes serving as a lecturer at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts. She also co-authored a book about stereoscopic 3D filmmaking, titled “Exploring 3D” (Focal Press, 2013).

Carolyn has been honored with American Cinema Editors’ Robert Wise Award for journalistic contributions to film editing; the International Cinematographers Guild’s Technicolor William A. Fraker Award for journalistic contributions to cinematography; the Women in Technology Hollywood Leadership Award; and the Advanced Imaging Society’s Distinguished Leadership Lumiere Award.

Carolyn has long been an active member of the community. That includes nearly two decades on the HPA Board of Directors, during which time she co-founded and was founding chair of the HPA Awards.

Nancy Ward, Executive Director, Visual Effects Society

As Executive Director, Nancy is a key member of the Visual Effects Society's leadership team, supporting nearly 5,000 members in 40+ countries. VES is dedicated to advancing and promoting visual effects and empowering the global honorary society's membership through professional education, enriching benefits, fostering community and industry recognition. Previously serving as the VES Program and Development Director, Nancy oversaw direct fundraising, partnerships, alliances and new programs.  

Prior to joining VES, Nancy spent more than a decade in advertising, direct marketing and business development for publicly traded and nonprofit organizations.

Saraswathi Vani Balgam, CEO & Creative Director, Dancing Atoms

Saraswathi is an animation and VFX visionary with over 20 years of experience conjuring magic from pixels across India and the USA. She has directed award-winning shorts, produced a documentary acclaimed at the Stuttgart International Film Festival, and is developing a preschool show headed to the Asian Animation Summit 2024. She has collaborated with Monk Studios and Epic Story Media, while her animated feature is currently being pitched by her management company.

As the CEO of Dancing Atoms Studios, she spearheads original films while mentoring studios globally. As a creative director, she has partnered with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to launchthe WAVES animation filmmakers' competition that has attracted worldwide participation, fostering new talent and innovation in the industry.

For the past three years, she partnered with Epic Games as the creative director of the Women Creators Program, mentoring over 120 women across 17 countries to create Unreal short films andgames.

When she’s not breaking barriers in the animation world, Saraswathi serves on the ASIFA-Hollywood board, leads Women in Animation India, explores Dhrupad singing, creates pastel paintings, experiments in the kitchen, and tackles the quiet trails of the Himalayas.