National XR Day 2025

Alina is a scientific employee at the Applied University of Mittweida, focusing on XR research and EU grants.

Alina specialises in spatial computing and XR research, leveraging the creation of a human-centered future in computing while contributing to publications and standards.

She’s also a founding board member of theSafeZone, an initiative helping teenagers overcome mental health challenges with VR, immersive technology, and quick access to therapists, and a founding member of XRSI Europe.

Alina set up and has been leading the EU activities of Open AR Cloud Europe gUG as managing director through EU-funded research projects like NGI Atlantic, NGI Search and the recently Horizon Europe-funded project XR4Human.

Arno Freeke is a lab coordinator at Delft University of Technology, specializing in 3D design and XR technologies. He is passionate about integrating graphic innovations like VR, AR, games, and animations into education and research. Prior to his current role, Arno co-founded the first VR-LAB at the university's Faculty of Architecture and coordinated @Hok Student IT Desk, providing software support and organizing workshops. He also teaches in a 3D modeling course and co-founded Barricade Studio, focusing on VR content creation for games. Arno's diverse expertise and dedication to pushing the boundaries of XR technology make him a valuable asset in both academia and industry.

Bertrik Berfelo is onderzoeker, docent en projectleider aan de Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN), gespecialiseerd in Sporteconomie en Strategisch Sportmanagement. Hij leidt het Innovatiecentrum Esports en Exergaming, dat de mogelijkheden van esports en exergaming onderzoekt om fysieke activiteit, inclusie en sociale cohesie te bevorderen. Bertrik legt de nadruk op het verbinden van onderzoek, onderwijs en praktijk om een blijvende maatschappelijke impact te realiseren. Zijn expertise omvat esports, exergaming, gamification en virtuele sporten, waarbij Extended Reality (XR)-technologieën een belangrijke rol spelen. Door samen te werken met diverse stakeholders wil hij innovatieve en toegankelijke oplossingen ontwikkelen om maatschappelijke vraagstukken, zoals obesitas en sociale isolatie, effectief aan te pakken.

Dr. Christian Roth is an advocate for positive change through immersive narrative experiences that encourage experimentation and perspective-taking. As a media psychologist, specialised in human-computer-interaction (HCI), he integrates diverse disciplines and creative expressions to engage learners on their educational journey.

Currently based at the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht in the Netherlands (www.hku.nl/), Dr. Roth is a dedicated Research Fellow at the Research Group (Dis)connected Technology & Creativity and educator at the HKU School of Games specializing in interactive narrative, educational games, and meaningful design. Dr. Roth also founded DELTA Innovative Learning a consultancy company for immersive learning experiences. His work stands at the intersection of academia, education, art, and practical application, exploring and evaluating the use of interactive narratives and extended realities for personal growth and transformative learning.

Dr. Roth is involved in a series of European projects on the topics of games, storytelling, art and education. More under his website www.spieleforschung.de/en

I am a cognition researcher with a background in computer science and neuroscience, focused on understanding and influencing human behavior in areas related to sustainability and health. My work spans topics such as consumption preferences, attitudes toward climate change, and usability in smart city environments.

Lecturer Civil Engineering and ICTO coach

Ilona Steege is a Dutch video professional with over 25 years of experience in television production, animation, and video editing. Based in Sittard, she began her career in children's and youth television, working as an editor, camera operator, and presenter. In 2009, Ilona established her own company, Ilona Steege Producties, initially producing travel shows before specialising in creating accessible explainer animations and videos for a diverse range of clients.

Since 2020, she has also been working part-time at Maastricht University, supporting video and animation projects within the University Library. In this role, she also produces interactive videos that enhance the library's digital environment, offering engaging and informative content for students and researchers. Additionally, she contributes to the Digital Labs, which provide multimedia facilities such as video and podcast studios, Makerspace resources and VR equipment.

With a background as nurse anesthesia he felt the passion to educate other professionals about anesthesia. In combination with being a fanatic gamer, (XR) simulation education became his field of expertise. Now as an educationalist for the national funded program DUTCH, PhD-candidate at Amsterdam UMC in XR simulation education and being an educator at Erasmus MC, he is providing and deepening his knowledge about simulation education.

XR developer and project lead at Npuls and TU Delft.

Jeroen Kelder is a digital learning enthusiast with a strong focus on the development of meaningful and scalable digital learning solutions. Within Npuls XR programme, he leads the development of Simulearn, a collaborative platform initiative supported by DUTCH and SURF. Jeroen has extensive experience in co-creation, educational innovation, and platform development, and is driven by the belief that smart technology combined with human-centered design can accelerate learning and empower education professionals and learners.

Dr. Joanneke Weerdmeester is a behavioural scientist dedicated to designing and validating digital and hybrid experiences that help us understand and manage our well-being in interactive, playful, and meaningful ways. Her doctoral research explored the potential of game-based biofeedback interventions for anxiety regulation. She currently works as a researcher at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht and as a freelance consultant, bridging the fields of science, healthcare, and game design.

John Walker is an Emerging Technology Advisor, focused currently on integrating ethics into Extended Reality (XR) Technologies for education and research. He work at SURF and on the XR Pilothub at Npuls.

Laureate Onderwijspremie 2024, lead Keeping Order in the Virtual Reality (Kindergarten) Classroom, lead Adding a Layer to Learning (training teachers to use XR for STEM-education)

Kelsey Farish is a technology and media lawyer with a focus on digital identity, generative AI, and the legal implications of synthetic audiovisual content. Her work examines how emerging technologies shape (and reshape) our understanding of self, privacy, and representation.
Kelsey advises clients across the media and entertainment industries, from broadcasters and streamers to creators and brands, helping them navigate complex rights frameworks in a fast-changing technological landscape. With a background in both legal practice and cultural commentary, she connects the dots between regulation, storytelling, and the power structures behind how we’re seen - and how we see each other.
She is considered to be a leading legal expert on digital modification of the human form and in addition to her day job as a lawyer, she is a peer-reviewed academic who published one of the first papers on deepfakes in the context of publicity and performers’ rights in 2019. Most recently, she co-authored a chapter on influencer marketing and social media regulation in The Handbook of Fashion Law (Oxford University Press, 2024), exploring how platforms and advertising shape cultural norms around body image, truth, and digital modification.

Als beleidsadviseur Educatieve Technologie bij Firda hou ik me bezig met structureel implementeren van technologieën in ons onderwijs. Denk hierbij aan verschillende interactieve tools, XR en de toepassingen van AI. Dit doe ik om ons onderwijs beter blended te maken en technologieën optimaal te benutten. Wat ik daarbij belangrijk vind is om de juiste keuzes te maken. Soms is technologie heel nuttig, maar soms ook helemaal niet. Als het niet bijdraagt aan het doel van jouw onderwijs moet je het niet doen. Die keuze moet je dan ook durven maken wanneer dat van belang is voor de kwaliteit van het onderwijs.

Ik heb de afgelopen jaren successen gezien met de implementatie van XR, maar ook zeker een aantal missers.

I'm a passionate professional skilled in strategic and project management, coaching and teaching, in particular in the field of historical and cultural research, art and music. I have experience in vision-mission-strategy-elaboration and curriculumdevelopment, and I love to combine this with (more practical) facilitation, communication and business organisation. I want to contribute to an optimal learning environment (and learning results) by creating inviting, inclusive and innovative learning spaces.

Paul Melis is senior visualization advisor in the High-Performance Computing & Visualization group at SURF, having worked at SURFsara and SARA since 2009. Besides supporting HPC users with (data) visualization, he spends part of his time on XR innovation within the SURF innovation lab. His XR activities include keeping tracking of hardware, software and market developments, trend watching, coordinating the SURF XR Developer Network, managing the SURF XR Innovation Forum, providing technical input and giving XR demonstrations.

He has an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Twente, and worked at the University of Groningen and University of Amsterdam before joining SURF.

At Saxion University of Applied Sciences I am the project leader of the XR-hub in Healthcare and Social Work. In addition, I am a lecturer for the bachelor's degree in nursing and the master's degree in Healthcare and Social Work. I also work as a researcher at the research group (lectoraat) Technology, Health and Care.

Roel Peijs is Blended Coach bij VISTA college, waar hij een sleutelrol speelde in de totstandkoming van het XR-lab en de brede implementatie van extended reality (XR) binnen het mbo-onderwijs. Hij adviseert onderwijsteams over de didactische inzet van XR en begeleidt hen in het integreren van innovatieve technologieën in hun lespraktijk. Daarnaast is Roel actief binnen de innovatiehub XR van Hogeschool Zuyd, waar hij zijn praktijkervaring vanuit VISTA college inzet om de implementatiefase van XR in het hbo vorm te geven.

Roel Peijs is a Blended Coach at VISTA college, where he played a key role in establishing the XR Lab and in the broader implementation of extended reality (XR) within vocational education. He advises teaching teams on the didactic use of XR and supports them in integrating innovative technologies into their educational practice. Roel is also part of the XR innovation hub at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, where he contributes his hands-on experience from VISTA college to support the implementation phase of XR in higher education.

Roland van Roijen is a creative technologist with a passion for blending design, 3D, and immersive tech. With a background in graphic design from his early days at TU Delft’s NewMedia Centre, Roland transitioned into 3D visuals and animation before diving into web development and XR. For the past three years, he’s been the coordinator of the NewMedia Centre – MediaLab, where he explores XR innovation, virtual production, 3D scanning, motion tracking, and whatever new tech challenge comes next. Always curious, always building—and always having fun doing it.

Shant Bayramian is a lecturer, researcher, and audiovisual essayist with a passion for the transformative power of audiovisual and immersive media, including XR and emerging technologies like generative AI. He shares his vision through education and media production, combining academic roles with creative practice. Shant currently serves as Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Educational Developer at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, focusing on Media and XR Studies. He is also the founder of The Audiovisual Essayist platform and a founding member of the NGO For You Hayasdan, which supports education in Armenia.

Timon is an XR developer at the Wander team at Wageningen University & Research, where he brings immersive environments to life through cutting-edge visualization. He specializes in Unity and C#, combining technical skill with creative vision to make complex environmental data accessible and engaging through XR.

Tom Aerts is the founder of VRinSCHOOL, supporting over 100 schools (VO and MBO) in successfully integrating Virtual Reality into education. Driven by a passion for learning by doing, he co-creates with his development team at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, hands-on VR experiences that make education more engaging and accessible. Tom works closely with teachers to ensure the technology truly fits the classroom. His mission: to make learning more practical, immersive, and inspiring for the next generation. Learn more about Tom on LinkedIn.

Startup founder at Softcare Studios, a digital health company developing VR solutions in healthcare, focused on virtual sedation in patients undergoing painful medical procedures, and clinical training for health specialists. PhD in the field of Neuropharmacology, TEDx speaker and author on digital innovation and social impact. Professor at the Rome Business School, on the topics of digital transformation, AI and XR in business management and strategy. President of XRSI Europe, NGO supporting digital safety and privacy of emerging technologies.

While our own physical world is great, sometimes you want something extra, something that is not really possible within the traditional realm of reality. It is my passion to explore how we can enrich our own reality with virtual elements, creating experiences that would not be possible without new immersive technology.
I believe that this technology has opportunities to create a more enjoyable and enriching experience out of both traditional and new activities. Theater could be interactive and have incredible effects, boring data can become fun and collaborative, and presentations can bring you the information in visual and easy to comprehend fashions.
My fire is further kindled by publicly available and shared platforms. I am a hard believer in Open Source, EU products, and products that share their knowledge with the world.
If you are interested in the topics of mixed reality, digitally enriched experiences, and open source, then feel free to reach out!