Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
For interviews, speaking and commentary requests please contact Archetype Australia: [email protected] An expert in virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality content creation, Angus Stevens is on the forefront of the metaverse for learning. He is the CEO and co-founder of Start Beyond, an award-winning VR and AR studio that is transforming enterprise training, onboarding, and collaboration through their scalable training platform Oncio, which enables users to learn four times faster than they would through traditional methods. In six years Start Beyond has delivered more than 900,000 AR and VR experiences, putting them in a unique position to spearhead Australia’s journey into the metaverse for learning. Working with fortune global 500 companies Accenture and Meta, as well as US-based VR company Strivr, Start Beyond knows the value of partnerships in building the future of learning. Some of their clients include St John Ambulance, ANSTO, Woolworths, SocialWise and the University of Newcastle. Angus has 15 years’ experience across film, television, and theatre, he is an expert storyteller who believes the more nuanced and authentic the story telling is - the deeper the learning will be. His collaborative and pragmatic approach to content creation and intuitive spatial design gives Start Beyond its edge. His began his career as a director and producer, directing student films at the University of Sydney as an undergraduate before heading overseas and working for Bob Geldof’s Planet 24 television production company before transitioning into digital, pioneering Southern Cross Austereo’s video digital strategy from the inception of YouTube, working with talent like Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, and Paul Kelly. He then went on to establish Nova Entertainment as one of Australia’s most popular entertainment sites.
The Australian Metaverse Advisory Council consists of Australia’s leading industry figures; the purpose of the AMAC is educate, advocate and advise businesses, government departments and consumers on matters relating to the Australian metaverse industry.
Angus Stevens is CEO & Co-Founder of Start Beyond; Australia’s leading VR & AR immersive learning studio. Having built out Southern Cross Austereo and Nova Entertainment’s digital platforms, since 2016, Angus has been Start Beyond’s Executive Producer and Director for over 75 mixed reality (VR/AR) experiences; with clients that range from international and Australian-based businesses, to local, state and federal government departments, to media publishers and educational organisations.
Devise with the co-founders the strategic vision of the company. Oversee all commercial aspects of the Start Beyond studio. Develop and execute Start Beyond sales operations and business strategy including pitching and winning new business. Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with government departments, business, brands & agencies to develop spatial learning solutions and generate growth. Generate and maintain strong client relationships. Manage the output of the commercial studio and lead a team of dedicated broadcasting professionals including VR Producers, Creative Directors, Developers and Designers ,to deliver premium VR & AR experiences. Build within the newly established VR & AR industry; a successful & profitable marketing leading spatial learning studio which generates significant YoY revenue growth. Off the back of Start Beyond's commercial success the business has gained industry recognition; winning the AMY Award for Best Digital Start Up 2017. As well as being a finalist in Mumbrella Asia Awards 2017 - APAC Specialist Agency of the Year and B&T Awards 2017 Emerging Agency of the Year.
Established StartVR's commercial content division. Generated commercial sales and devised business development strategy. Recruited and managed a team of Producers, Directors, Designers and VR specialists to develop and produce premium VR & 360° Video experiences for clients and agencies. First to market with thought leadership around Virtual Reality and the content opportunities available for brands, organisations and industries through VR experiences. Established strong relationships with senior level individuals at agencies and brands. Successfully delivered high profile premium commercial projects and leveraged their success to generate new clients.
In addition to being a member of the Board for the Digital & Technology Collective; I am Co-Chair of the 24th AMY Awards 2018.
Responsibilities and achievements: Built Nova Entertainment's digital content strategy, creating new revenue streams and driving audience engagement across multiple platforms to achieve YoY digital revenue growth of 53% - 2015. Recruited and built a national team from 11 to 18 digital content producers to deliver content and products across all Nova Entertainment digital brands including Nova and Smooth networks as well as Star FM & FiveAA. Created new and extended existing, strategic digital partnerships. Delivered to the Group Executive as the company's social media expert / escalation point for the network's digital response to breaking news events and crisis management. Drove change management, securing the support of the Board and Group Executive to effectively integrate digital throughout all facets of the business. Built a culture of success within Digital team - establishing national content structure to improve efficiencies, and consistency of brand and content quality. Audience Results: For the first time in the company’s history delivered record audience growth; - Nova Entertainment in the top 20 publishers in Australia – all devices. - YoY Audience growth of over 183%. - Average Daily UBs from 77k to over 218k* - Lifting Nova FM to #1 in commercial radio ADUBs, PI, Average Session and Average Page duration. - Nova FM No1 in ADUBs in Melbourne, Brisbane. Perth & Adelaide*. *Nielsen Market Intelligence Devised and implemented Nova Entertainment’s “Social First” strategy. Generating audience and revenue growth through optimisation new social channels across Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Pinterest. During my 2 and half years at Nova Entertainment - Smooth FM’s Facebook digital social community grew from 31,000 to over 710,000. - Nova FM Facebook digital social community grew from 430,000 to over 3 million. - Nova Entertainment’s digital social community now exceeds over 4.1 million fans.
Created new revenue streams through branded content campaigns and the creation of new digital properties for audience growth, client / brand alignment and sponsorship opportunities. Pitched and won agency business - generating new revenue streams through digitally lead content marketing campaigns - leveraging SCA's online, radio, television, social and mobile properties. Built and executed the strategy and creative direction for commercial campaigns; from concept creation through to development, production and distribution. Ensured creative vision, digital and television execution was consistent throughout all facets of the campaign and optimised in its delivery. Effectively managed key stakeholders, internal and external; navigating the pathway between SCA’s content strategy, the audience’s expectations and the client’s commercial priorities. Unified and motivated teams that spanning multiple companies and disciplines to produce content that exceeded the campaign’s goals. Selected and established partnerships with a suite of external companies and freelancers for a diverse range of projects, formats and budgets.
Responsibilities and Achievements: Built entertainment properties and client branded campaigns that leveraged SCA's radio, television and digital channels. Established the visual template, core content and structure for SCA long form television programs, and the framework for optimising these properties across digital. Executive Producer for the creation of The Dirt – Australia’s first online video celebrity gossip brand and leading You Tube Australian Entertainment Channel. Built a team of researchers, writers, producers, editors and talent to produce The Dirt. Oversaw the design and build of the Sydney Vision Studio with multi-camera live switching facilities with the SCA in-house TV studio and edit suites. Created and executed content marketing campaigns integrating digital & video content with events and on-air support for various brands such as Mother Energy Drink & Swiss Tourism. (see Awards for more details) as well as the Kyle & Jackie O TV; a 5 episode native advertising online series funded by Paramount Pictures. Also EP / Director for additional Online & TV entertainment properties incl: ○ Radar – an independent Aussie Music TV Show with a digital radio station and website. ○ The Hot 30 TV show broadcast online, on FM and TV nationally. ○ "The Great Divide" - 8 episode political panel program with presenter former 60 Minutes host Graham Davis, focusing on regional Australia and broadcast across Southern Cross Ten. ○ Live music performances and interviews with artists incl: U2, where they gate crashed Hamish & Andy's Live and streamed nationally Show, Katy Perry, Coldplay, One Direction & Lily Allen.
Responsibilities and Achievements: Executive Producer for all video content across the Triple M and Today FM online network. Oversaw briefing, selection, contract negotiation and implementation of a new Video Content Management System. Developed strategy for maximising video engagement with on air Content teams. Trained and managed the team of Content Producers for video execution, promotion and seeding. Lifted average monthly video views from 20,000 to 4 million. Established You Tube channel partnership. Produced First Australian-wide Live Stream Simulcast on air & online with Hamish and Andy’s Pool Party.