🧠 Meet the Minds Behind GeneXR
Building the future of workforce training, one immersive experience at a time.
At GeneXR, we’re not just building VR training modules—we’re reshaping how learning is experienced. Our team brings together decades of leadership in learning science, immersive tech, enterprise training, and AI-driven personalization to create a new standard in workforce development.
We’re a new company backed by seasoned experts, passionate about one thing: designing immersive learning that delivers measurable business results.
Kerran MacDonald - Founder & CEO
Kerran is a visionary leader in Extended Reality (XR), blending innovation, strategy, and technology to transform businesses. With over 20 years of experience, he’s scaled teams, launched immersive learning solutions, and led partnerships with Fortune 100 brands like Bank of America, Walmart, and Medtronic.
Fun fact: Kerran is a weekend golfer, a barbecue pitmaster in training, and a lifelong NZ Warriors fan.
Jeff Ortiga - Chief Technology Officer
Jeff is a Unity wizard with 16+ years of experience and 7+ years in VR/MR development. From designing custom frameworks for Oculus and Pico to building highly efficient pipelines, Jeff leads GeneXR’s tech strategy with unmatched focus and flair.
Fun fact: He’s a certified workaholic and a relentless explorer of new technology—constantly learning, testing, and tinkering.
Leroy Sisnett - Head of Design
Leroy is a learning design veteran with 20+ years experience in developing enterprise training programs and 4 years experience in creating VR learning solutions for major global brands. Known for his collaborative approach, he aligns design vision with business objectives to create impactful learning experiences.
Fun fact: Once a professional chef, Leroy now applies his high standards to UX—when he’s not watching American football or spending time with family.
Nick Ho - Financial Controller
Nick brings over 15 years of experience managing finances for top New Zealand companies. As a process automation pro and data-driven strategist, Nick ensures our financial operations are smart, secure, and scalable.
Fun fact: A gamer at heart, Nick loves winding down with Diablo or VR adventures after his kids go to bed.
Albert Mitton - Sales Director
Albert is a sales powerhouse with a track record of over 30 years' experience in retail strategy, team leadership, performance training and business development. His high-energy approach and “Retail Theatre” philosophy help organizations make every sales moment count.
Fun fact: When he's not clocking a 10km run or 600 push-ups, Albert’s enjoying a traditional braai and cheering for South Africa’s rugby squad.
Grant Shew - Project Manager
Grant is a seasoned VR project manager with over five years of experience driving learning, automation, and educational projects. He keeps teams moving forward, ensures goals are met, and never forgets the people behind the process.
Fun fact: Grant’s a dad of three, Mobile Legends competitor, and a social basketball sharpshooter.
Shawnee Baughman - Product Marketing Director
Shawnee is a pioneer in immersive storytelling and instructional design, with 12+ years of experience delivering VR training at scale. Her background spans Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Strivr, and SkillsVR. From content pipelines to brand strategy, she bridges innovation with clarity.
Fun fact: Shawnee loves singing, writing, and spending time with her five dogs, a pond full of fish, and her revolving door of foster pups. She's also an amateur vegan chef and travel enthusiast.
Von Kagaoan - Art Lead
Von is a versatile 3D artist with 8 years of experience spanning animation, modeling, and visual storytelling. As a former educator at top New Zealand institutions, he brings both technical mastery and a strong sense of mentorship to the team. With a sharp eye for detail and a passion for innovation, Von seamlessly translates project goals into stunning, purpose-driven visuals. Over the past two years, he’s focused on VR for learning—crafting immersive environments that don’t just meet objectives, but leave lasting impressions.
Fun fact: Von likes to design and tinker, dabbles in 3D printing, and when life slows down, enjoys capturing moments through photography.
📅 Our Company Journey So Far
We may be new, but we’re not starting from scratch. GeneXR was born out of hard-won experience, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future of training.
January 2025
Founded
With a founding team and partners who truly believe in our expertise and mission, GeneXR officially launches—united by team members who have worked together across numerous successful ventures in the past.
February 2025
Vision, Mission, First Demos & Analytics Strategy
We hit the ground running, solidifying our brand foundation, onboarding our full-time crew, and kicking off early VR demo development and analytics innovation.
March 2025
Momentum Builds
We lock in our official MDM partnership with ArborXR, finish our first round of immersive demo content, and lock in initial sales conversations with potential customers.
April 2025
Content Expansion & Innovation
Development begins for our proprietary controller and pedal system paired with our Forklift Simulator demo and we develop our first promotional offers - VR Demo Days, the 50% off Founding Partner Program, and B2B Content Vendor Offerings.
May 2025 (Now)
Content & Customer Expansion
We launch our company blog (👋 welcome!) and continue building toward our first content deployments. We're deepening customer relationships, evolving our analytics platform, and helping more organizations take their first leap into VR.
🔍 Want to Know More?
Whether you're looking to improve safety outcomes, reduce onboarding time, or modernize soft skills training, our team is ready to build something extraordinary with you.
📩 Let’s talk about your goals → Contact Us
📖 Or explore how we work → Our Methods