BIO
Natalie is an Australian Narrative Designer for mixed reality experiences. She has worked in digital media for over 15 years including 7 years experience on mixed reality projects. With a background in content production, user experience and writing, coupled with a degree in behavioural sciences (psychology and anthropology), she works with creative technologists, artists, game developers and creative industries to create mixed reality experiences across multiple platforms.
She is passionate about the intersection of design, technology and storytelling. Her interests include science fiction, manga, graphic novels, games, art, travel, architecture, fashion, music, and history.
Currently Founder and Narrative Designer at Voyant, a studio focused on narrative design for mixed reality experiences, Natalie’s diverse working background includes mixed reality, user experience design, information technology programs in the ASEAN region, serious games research, gamification, and digital content production.
Her work features strong storytelling elements with thoughtful user experience and design. She has worked with creative institutions such as the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Campbelltown Arts Centre, City of Fremantle, Australia Museum, and WA AIDS Council.
Natalie has received multiple awards including 2024 THIS IS FREMANTLE Aspire Award, 2023 “Shining Star” Women in Technology Western Australia, 2022 National Finalist Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Award, 2020 “Superstar” and “New Horizon” awards Department of New Industries WA. She was also a Finalist for the Western Australia Screen Culture Awards in the category of “Virtual Reality, 360 or Augmented Reality” as Producer on BoodjAR a location-based augmented reality app featuring new works by First Nations artists collaborating with creative technologists.
Natalie contributes to several advisory body committees including Chair of Immerse Australia,, and previously as part of Screenwest Industry Advisory Group, WA Games Week, Design Freo and Propel Fremantle. As a Mixed Reality expert, she has been an invited speaker and panelist on technology, games and augmented reality. She loves working at the intersection of story, design and technology.
AWARDS
2023. Finalist, Western Australian Screen Culture Awards, Category “Virtual Reality, 360 or Augmented Reality”.
2023. Winner, “THIS IS FREMANTLE Aspire Award”, Business Events WA.
2022. Winner. “Shining Star” Award, Emerging Technologies Category. Women in Technology Western Australia (WiTWA).
2022. Finalist. DWEN (Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network) Dream Tech Competition. One of seven national finalists in Australia.
2020. Winner. “Superstar Award” and “New Horizon Award”. International Access Pass travel grant. Department of New Industries, Western Australia.
2019. Nomination. “Tech [+] 20 Award.” Women in Technology Western Australia (WiTWA).
2018. Winner. Included entrance into startup accelerator program “Curtin Accelerate”. Curtin University.
2018. Winner. SPURonWA Grant Program. Landgate, Western Australian Land Information Authority.
2015. Winner. Outstanding Blog Award. Global Business Excellence Awards. Editor of “The iiNet Blog”.
EXHIBITIONS
2023. City of Fremantle, 10 Nights in Port Festival. “BoodjAR” location-based augmented reality application showcasing Aboriginal artists’ first-time works in augmented reality.
2023. Australian Museum, World Pride 2023. “Remembrance” AR filter in collaboration with Australian artist JC.
2022. Campbell Town Arts Centre, BLEED Festival. “you can never touch your shadow” webXR application in collaboration with First Nations artist Dean Cross.
2022. The Naval Store. Freo Design Festival. “Balikbayan” webXR application exploring Filipino-Australian identity and cultural practices.
2022. WA Museum, Boola Bardip. XR:WA Festival. “Balikbayan” webXR application exploring Filipino-Australian identity and cultural practices.
2021. “Remembrance” AR filter and installation, AIDS Memorial in Robertson Park, WA Aids Council and City of Vincent, in collaboration with Australian artist JC.
2021. State Library of Western Australia. XR:WA Festival. “Beholder” photography of self-portraits using social media augmented reality filters to explore identity, perception of self, cultural beauty standards and digital manipulation of appearance.
2020. Art Gallery of Western Australia. XR:WA Festival. “Isolation” augmented reality mobile application, exploring the parallels between COVID-19 mandatory hotel quarantine and the detainment of asylum seekers.
TALKS + PANELS
2025, March. “Spatial Contexts: Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality”, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Foundational Symposium Weekend.
2024, December. “XR: The current state of play” panel, XR Fest, AWE Nite Perth.
2024, August. Immerse Australia Extended Reality Panel, Eaton, Shire of Dardanup.
2023, September. “XR for Social Impact and Change” Immerse Connect 2023, WA Games Week. Fremantle, Australia.
2023, February. “Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Cryptocurrency” Set The Month in Motion Podcast Series, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce. Fremantle, Australia.
2022, October. “Extended Reality.” Keynote presentation, North Metropolitan TAFE, Staff Development Day. Perth, Australia.
2022, October. “Designing the Metaverse.” Panelist, The Naval Store, Fremantle Design Week. Fremantle, Australia.
2022, September. “XR Hackathon Works in Progress, Artist Talk.” Panelist & Moderator, WA Museum Boola Bardip. Perth, Australia.
2022, May. “ Games Matter: New Frontiers”. Panelist & Moderator, Virtual Realms Exhibition, WA Museum Boola Bardip. Perth, Australia.
2022, May. “Games Matter: Blurring the Lines”. Panel, Virtual Realms Exhibition, WA Museum Boola Bardip. Perth, Australia.
2021, September. “Works in Progress, Studio Artists Talks”. Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA). Perth, Australia. Link.
2021, September. “Industry Insights: Designing the Future.” SAE Creative Media Institute, Perth, Australia. Link.
2021, September. “Blood, Sweat and Rainbows.” Panel, XRWA Festival 2021. Perth, Australia.
2021, March. “Entrepreneurialism and creating your own opportunities.” Broadcasting and Digital Journalism, Edith Cowan University. Perth, Australia.
2020, December. “Flow State: Games and XR for Social Impact.” Panel, XRWA Festival 2020. Perth, Australia.
2020, March. “Prototyping a location-based augmented reality experience.” Guest university lecture: Mobile, Locative and Ubiquitous Media. Curtin University. Perth, Australia.
2019, July. “Panel: XR for Creatives.” XR:WA Festival. Perth, Australia.
2018, November. “Human Rights and Technology Roundtable.” Facilitated by the Australian Human Rights Commission and UWA School of Law. Perth, Australia.
2018, August. “The future of XR, MR, VR and AR”. Thinklab Coworking. Perth, Australia.
2018, July. Disrupted: Festival of Ideas. “Panel: Taking Art out of the Gallery.” Video. Perth, Australia.
2014, August. “Tech Trails Speaker”. Women in Technology Western Australia. Perth, Australia.
2012, May. “Gamification for Success”. Microsoft Campfire Conference. Video. Singapore.
2012. “Serious Games and Gamification”. InfoComm Community Conference. Singapore.
2012. “Gamification for Good”. Serious Games Conference. Singapore. Video.
2011. “Serious Games, Gamers and Identity”. Serious Games & Social Media Conference. Singapore.
QUALIFICATIONS
Degrees
Master of International Relations. Vice Chancellor’s List, top 1%. Curtin University. Perth, Western Australia.
Bachelor of Science. Double Major, Psychology and Anthropology. University of Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia.
Short Courses
Narrative Design, facilitated by Alexander Swords. Coordinated by Australian Writers Guild.
Australian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) School. Australia's premier course for aspiring creatives. Entry via competitive selection only.
Introduction to Journalism, Birkbeck University of London, UK.