Dr. Dan Hawes
Founder of Toonrush & Just Virtual
Biography
Dan is a writer, producer, academic researcher, and technology entrepreneur. His portfolio encompasses an array of creative and technical works: he has developed and produced twelve television series, nine films, over fifty games, and pioneered applications in Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. Notably, he co-created “Chilly Beach,” making waves as one of North America’s first web properties to transition to network TV (CBC 2003). He is currently CEO and Founder of Just Virtual (justvirtual.com) a technology design studio that creates AI, VR, and Metaverse applications for education and V-commerce businesses. Dan has previously founded and sold two Internet companies.
Dan’s work marries the worlds of technology, design, and academic research. As an adjunct research professor in the School of Information Technology at Carleton University, he works with colleagues to explore the use of advanced technologies to optimize perspective change, cognition, and help reduce cultural biases within immersive learning environments. His scholarly contributions include several IEEE publications focused on cognitive priming effects within virtual reality. Dan also teaches courses related to game design, digital storytelling, and managing creative companies at Carleton and Toronto Metropolitan University and has been delivering university courses in fully immersive VR since 2021.
He holds a Bachelor of Management Science and Honours, Management and Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Ottawa, Masters of Digital Experience Innovation from the University of Waterloo, and Ph.D. in Information Technology from Carleton University.
Dan’s Film/TV Credits – IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1457516/
Education
PhD IT, 2022
Employment since graduation
I am a producer and tech entrepreneur and have been running tech companies since 1995. I’ve built and sold 2 companies previously. Currently Founder of Toonrush (Animation/Gaming – www.toonrush.com) and Just Virtual (AI/VR startup – www.justvirtual.com). I’ve also written 2 books in 2024 (The Billion Dollar Metaverse Challenge (Available on Amazon) and Intelligent Worlds (Releasing in January 2025 on Amazon). Completing online course called AI for Everyone.
Details on their current work
My companies (Toonrush and Just Virtual) are currently working on myriad projects (animation/gaming for AI and VR). Also, I am currently heading up a design innovation lab in the Waterloo area for Shift4, US based payments company.
How did the program prepare them for their career?
The Ph.D. helped me broaden my base of experience with Virtual Reality technology that I was already working with. Also, I continue to teach at TMU and both teach and research at Carleton. I enjoy this process and it provides some balance with technology entrepreneuring.
Future Goals
I hope to co-create with colleagues a Virtual Reality University that disrupts and improves how post secondary education is delivered globally. We have a prototype, https://www.justvirtual.com/campusvr
Also, I just love to work on tough problems with people I like to work with.
Advice for students
Be positive and always willing to try and learn new things. Lean thoughtfully into AI, VR and other advanced technologies that have the potential to make the world better. The pace of change is relentless but don’t be intimidated. With change comes opportunity.