Brandon ‘Magic’ D’Silva
BPsychSc(Org)
I’m an entrepreneur and multidisciplinary producer passionate about improving lives and businesses through digital, creative & strategic initiatives, as well as via the technologies we have within and around us such as exercise, nutrition, art, sound, ceremony, meditation, yoga and breathing techniques.
JOURNEY
I was born in Kalgoorlie, WA (Anglo-Indian bloodline [Indian, Irish, English, French]). My inception into the entrepreneurial journey was as a graphic designer at the age of 15 years old (2004). In later high school years I continued to design, and concurrently somehow talked an Australian Idol top 40 finalist into being his manager, which I fumbled my way through (thanks for the opportunity, Paul). Fresh outta school, I had the privilege to design social media (My Space) collateral for Disney‘s ‘Enchanted‘ and ‘Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian‘ films, and record label Sony BMG (now Sony Music Australia).
I then progressed into strategic marketing through still photography. In ~2009, having predicted the next ‘wave’ of content creation being motion-oriented (i.e., ‘motion = emotion’), I innovated with high-resolution, super-slow motion and other technical film production/cinematography, content creating with brands including Red Bull, Bang & Olufsen and Mitsubishi Motors. Circa 2013 I founded a music and events agency – managing artists, curating pop-up boutique music festivals and activation of licensed venues and under-utilised spaces.
In 2015 I Founded and led (’til ’20) a pioneering start-up involved in critical research, design, software and productions that advanced the multi-purpose use of experiential virtual & augmented reality content & tech solutions including for commercial, training, marketing, storytelling, and personal development. We owned the first few professional VR cameras in the world (and the very first Nokia OZO VR camera in Australia). I was also engaged to curriculum review immersive VR/AR courses for tertiary institutions, as well as partake in a number of innovative peer reviewed research, ideation through to commercialisation projects. Collaborations included the likes of Google, Tilt Brush, Semi Permanent, Stella McCartney, Camilla, James Jean, Mind Gamers, Western Sydney University, Northern Territory Government, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Art Gallery of WA and many more amazing brands, people, and initiatives.
I am the Executive Producer and immersive technician on the indigenous VR dance experience ‘VIA ALICE,’ featuring Khalif Diouf (Le1f), Waangenga Blanco, John Carroll Kirby (producer of Solange Knowles), Daniel Stricker (Sebastien Tellier, Midnight Juggernauts) and many other talented Beings. It premiered at the 2017 Red Bull Music Academy Weekender in Sydney, enabled by Samsung, and was critically acclaimed by Jill Sykes for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Co-creating a world-first virtual reality mass casualty training simulation for first-responders was an exciting challenge, and the collaborative team excelled in every Deliverable (Academic Paper, VR Training Simulation, Cloud-based analytics portal).
In 2018 I Co-founded & Co-Produced the XR:WA Conference and Exhibition featuring VR/XR, AR, AI/machine learning and moving image art designed to align with Revelation Perth International Film Festival’s industry and academic programs, while providing a unique stand-alone event made up of a vibrant slate of conference, B2B, public expo and 10-days of exhibition activity across Perth and Fremantle, WA.
In 2019 I commenced my studies at Deakin University, where I was awarded the Deakin Scholarship of Excellence. I Graduated with a Bachelor of Psychological Science with Distinction, Majoring in Organisational Studies (2022).
In 2020 I mostly did business, marketing and creative advisory. A mentor and I part-developed a cloud-based e-Learning and investment platform for start-up to established businesses, however I was being drawn more toward my passion of health and fitness. So, in 2021 I Founded Siras Performance, a sports brand assisting casual to competitive athletes to reach and exceed their dynamic peak (siras) performances. We’ve sponsored some of Australia’s best endurance and multi-sport events, including Eagle Bay Epic Adventure Race, Margaret River Ultra Marathon and X-Adventure Dunsborough presented by Siras Performance. I also re-commenced my participation in athletic races (it’s always a race against myself!). Siras has now become a side-hobby, however I will likely hand the brand over given the solid community, brand awareness and sales milestones it’s obtained in such a short period.
2022 had me to predominantly focused and handing over a 100% remote-working medical practice start-up from ideation through to launch, which now supports metro and rural patients across Australia through telehealth video consults with Australian registered Doctors via your mobile phone or computer.
2023
I attempted a Master of Pharmacy at The University of Western Australia with the view to operate an online pharmacy one day. 10 weeks in, I realised I bit off more than I could chew! I joined the board of an NPO doing amazing things in disability support, and continued with marketing advisory while working on Siras Performance.
2024
I am currently working as a Digital Marketing Specialist for a lithium mining company, a Mentor for UWA’s Venture program for student entrepreneurs, and remain a Board Member for an NPO. Academically, I am undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) at UTS.
Shoutouts to everyone that’s been part of the unravelling journey, both personal and professional, and put their trust in me, shared their knowledge, and or had me part of so many amazing opportunities and companies, surrounded by people and energy of such talent, wisdom, heart and profound purpose. It’s all helped shape who I am today, and who I’m perpetually and iteratively working toward being.
Sat Nam.
@brandonMdsilva
A Selection of Collaborative History
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Co-Author (2020): The effectiveness of a marketing virtual reality learning simulation: A quantitative survey withpsychophysiological measures. British Journal of Educational Technology, bjet.13003. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13003
Co-investigator: Virtual Reality Aesthetics and User Engagement: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Virtual-Reality-Aesthetics-and-User-Engagement (2019) for: Bender, S. (2019). Headset attentional synchrony: Tracking the gaze of viewers watching narrative virtual reality. Media Practice and Education, 20(3), 277–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/25741136.2018.1464743
Industry Partner (2020): Virtual Reality Triage Training Can Provide Comparable Simulation Efficacy for Paramedicine Students Compared to Live Simulation-Based Scenarios. Prehospital Emergency Care, 24(4), 525–536. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2019.1676345- https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180830/Using-VR-to-train-next-generation-of-paramedics.aspx
Curriculum Review, Consultancy & Advisory (2018): Computer Mediated Reality Program, SAE Southern