Meet the talented Authorized Unreal Instructors at CG Spectrum—artists, innovators, and industry pros. Each of our gold and silver-tier instructors brings unique expertise and a passion for Unreal Engine that goes beyond teaching. They’re here to share insider knowledge and fuel your creativity with hands-on experience and professional insights, from crafting immersive game worlds to bringing cinematic visions to life through their code. Discover the stories and skills of the experts guiding the next wave of Unreal creators!
Meet CG Spectrum's Authorized Unreal Instructors
CG Spectrum's Gold Unreal Instructors
Erica Penk | Real-time 3D Mentor
Erica Penk is an Unreal Authorized Instructor passionate about storytelling, mentoring, and acting. Her journey began in a game lab at Georgia Tech, where she discovered her love for motion capture and the intersection of creative and technical problem-solving. Since 2015, she has been working with Unreal Engine, specializing in previsualization, technical animation, and blueprints. Erica currently teaches and mentors for the Unreal Fellowships, empowering creators to bring their visions to life through real-time technology.
She's worked with clients such as Epic Games, Trick 3D, and Profile Studios and participated in the Tribeca Film Festival: Writing In Unreal event. Her goal is to equip current filmmakers and the next generation to tell their own inspiring stories with real-time technology.
"It's an honor to equip the next generation to tell their own stories that inspire. Unreal Engine democratized the media and entertainment space by offering their software for free. You no longer have to be plugged into a massive big-budget studio to tell a story from start to finish. There's so much you can do as an indie developer. You just need the right tools and support."
Filip Krstevski | Game Programming Mentor
Filip, a Game Programming mentor with expertise in Unreal Engine, has been sharing his knowledge since 2011. A graduate with a B.Sc. in Computer Science with Honors from Toronto Metropolitan University, Filip has been active in the industry since 2007, contributing to studios such as Midway Games, Robomodo, and Phosphor Games.
“Being an authorized Unreal Engine instructor from Epic Games has been transformative for my teaching and work. It’s empowered me to bring industry-level practices directly to my students, deepening their understanding and enthusiasm for game development. Unreal Engine itself has become an essential tool in my work, with its power and flexibility allowing me to implement. One of the things I love most about UE is its capacity to combine high-quality visuals with robust, scalable gameplay architecture, making it a true innovation platform for interactive experiences. Teaching with this engine means I get to share not only technical skills but also the creative freedom and potential UE offers, sparking passion and skill in the next generation of game developers."
Student work: Marc Caratala and Benjamin Oman
Jason Barlow | Game Design Mentor
Jason Barlow is an educator and industry expert with experience in game design and virtual reality. As the Director of J Barlow Training and a Mentor at CG Spectrum, Jason blends his deep industry knowledge with practical teaching to inspire future game creators. Previously, he held roles as Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University, Games Development Lecturer at Kidderminster College, and Studio Manager at TalkOut VR, where he honed his expertise in immersive technologies and curriculum development. Jason is dedicated to bridging the gap between education and industry, empowering students to excel in their creative careers.
“As a badge, it means being recognised by Epic as delivering exceptional training in their Engine, but on a personal level It is a motivation to keep helping others to get into Games Design and using Unreal to be able to create their own dream content. It is an encouragement to continue sharing knowledge and removing the barriers people have to make something awesome.”
Ryan Laley | Game Design Mentor
Freelance game developer Ryan Laley has worked in education for over ten years, teaching video game development across multiple disciplines, with a focus on game programming. He is also an Unreal Authorized Instructor, working with Epic Games to help train students and future trainers. When he's not teaching, Ryan continues to develop his own games.
Student work: 'Lost Civilization' by Colin Farthing, rendered in UE5.
Stuart Butler | Dean of Creative Industries
Stuart serves as the Dean of Creative Industries for CG Spectrum's accredited programs, where he combines his expertise as a vehicle and hard surface artist with nearly two decades of experience teaching 3D modeling, 3D animation, and game development at Staffordshire University. He's also an Epic Games Unreal Authorized Instructor Partner and Educational Content Creator. Stuart is dedicated to driving innovation in curriculum development and fostering an inspiring learning environment.
“Receiving the Gold UAI authorization certificate was a welcome confirmation that both my technical skills using Unreal Engine, and my approach to teaching it, are meeting the high standards that Epic Games expects. I always strive to provide excellent learning experiences for my students; the Gold certification is a recognized acknowledgment of that effort.”
CG Spectrum's Silver Unreal Instructors
Harshit Penamata | CGS Real-time 3D Mentor
Harshit is an Unreal Engine Technical Artist and Director with a background in both creative design and technical development. He has worked with clients like Disney, Amazon, and the NHL, creating virtual production pipelines and tools for projects such as Those About to Die and Here at DNEG 360. As a mentor and educator, Harshit has trained professionals worldwide and collaborated with institutions like CG Spectrum and the Saudi Design School.
Currently, Harshit serves as an Unreal Engine Mentor at CG Spectrum and a Technical Director at DNEG 360. He also holds the title of Epic Games Unreal Authorized Instructor, teaching courses on Unreal Engine and real-time technologies.
"Being an Authorized UE Instructor has taken me to places I would have never imagined to be in the first place, right from broadcasting channels to teaching lighting in Unreal Engine to VES members LA chapter."
Logan Pinney | CGS Real-time 3D Mentor
Logan is an Unreal Engine developer, educator, and mentor with experience in game development, world-building, cinematics, and 3D animation. A graduate of Queen’s University with a degree in Computer Science, Logan lends his technical and creative skills to his educational endeavors and personal projects.
As an Unreal Engine Authorized Instructor and Mentor at CG Spectrum, Logan equips aspiring developers and real-time artists with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the industry. Logan extends his teaching through his popular YouTube channel, where he provides accessible tutorials on Unreal Engine, Unreal Engine for Fortnite, and game development tools.
Beyond education, he serves as an ambassador for KitBash3D and Leartes Studio, ensuring the quality and utility of their asset packs, reflecting his dedication to fostering creativity and innovation in digital content creation.
"Credibility and certification verify real knowledge and best practices. As an Unreal Authorized Instructor, I emphasize practical teaching methods grounded in accuracy and industry standards, steering clear of shortcuts or plugins that might hinder foundational learning. This approach ensures students acquire the skills needed for long-term success in their careers."
Cesar Maestre | CGS Real-time 3D Mentor
Cesar is a 3D designer specializing in info-architecture, interactive environments, and virtual reality, and a trainer specializing in Unreal Engine. He is an Unreal Authorized Instructor partner for Epic Games and a Real-time 3D in Unreal Engine mentor at CG Spectrum.
"I'm a 3D generalist, so in my job, I usually need to do a wide variety of assets or environments. But since I started teaching, it's my favourite activity. What I enjoy the most, and for me is the most valuable thing about teaching and mentoring, is being pushed far from my comfort zone. As I become more experienced, I think that I lose the skill of seeing things with a "fresh view", that's the kind of view that a student has and that pushes you to make and learn new things".
Student work: 'Sanctuary' by Shannon Flint.
Rob Brooks | Game Programming Mentor
Rob has extensive experience developing games and interactive experiences across various platforms, including mobile, desktop, and virtual reality. With a focus on crafting engaging gameplay mechanics and rapid prototyping, he has contributed to projects for both small indie teams and major companies.
What began as a passion for sharing knowledge on YouTube evolved into teaching—Rob's top-rated Udemy course guides students through creating a complete game prototype from scratch. He also boasts some of the highest-rated Unreal Engine courses on Pluralsight. Now a full-time freelancer, Rob dedicates his efforts to empowering new developers, making their transition into game development seamless and rewarding.
Will Masek | Game Programming Mentor
Immersed in the world of games from an early age, Will grew up captivated by Role-Playing Games and 4X Empire Builders. His passion led him to spend his teenage years working in local game stores, introducing customers to cutting-edge consoles and AAA titles. With two degrees in game development under his belt, Will began his professional journey at Rebellion Developments, contributing to the acclaimed Sniper Elite series.
After a stint as a university lecturer teaching game programming, Will returned to the industry, joining Firesprite, a PlayStation Studio, where he worked on the Horizon franchise. Today, he helms his own company, Bitwise, collaborating with innovative studios like Illuvium Labs, bringing fresh ideas and expertise to the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
“Being an Unreal Authorised Instructor means a great deal to me. It reflects a commitment to quality and to staying at the forefront of industry standards with Unreal Engine. It’s something I’m genuinely proud of, as it allows me to help others build their skills and confidence with the engine.”
Cliff Sharif | Game Programming Mentor
As a programmer, Cliff has been coding since 1989. Currently, he works as an Unreal Engine VR developer, specializing in projects within the medical and military industries. In September 2020, Cliff earned the prestigious Unreal Authorized Instructor certification from Epic Games and has been mentoring game design and development students since 2018. When he's not programming, Cliff channels his creativity into VJ performances, a hobby that brings together light, form, and color in live improvisations.
“Being an authorized instructor, certified by Epic Games, for teaching computer game programming is an exciting role! You must be up-to-date with the latest versions of the engine, join the Epic Games meetings for instructors and also, 'lead' the progress and technical qualities, of students' projects and experiences within Unreal Engine. Providing high quality game programming training using an advanced game engine brings more energy and inspiration for students in my sessions during their journey in CG Spectrum as game programmer students.”
Ready to learn Unreal Engine from the best?
At CG Spectrum, an Unreal Authorized Partner and Training Center, our Unreal instructors don’t just teach skills—they share invaluable insights gained from years of industry experience, equipping you with the expertise to thrive in film and games. Whether you’re interested in game programming, game design, or real-time 3D, our specialized courses offer a hands-on path to mastering Unreal Engine. Take the first step toward your dream career—join us and start creating!
