Experience

Augusto

• France
• Restaurants

• Co-Founder

  • Apr 2008 - Present

  Leon started Augusto with wife Michelle Walshe in 2008 just as the 'Content revolution' started. With a history in Radio, Film, TV, Interactive and Marketing, Leon picked that the worlds of the '30sec TV ad' and the 'Corporate video' were about to collide. Started in the same year that the first iPhone was released, Youtube celebrated 1 million videos and Vimeo launched, Augusto quickly became a Content Agency innovator. Leon's passion as a futurist drives Augusto's technology arm who have been early adopters in new tech such as drones, 360 video, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Also working across the Entertainment side of Augusto, Leon creates relationships and hunts opportunities to tell long form stories. This has resulted in Augusto productions such as NZ's top grossing documentary film 'Chasing Great', Rhys Darby's TV series 'Short Poppies', and Discovery Channels 'Everest Rescue' TV series. Leon is also co-host of the long running radio show & podcast 'The Cryptid Factor'. Along with Hosts Rhys Darby, Dan Schreiber (and previously David Farrier), the three take a comedic look at the stranger side of life. Show less



The Cryptid Factor Podcast

• Co-creator, Producer and co-Host

  • Apr 2009 - Present

  Rhys Darby, Dan Schreiber, David Farrier and Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck bring you The Cryptid Factor - a show dedicated to the weird and the wonderful, and in particular, Cryptozoology. The show started out on George FM, then BFM, then Ponsonby FM - and started exclusively as a podcast in 2011. It has now amassed more than 1.6 million listens globally. Rhys Darby, Dan Schreiber, David Farrier and Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck bring you The Cryptid Factor - a show dedicated to the weird and the wonderful, and in particular, Cryptozoology. The show started out on George FM, then BFM, then Ponsonby FM - and started exclusively as a podcast in 2011. It has now amassed more than 1.6 million listens globally.



Oktobor

• New Zealand
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Interactive

  • Mar 2006 - Mar 2008

  As Head of Interactive, I was responsible for running the Web/Interactive business unit for globally recognised visual effects company Oktobor. This unit was the intersection of the visual effects capabilities of the company, married to coders and developers pushing the bounds of the internet's capabilities. Mostly creating interactive flash websites, DVD-Roms and touch-screen interfaces. As Head of Interactive, I was responsible for running the Web/Interactive business unit for globally recognised visual effects company Oktobor. This unit was the intersection of the visual effects capabilities of the company, married to coders and developers pushing the bounds of the internet's capabilities. Mostly creating interactive flash websites, DVD-Roms and touch-screen interfaces.



Juice TV

• Advertising Services

• Executive Producer

  • 2003 - 2006

  Juice TV was the pioneer in Music Television in New Zealand. As Executive Producer I created shows and developed broadcasting strategies. Also acting as chief technical officer, I led the project of digitizing the ingest and broadcast platform, automating the presentation suites and broadcast functions. Juice TV was the pioneer in Music Television in New Zealand. As Executive Producer I created shows and developed broadcasting strategies. Also acting as chief technical officer, I led the project of digitizing the ingest and broadcast platform, automating the presentation suites and broadcast functions.


Media 5
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Company Owner / Director

  • Apr 2002 - Apr 2003

Cardno / Maui Productions
• Camera Operator / Editor

  • 2001 - Apr 2002

Wheelers Post Production
• Post Production Engineer

  • 1998 - Apr 2000

Pacific Renaissance Pictures
• Hercules & Xena - Film Lighting Technician

  • 1996 - 1998

Wingnut Films
• United States
• 1 - 100 Employee
• The Frighteners - Film Lighting Technician

  • Apr 1996 - Oct 1996

Radio New Zealand
• New Zealand
• Technology, Information and Internet
• National Radio - Studio Engineer

  • 1994 - 1996


The Radio Network

• New Zealand

• 95BOP FM - Studio Engineer

  • 1994 - 1995

• Coromandel FM - Audio Engineer/Announcer

  • 1993 - 1995