Speakers

This year we have again brought together a group of lighting experts who are internationally renowned for their unique quality and experience.

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“Urban planning through lighting” – re-establishing spatial hierarchies in public space by celebrating the Cathedral on Rails of Antwerp.

Susanna Antico, IALD, has a degree in architecture and interests in urban planning and sociology. She is the founder and principal of the Architectural Lighting consulting practice Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio, based in Milan, Italy. Since 1995 Susanna has been running the practice, specializing in architectural, artistic, urban and environmental lighting projects.

Susanna’s focus in research, teaching and practice is on creating a sustainable night-time identity of the urban environment. Her message that quality designed lighting contributes to the livability of cities, has been assimilated by several public administrations for which she developed lighting masterplans and many urban lighting projects on different scales, recognized by awards and many professional publications in Italy and abroad.

From 2015 and 2020 Susanna has taught in the Urban Lighting module of the Master Lighting Design & LED Technology of the Politecnico of Milano, Italy, and is currently a Guest Professor at the department of interior design of the School of Arts of Gent, Belgium, inculcating in the new generation of designers that lighting is an integral part of the project and must be designed with the same expertise as other subjects to achieve its goal of enhancing and supporting the value of any project.

Initially with ELDA, then PLDA, APIL and IALD Susanna Antico has always passionately and actively being involved in activities to promote and support the establishment of the profession of independent Architectural Lighting Design.

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Harnessing technology to create live-centric lighting experience, a balance for nature and people.

Yah Li Toh is the Principal of Light Collab and a professional member of International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD).

She graduated from Architectural School of National University of Singapore and pursued Masters in Architectural Lighting design in Hochschule Wismar, Germany.

Yah Li is one of the first 5 in the world to be recognized with Certified Lighting Designer(CLD) Certification.

She was shortlisted as Designer of the Year, for the Singapore President’s Design Awards 2018 and 2020 and named as the top 40 under 40 lighting designers by Lighting Design Awards 2019.

She is a Generation T Honouree for List 2019, one of the 20 future-shapers honoree by the Peak magazine in 2019.

She serves as the regional coordinator for IALD SEA and CLD board.

She is the current chair person of the IALD Awards.

She speaks about lighting, is an educator and engages in facilitating workshops for design and lighting at tertiary institutions.

Some of the notable works include Singapore Pavilion, World Expo 2020 Dubai, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay and Singapore Buddhist Lodge.

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Narrative power of Architecture – Enhanced by Light.

Ar. Chandrashekhar Kanetkar, the distinguished Principal Architect of Chandrashekhar Design INC (CDI), stands as a beacon of architectural innovation and creativity. With a journey that commenced as a gold medalist at M.S. University, Baroda, and has spanned over five decades, Kanetkar’s legacy is one defined by an unwavering commitment to originality, a passion for pushing boundaries, and a resolute dedication to harmonizing architectural creations with the environment and the client’s program brief.

Beyond his design achievements, Ar. Chandrashekhar has actively contributed to the architectural community. Serving as a Panelist and Jurist at national conventions, he imparts his wisdom and insights to emerging architects. His lectures for prestigious organizations like IIID and IIA, both nationally and internationally, have enriched the discourse on design and architecture.

The domain of hospitality, where luxury meets functionality, is one that has witnessed the brilliance of Ar. Chandrashekhar’s vision. Collaborations with distinguished domestic and international chains, such as ITC, Sheraton, and Hyatt, have given rise to iconic establishments that redefine opulence. Notably, the Grand Hyatt in Goa, lauded as one of the Top 10 Grand Hyatt hotels globally, underscores the global recognition garnered by his designs. His international footprint extends to projects in Russia, Kuala Lumpur, Italy, and beyond, cementing his status as a design virtuoso on the world stage.

The accolades he has accrued over the years, including the Durian Society Interiors Design Award and recognition from Economic Times at ACE TECH 2009, underscore the enduring impact of his contributions. Recent honours bestowed upon Ar. Chandrashekhar are a testament to his continued influence. Recognitions from Family Interiors in 2021, the IIID Golden Jubilee Event in New Delhi in 2022, and Society Publications in 2023 highlight his unwavering commitment to architectural innovation and interior.

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“If we start from 0”

Arve possesses an innate grasp of light’s nuances, consistently captivated by its potential as a medium for expression, shaping the narratives of spaces, structures, and evoking emotions while fostering human connections. As a designer, he seamlessly blends focus and rationality with a robust conceptual approach. Since joining Light Bureau in 2009, Arve has played a pivotal role in steering the company’s growth and spearheading international projects.

His portfolio includes illuminating the Royal Academy of Arts in London, crafting a lighting masterplan for Longyearbyen—the world’s northernmost town—and contributing to the establishment of Porto Montenegro as a premier destination and luxury yacht harbor near the Bay of Kotor. Currently, he is engrossed in several projects that delicately navigate the interplay between light and darkness, where considerations for biological impact and the human experience are meticulously balanced.

Beyond his responsibilities at Light Bureau, Arve is deeply committed to elevating the status and knowledge of lighting design in Scandinavia. He’s a regular guest lecturer for bachelor students in Lighting Design, mentors Industrial Design students at the School of Architecture in Oslo, is involved as a jury member for the Norwegian Lighting Design Awards and is the past president of the Norwegian Lighting Designers Association.

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The Why, How, and When of Lighting Design.

With an impressive career that spans more than two decades, Michael has travelled all corners of the globe to work on a wide range of award-winning projects. As the founder and managing director of Michael Grubb Studio, he oversees the development and direction of the business.

The unwavering faith in Michael’s expertise is demonstrated by his partnership with world-leading brands including Diageo, Jameson, Guinness, McLaren, Amazon and Lavazza. He works closely with these companies to develop their unique ‘language of light’, to support and enhance their brand values.

Michael’s talent has led him to work on a wide range of building projects from new developments and major cities, across the world. He provides lighting masterplans for developers, local authorities and other major institutions.

Other notable successes include Michael’s appointment by the Olympic Delivery Authority to the prestigious role of Learning Legacy Ambassador for Lighting for the London 2012 Olympics.

As well as being a trusted voice within the lighting design profession, Michael’s commitment to sustainability led him to become the co-founder of the charitable Re:LIT initiative. He is keen activist on educating and promoting all aspects of lighting, including its importance in the global drive to reduce energy consumption and deliver carbon savings.

Michael’s expert knowledge and opinion is renowned across the international lighting industry, and he regularly fulfils speaker roles at major events across the globe. He is always keen to explore new ways to reach out to industry professionals and share his passion for the sector. Michael’s commitment to the industry is further demonstrated by his role as an active member of the International Association of Lighting Designers, Society of Light & Lighting and the Institute of Lighting Professionals.

Michael’s innovation and vision led him to be crowned UK Lighting Designer of the Year in 2012.

Project History

Intelligence Factory, Bletchley Park, UK

Wonderlab, Science Museum, London, UK

Museum of Literature, Dublin, Ireland

Roe & Co Distillery, Ireland

Guinness Storehouse, Ireland

Meet Vincent Van Gogh Travelling Exhibition, Worldwide

Brooklands Aircraft Factory, UK

Beatrix Potter, V&A, London, UK

Superbugs, Science Museum, London

London School of Economics (LSE), London, UK

Battersea Power Station Lift 109, London, UK

Arts University Bournemouth, UK

University of Winchester, UK

Pier Approach & Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, UK

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Lighting technology for healing different health conditions.

European Lighting Expert (ELE) – Interior and Exterior Lighting.

Currently working at Licht Kunst Licht AG in Berlin as a Lighting Designer.

First class graduate MA Architectural Lighting Design from Hochschule Wismar, Germany (July 2023).

Up to 5 years of experience in the field of Architectural Lighting Design.

Published author in Licht 09 Magazine – Germany.

Previously worked in Light@Work, Goa India and L-Plan Lighting Design in Berlin Germany.

Exhibited a self-designed decorative luminaire at Light and Building (Frankfurt, 2022) and Belektro (Berlin, 2022)

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Light in the Heart.

Jaspreet is a partner in Ethereal Designs, leading in field of Lighting Design for over 22yrs. Jaspreet is an architect by education and lighting designer by self-study and practice. She heads the Delhi studio of their Mumbai studio is headed by her senior partner, Vilas Prabhu.

She has always been sensitive about the effect of light and colour on human physiology and psychology, thereby bringing forth an emphasis on the human element in design.

Her projects span a whole range from airports to museums, educational to sports, public spaces to private residences, hospitality, heritage, commercial and more. She has lead the lighting design of large Urban projects such as 420km of Delhi PWD streetscapes, 27km of Najafgarh Waterfront, Bangalore Airport exteriors & Main Access boulevard etc.. And also doing resorts, malls, residential complees & commercial centers.

She has taught the subject of Architectural Lighting to students of architecture. And has been amongst the few flag bearers of this profession in India since 2002.

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Opportunities & Challenges of Innovative technologies in my personal journey as a Lighting Designer.

Kunal Shah is the Founder and Principal Lighting Designer at “SPK Valo Lighting Design Consultants”, an award winning practice, based out of Hyderabad; he has a Master in Architectural Lighting Design From Kth Royal Institute Of Technology in Sweden. After a brief stint in Europe with HET LUX LAB, He started his practice here in India in 2011. SPK Valo has been working on various projects ranging from Residences to F&Bs, Hospitals, convention centers to gated communities.

Kunal believes that the most important aspect of lighting is its interaction with materials and surfaces and this interaction can dramatically transform spaces in its experiential quality. Having a Bachelor in Electrical engineering and a Master in Architectural lighting Design has helped Kunal to deal with the projects in a holistic manner. From conception to implementation.

Kunal has worked towards developing a work methodology which is more specific to the sub continent and which is very inclusive in nature.

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Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Varanasi: From Amber to Nilamber!

Nirmit Jhaveri, is founder of award winning architectural lighting design practice, Atelier Lights. His studio provides professional lighting design consultancy on various scale of projects, from lighting master plan to interior and exterior architectural and decorative luminaire design. The New Parliament Building, Kartavyapath and Kashi Vishwanath Dham Redevelopment Project are some of the recently finished masterplan projects his studio has completed.

Nirmit has a Master of Architectural Lighting Design from KTH, Stockholm and has a Bachelor of Architecture from CEPT, Ahmedabad. He is a professional member of IALD and affiliate member of IES.

His engagement with Light and Lighting goes beyond his practice. He shares his passion for light with students through workshops, research and courses on light and lighting design.

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How ‘bright’ are our collective futures?

Nathan’s interest in lighting stems from his school years with a strong passion for the arts and specifically, sculpture. An unconventional Bachelor of Arts design degree course combining both technical and creative disciplines provided a solid grounding in Product Design together with ‘Installation S Site’, an arts based subject exploring the opportunity for site specific artwork. The collaborative work produced often following a lighting theme.

Nathan Savage has been an independent lighting consultant and designer for more than 20 years working previously with two prominent independent lighting practices, the latter of which as a founding partner.

Having worked extensively throughout the UK and Europe for a number of years, Nathan moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2005 where he continues to work and live. The countries to which he has travelled to design lighting are diverse and provide a wealth of experience for Clients.

Nathan is actively involved in promoting lighting design excellence and not only attends international industry events but also keenly pursues teaching the importance of lighting, through lectures at lighting industry events and educational establishments and actively writes and is interviewed within lighting related publications. These include:

Index Exhibition, Dubai – Design Talks
Jordan Interior Design Association – Evening lecture – Amman, Jordan.
iGuzzini Evening of Light Entertainment – Guest Lecturer – Muscat, Oman
Canadian University of Dubai – Visiting lecturer to Interior – Design and Architecture Students
Speaker at Light Middle East, Dubai 2013 & 2014
Professional Lighting Design Conference (PLDC) – Speaker
Hotel Show Dubai – Speaker
Design District D3 – Workshop Presenter / Organiser
Mentor of student teams at Light Middle East 2016 – 2019 – (Winning in 2016 & 2018)
Member of Paper Review committee for PLDC – Paris 2017
Abu Dhabi Energy Summit – Speaker
Amman Architectural Week 2019 – Speaker
NSLD are the UAE Ambassadors for UK based charity LightAware.

Speakers

Susanna Antico

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Yah Li Toh

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Chandrashekhar Kanetkar

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Arve Olsen

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Michael Grubb

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Svikriti Mokha

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Jaspreet Chandhok

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Kunal Shah

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Nirmit Jhaveri

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Nathan Savage

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