chAnge Agent lIZ pEck Lighting the WAy With almost 3,000 members, the Society of Light and Lighting has grown rapidly over the past few years. The societys new president, Liz Peck, explains her journey into the industry and her aims for the year H aving come to office during the Unesco International Year of Light, Liz Peck the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) president believes there is a real opportunity to get the societys message to a wider audience. The theme of her presidential address, given on 26 May, was collaboration and sharing expertise with other light-minded organisations. She emphasised that her aim was not only encouraging people and organisations to join the lighting family, but also to share their enthusiasm. how did you start your career in lighting? Like most people by accident. I needed a job and a friend advised me to ring Concord Lighting, in Newhaven, which was often on the I want to be appointed on a project because Im good at what I do, not because of my gender lookout for people in customer service. As part of a team, I took over the technical helpline and the obstinate side of my personality came to the fore, dealing with contractors who didnt want help from a woman. One day, I was talking to a lighting designer asking how to read a cone diagram and his job sounded quite cool. At my next appraisal, I asked if I could be a lighting designer. At the time of the Concord/Marlin merger, Mike Simpson invited me to an interview and I got the job. I did my Lighting Industry Federation courses and then went to the Bartlett, moving to Philips in the middle of my MSc. I never planned for a career in lighting I dont even have a physics GCSE; but having fallen into and in love with lighting, Id never change now. being the most important. When you consider how good or bad lighting can affect the mood, morale and performance of children in schools and people at work, and the overall appearance of the built environment, I find it astonishing that projects focus so little on their lighting. Put us higher up the food chain and well show the value of good lighting. Society on our Night of Heritage Light, in October, when we are lighting Unesco World Heritage Sites across the UK and Ireland for one night. Were breaking down the perceived barriers of who is or isnt welcome to join. Ultimately, if youre interested in lighting, youre in. Why is lighting so closely linked to health? The discovery of a non-visual ganglion cell in the eye at the turn of the century has been a bit of a game-changer. Its role is to regulate our 24-hour body clock, which is a light-dark cycle, and this made everyone realise that light and dark are fundamental to our physical and mental wellbeing. More research is being done; the SLL has commissioned Public Health England to conduct research into the effects of LEDs on humans because theres much speculation about possible side effects from blue light. What is the most inspiring lighting installation? Ready Steady Light, a competition that SLL runs every year, is what I find most inspiring. Around 15 teams arrive at Rose Bruford College, where they have What do you want to achieve in your year as sLL president? Im very fortunate to have come to office during the Unesco International Year of Light, so theres a real opportunity to get our message across to a much wider public. If the outcome of everything we do this year is inspiring a 10-year-old to get into lighting, that would be fantastic. The theme of my presidential address was collaboration. We have so many synergies with other lightminded organisations, it seems a shame that we dont share our expertise. Were already working with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on the forthcoming Masterclass series and the Royal Photographic three hours to create an installation. Sometimes, its the first time a competitor has had their hands on lighting equipment because so much is done on computers now and the last hour, when darkness falls, is always entertaining because designs are fully realised and changed. It never fails to bring some ingenious and innovative schemes, and when you see people playing with light, thats inspiring. how can lighters be more involved in project design? All too often, lighting is seen as the last commodity, despite it probably Are women underrepresented in the lighting sector? I dont think so. I was recently talking to one of the leading lighting design practitioners, who said they have more women than men in their design teams. I think its the blend of art and science that appeals to women and, as an industry, were very inclusive. Theres a decent representation of women on SLL committees and its only ever a case of bringing in the right people, not filling quotas. Thats very important to me; I always want to be appointed on a project because Im good at what I do, not because of my gender. Liz PeCK runs lPa lighting, and is president of the sll