Judges

Emrah Baki Ulas

Emrah Baki Ulas is an internationally recognised lighting designer and educator whose work spans professional practice, academia, and cultural discourse. Emrah is a Technical Director at Steensen Varming, contributing to complex cultural, civic and urban projects. He is an Associate Professor of Industry Innovation and Design Practice in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney; where his teaching focus on bridging design education with contemporary industry practice. 

Emrah has worked across the globe, collaborating with architects, curators, engineers, and organisations on challenging projects that explore the technical, perceptual, and cultural dimensions of light. His research, including a PhD focused on museum and gallery lighting, examines the intersections of lighting technologies, conservation, and human perception. He has been widely published and awarded for his contributions to the field, and is a coveted speaker at international conferences and professional forums.

Eugenia Cheng

Eugenia Cheng is the founder of LightOrigin Studio, an award-winning lighting design firm based in Hong Kong. The studio specializes in boutique projects and has successfully completed projects both locally and internationally. It has received accolades from APIDA HK, the [D]ARC Awards, the Dezeen Awards, the LIT Awards, and the FRAME Awards.

Eugenia studied Interior & Spatial Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and earned an MSc in Light and Lighting Design from The Bartlett, UCL. With over 19 years of experience in lighting design, she has completed numerous projects across Asia and Europe and has worked at leading firms in London and Hong Kong before founding LOS.

Eugenia is a recipient of the Lighting 40under40 in 2022 and a member of the UK CIBSE SLL. Eugenia has also served as a mentor for the Silhouette Awards 2025, contributing her expertise to the judging panels of the [D]ARC Awards and the LIBME Awards. Furthermore, she has shared her insights as a speaker at prominent events such as GILE China, HK Light Fair, and LIBME, served as a keynote speaker at [D]arc Sessions Asia, and has been a guest speaker at HKU SPACE.

Gary Thornton

Gary is a Director at Nulty with over fifteen years of experience enhancing architecture and interiors through light. After graduating with a degree in product design from Brunel University, he spent the next decade developing his creative design skills and technical expertise on projects of all sizes across the globe. This includes the ongoing delivery of several notable masterplan and urban design projects between the UK and ME region.

His role at Nulty sees him manage a large team of designers within the practice, where he is responsible for overseeing every stage of a client project, from conceptualisation through to implementation. He is passionate about communicating light’s capacity to bring life to internal and external spaces to students, and as a STEM ambassador actively promotes the career of architectural lighting design to the next generation of designers.

Linus Lopez

Linus began his professional career as an Electrical Consultant with a focus on innovative design and a “green energy” approach. After a Master’s degree in Architectural Lighting, he and his partnership firm based in Delhi, India, explored and combined the biology of seeing and perception with the science of light and its interaction with materials. The firm has successfully designed and commissioned over 300 architectural lighting design projects ranging from entertainment venues and art galleries to corporate offices, institutional campuses, multi-dwelling residential developments, museums, and hospitality & fine dining projects in India and abroad while also developing & refining lighting systems and engaging in fundamental research.

He has presented his work and research at various professional international conferences around the world and has conducted workshops on design and lighting in India, Hungary & Sweden. He serves as visiting faculty to the School of Planning and Architecture, and NIFT in Delhi and CEPT in Ahmedabad.

Linus professes to be a forever-disciple of the power of light and believes that the best way to learn more about the influence of light is to engage and share in as many different ways as possible. He currently serves as President, Lighting Designers Association of India (LiDAI) and is a Professional Member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD).

Monica Luz Lobo

With a degree in architecture and a lighting designer by passion and practice, she is the creative director and founder of LD Studio, a 28-year-old practice specializing in architectural lighting projects across diverse domains. Driven by a constant pursuit of growth, she embraces challenges that push her beyond her comfort zone, fostering both personal and professional development to elevate her field to new heights. A staunch advocate for collaboration, she has dedicated herself to strengthening the profession through voluntary work in trade associations. She co-founded AsBAI (Brazilian Lighting Association), contributed to the international committee of EILD (Ibero-American Encounter of Lighting Designers), and joined the Board of IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers), where she was elected president for the 2022-2023 term. An enthusiast, activist, facilitator, and ambassador for her craft, she believes in the transformative power of true and authentic connections. For her, this is the essence of light.

Nadine Baalbaki

Nadine Baalbaki holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and began her lighting design journey over two decades ago at Hilights, a leading lighting design firm in Lebanon known for shaping iconic projects across Lebanon and the GCC region.In 2013, she joined Viabizzuno’s Dubai office, where she led the design team and worked at the intersection of light and architecture, creating immersive and meaningful environments.

During the challenges of the pandemic, Nadine founded Light the Detail, initially as a social media platform aimed at raising awareness about lighting and its profound impact on mental and physical well-being. Today, Light the Detail has evolved into an independent lighting design practice with a diverse portfolio spanning commercial, office, landscape, restaurant, and hospitality projects, with a particular focus on high-end residential spaces.

Nadine has been a guest speaker at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East and has participated in several lighting workshops across Dubai. She recently joined The Lighting Police as a core team member, driven by a shared mission to advocate for the importance of responsible and thoughtful lighting.Beyond her professional practice, Nadine is a mother of two teenagers, continuously navigating the balance between family and work. Her personal reset comes from her favorite 3S formula—Sun, Sand, and Sea—her ultimate mental detox.

Through her journey in lighting design, Nadine has learned to identify and prioritize what truly matters, illuminating the essential and finding beauty even within the shadows.

Tatsuma Yamaguchi

Tatsuma Yamaguchi’s design philosophy is rooted in a seamless fusion of space and light. He began his career in architecture before becoming deeply captivated by the world of lighting—a path he has navigated for over 27 years. Born in the U.S. and educated in both the U.K. and Japan, Yamaguchi possesses a unique cross-cultural perspective that profoundly defines his work today.

As the Design Director of Lighting Image and Lighting Impossible, Yamaguchi spearheads major international projects ranging from urban planning and hospitality to mixed-use commercial facilities, with a strategic focus on China and the ASEAN nations. His work has earned prestigious accolades across Asia and Europe, notably, in 2018, he was honored at the China International Architectural Decoration and Design Art Fair as a leader of one of the most influential organizations in the Chinese lighting industry.

Beyond the studio, Yamaguchi conducts ongoing research into the relationship between innovative materials and light. He is also committed to nurturing the next generation of talent, lecturing at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Donghua University, and the China National Commission of Illumination. Furthermore, he serves as a cultural bridge, actively fostering exchange between young creative minds in Japan and China.

He currently serves as a Founding Member of the Hotel Designer’s Club, as well as Dean of both the First Design and Research Institute and the WAD Academy. Yamaguchi authored the book Analysis of Interior Lighting in 2022.