Meet The Team
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BE (HONS) FIES, RLP. Lighting Design Manager , Signify Australia
Vessi Ivanova has over 30 years’ experience in Lighting Design Engineering for Building Services industry. Vessi has worked at independent lighting design consultancies in Australia for many years and before joining in 2012 Philips Lighting, now Signify as Lighting Design Manager.
She is successfully applying her knowledge for light and its powerful ability to convey and sculpt space and create atmosphere. Vessi is a creative thinker, passionate about design, innovation, and sustainability.
Throughout her career, Vessi has successfully provided innovative and efficient lighting solutions across various industry sectors, including Stadia, Commercial, Retails, Industrial and Landmark attractions.
Vessi has worked and has been Lead Designer on numerous projects that have received awards for Excellence in lighting design. Some of them are listed below:
- 2006-IES International Lighting Design Award for Westpac Place in Sydney
- 2006-IES NSW Award of Excellence for Lighting design for Westpac Place in Sydney
- 2010- IES NSW Commendation Lighting Design award for IBM Town Centre, Cumberland Forest
- 2018 - IES WA Commendation Lighting Design Award for Chairman Club within Optus Stadium
- 2018- IESWA Award of Excellence for Lighting Design for Optus Stadium
- 2019 – IES International Supreme Brilliance award for Optus Stadium.
As passionate lighting professional Vessi is contributing to the lighting industry and has been supporting IESANZ for long time. She was NSW IESANZ President for a 3-years tenure and currently serving on the IESANZ Board as a Director .
Her active current portfolio is organizing IESANZ Lighting Conference “LIGHT IN FOCUS” which was held successfully in Melbourne 2019 and in Sydney in 2023.
In her personal life she is enjoying being grandmother for her two beautiful grandchildren.
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Professor Emeritus Warren Julian, AM PhD MSc(Arch) BE BSc LFIESANZ HFSLL
Professor Warren Julian is past-Dean and Director of Lighting Studies, Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney; Life Fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ); past-President IESANZ; past-Editor, Lighting; past Vice-President (Technical), Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE); Director, International Solid Stare Lighting Alliance: Chair, Standards Australia Committee LG/1 (Interior Lighting); Co-founder and Chair, Lux Pacifica; and author of over 250 books, book chapters, scientific papers and articles on lighting-related subjects.
His interests are all matters concerning light and lighting in Australia, the region and internationally. In 1979 he established the Master of Design Science (Illumination), the first graduate level lighting design program in English. His research interests are in how people respond to the lit environment and has undertaken major studies in the gloom effect, discomfort glare and lighting for the partially sighted. He is active in promoting lighting education and research in East Asia and India. He was honoured by the Australian Government with an Order of Australia Award for his contribution to professional education and lighting.
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Susan Mander is a Senior Lecturer at Massey University, where she leads the IESANZ-accredited lighting programme. She also oversees the university’s lighting laboratory, which supports teaching, research, and commercial projects.
With over 20 years of experience in illumination engineering, Susan’s current research focuses on measuring light pollution. She is also interested in evaluating different light sources and their effects on well-being and energy use. She currently serves as Education Chair for the New Zealand Chapter Committee of the IESANZ.
When she’s not working, Susan enjoys walking on Auckland’s beautiful beaches and spending time with her sons.
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Tracy Bronlund has been in the electrical industry for over 32 years. She is currently working for Signify NZ completing lighting designs for Signify’s clients all over New Zealand. Tracy has also served in several roles for the IESANZ in NZ for over 27 years such as Secretary, President, Board Member and Awards Convenor.
Tracy lives in the sunny north with two cats, one dog and a rabbit. (Also her husband and one of her daughters – but they would tell you she puts the pets first 😊).
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Jake Wood has spent more than 25 years in the lighting and electrical industry, turning creative ideas into real-world designs. As the Director of Marketing for IES Queensland, he’s passionate about sharing the stories, people, and projects that make our lighting community shine. Through his company, DarkSpace Pty Ltd, Jake delivers innovative lighting solutions across homes and commercial spaces. He’s driven by connection, collaboration, and a genuine love for great design and good people.
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Antony Collett is a highly qualified lighting professional with over 30 years of national and international industry experience. His technical knowledge and strong foundation in design have led him to work on a diverse range of projects across all market sectors with a specialisation in sports and exterior lighting design.
His role as director and head of sales at Techlight Ltd sees him develop and lead the technical sales team to excel in the areas of lighting design, technical sales support, project and client relationship management. He is a committed and active long-standing member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ), contributing at the committee and judging levels and currently serves as the Status and Qualifications Chair for the New Zealand Chapter Committee of the IESANZ.
Antony is an NZCE-qualified electrical engineer, a Member (MIES) of the IESANZ, Society of Light and Lighting UK and an Associate Member of the Institution of Lighting Professionals UK.
Living in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, Antony can be found on the water sailing or skippering the patrol boat ‘Watchman’ for the Ponsonby Cruising Club. Music is also a passion of his, having played drums from an early age and performed in bands across the Auckland pub scene.
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Grad Cert S&T (Lighting), Tech IES
Stephen is currently the Emergency Lighting Specialist for ESC in New Zealand (ABB Channel Partner), and has been in the industry for 25+ years, holding positions in design, supply and wholesale sectors of the industry.
Having formalised his experience in the industry with a Grad Cert S&T (Lighting) from Massey University in 2017, Stephen now provides emergency lighting solutions to engineers and the wider industry for all types of commercial and industrial sites.
Joining the IES in 2015, Stephen has been a chapter committee member in NZ for 4 years holding positions of Vice President NZ Chapter and Treasurer NZ Chapter (current) so he brings a wealth of knowledge in both business and IES matters.
Stephen’s desire is to help the Society grow even further by making it relevant to all sectors of our industry from government (regulatory), engineering (design), supply (importing and wholesaling) to contracting. “We have much to offer as a society of experienced industry professionals to all who work in the lighting field. The IES should be the first industry body lighting practitioners will want to join when entering our industry”
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Cedric is currently serving as the Chapter President for the New Zealand Chapter of the IESANZ and has been a CMC Committee member since 2009.
He has been in Lighting Design/supply since 2002 and is currently employed by Targetti NZ Ltd as Specification manager, having held that position previously at Rexel Lighting.
Cedric has a passion for advocacy as well as bringing industry people and their valuable knowledge together, organising countless Technical Events during his time with the IESANZ – all with his fun, theatrical flair.
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Michael Bernard is currently the national sales operator for the Xero Linear Lighting Systems under Signify NZ Ltd. Mike’s 44+ year career has given him a 360 degree perspective on the lighting industry. He has worked for a number of high profile Lighting Companies including Companies of his own, working on projects spanning the entire spectrum of commercial lighting. Michael has a long standing association with the illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ).