I graduated in Integrated Product Design at the Delft University of Technology in the NL. During various internships I finally ended up in lighting design as the perfect balance between product design and architecture. I started at Philips Lighting, where I developed my research on Biophilia; and later I continued at Beersnielsen Lighting Designers, where I got the opportunity to put my research in a lighting design project for nature reserve park “de Hoge Veluwe”, which received various awards. After these experiences I shifted to New Delhi, where I worked for 3 years. I have now returned to the NL to fund my own studio Lampje aan, in which I will develop my vision on Biophilic Lighting Design.

After experiencing several jobs, I decided to join the world of education, with a special attention to people with learning difficulties. I attended the specialization course as a learning support teacher in high schools.

As a teacher of students with special educational needs, I deal with many different disabilities and for this research, I concentrated my interest in visual sensory disability. The mission is to guarantee the inclusiveness of people with disabilities, in particular for visually impaired students, by exploiting the resource of light. My work aimed to formulate an educational environment that takes into account the didactic and individual needs of students.

Martina Frattura, class 2020 of the 40 under forty lighting awards, works as a lighting designer and independent researcher. Graduated in Interior Design at the Politecnico di Milano and at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Architectural Lighting Design and Health. She directed “A Beautiful Light” itinerant research that has taken her to ten different countries, and which investigates the use of artificial lighting to sustain a good level of attention. Martina is now head of the think-tank “The Beauty Movement”, made of designers, scientists, artists, architects, and philosophers, who seek the fundamental principles of aesthetics and its impact to the various disciplines.

Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Department of Architectural Science. Registered architect in the UK, WELL AP, and a member of the 2021 WELL Concept advisory for Lighting. Her research focuses on building performance in health environments, pre- and post-occupancy evaluations, and intersections between architectural quality and inhabitant quality of life in long-term care homes. An affiliated researcher at Institut du Savoir Monfort in Ottawa Canada. Co-author of the publication Design Guide: Enhancing the Liveability and Resilience of MURB.

Natali Ghawi is an Architect, Urban Planner and Regenerative and Human and Planetary Wellness Consultant.

She specializes in designing and enhancing living spaces for the well-being of all life.

Aiming to be a source in a pool of collective knowledge, to help develop the best possible practices for a regenerative, resilient, and beautiful planet for all life.

She focuses on the importance of connecting technical knowledge into practical understandable and impactful outcomes.

Natali Ghawi is the founder of NABAD Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in designing for human and planetary well-being.

PhD candidate specialising in a ‘Case Study of Biophilic Hospice Design,’ with the aim to critically analyse existing End of Life Care Environments and to create a framework which can be used by designers and healthcare practitioners to implement Biophilic Design in End-of-Life Care environments to better support wellbeing. I have a passion for incorporating nature into architecture and setting a better standard for design and healthcare. I have a First-Class Honours degree in Architectural Technology which provided me with the knowledge to better understand how to design and create a healthy environment.

John is Curator and Produce at Journeys in Design, focusing on mindful design and materials: soil, sea, and streets.

Journeys in Design is a series of initiatives exploring the space where design meets well-being and sustainable futures. Engaging with local communities, reaching out internationally and setting Scotland’s design talent in context. Our journeys explore where mindful design meets well-being for individuals and communities, drawing on the power of creative thinking and doing a wealth of talent in Scotland. This pathway includes Walks by Design, Wellbeing Workshops, Creative Encounters and Twilight Talks about Design, our independent series of design talks.

Erin Rovalo is the Vice President of the Community department overseeing ILFI’s education, events, network, and publishing. Erin collaborates with team leads to develop the strategic plan that will deliver value to the ILFI community, contribute significantly to the organization’s financial strength. Erin has been a committed leader and advocate for advanced sustainable design and nature-positive solutions. She is an experienced researcher, speaker, and published author. Having served in leadership roles in green building, nature-inspired innovation, and sustainable design education, Erin subsequently completed a Ph.D. in Design Practice with the Design School at Loughborough University.

Richard Piacentini has guided Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from public to private management and led the green transformation of its facilities and operations, including: the first LEED® certified visitor’s center in a public garden and the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, the first and only building in the world to meet: the Living Building, LEED® Platinum, WELL™ Building Platinum, and 4 Stars Sustainable SITES™ certifications. Piacentini is interested in the intersection between the built and natural environments, particularly as it relates to human and environmental wellness and speaks on the subject. He serves as past Chair and Secretary of the board of the ILFI.