About Canada Light Talks 2024

Webster Marsh

Owner, Penumbra Controls

C. “Webster” Marsh is the Owner of Penumbra Controls, where he provides lighting and lighting controls design, specification guidance, and education. Webster brings over 20 years of applied experience with lighting and lighting controls, and he enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge with the lighting and lighting controls industry. Webster is a Certified Lighting Controls Practitioner (CLCP), Lighting Controls Association contributor, instructor for the Southern California Edison Energy Education Centers, member of the Lighting Agora, member of the IESNA, and past speaker for Lightfair, IES Annual Conference, LEDucation, and NYControlled. In his spare time, Webster is a contributor to the Lighting Controls Association's educational resources and co-hosts the Lighting Controls Podcast.

Andrew Parker

Partner, Salex

Andrew Parker's distinguished career and expertise in mechanical engineering and lighting controls make him a pivotal figure in the industry. With a degree in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University and credentials as a Professional Engineer, LEED Accredited Professional, and Lighting Certified professional, Andrew brings a robust technical foundation to his role. Andrew's career began at Ford Motor Company in automotive electronics manufacturing and led to leadership roles in lighting control startups like Encelium, now a part of Legrand. His shift to LED technology marked a natural progression in his career.

Will Norris

President, VxV Solutions

As Co-founder of VxV Solutions Inc., Will Norris leads the team to deliver innovative lighting control solutions for projects across the Greater Toronto Area. Will also heads Airlight, Canada’s marketplace for Casambi lighting controls, offering the modernizing platform for user-friendly, smart lighting systems.

With a background as a Professional Electrical Engineer and Certified Casambi 4C Commissioning Partner, Will brings deep technical expertise and a passion for making advanced lighting technology accessible. This commitment to lighting controls innovation extends to his role as a lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University's Chang School of Continuing Education, where he shares insights with the next generation of industry professionals.

Deborah Gottesman

Principal, Gottesman Associates

Deborah has a unique contextual understanding of lighting from all perspectives; her career spans over 30 years in all facets of the lighting industry including design, engineering, management, education, and manufacturing. An electrical engineer with an MBA in Real Property, Deborah has successfully worked on projects in many sectors, with particular expertise in Heritage, Residential, and Commercial projects. She has taught lighting at all levels to a wide audience from students at colleges and universities to senior architects. Since establishing Gottesman Associates in 1999, Deborah’s creative, rigorous, passionate and client-driven approach has brought award-winning lighting designs to a wide range of satisfied and repeat clients. Her firm is a boutique lighting design practice in Toronto with 3 associates who collaborate to bring their clients’ vision to light. Deborah currently sits on the Illuminating Engineering Society Residential Lighting Committee, and is a past president of the Toronto Section. She also currently sits on the Canadian National Committee of the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE).

Sharyn Adler-Gitalis

Associate Lighting Designer, Gottesman Associates

Sharyn Adler Gitalis BFA, Assoc. IALD, MIESNA Sharyn's experience as an artist, colour consultant, lighting designer and educator informs her insightful perspective on design. As Senior Associate Lighting Designer with Gottesman Associates and Principal with Colour + Light, she explores and applies the nuances of colour and light with scientific enquiry and creative understanding. Sharyn’s professional interests include urban streetscape and projects related to community, health and wellness and sustainability. She shares her passion for light and colour by teaching at various institutions including OCAD University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Artbarn School. She also holds specialty colour and lighting seminars and workshops for designers. Professional affiliations and awards include: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), International Colour Association (AIC) and past executive board member and Treasurer of the Colour Research Society of Canada (CRSC)

Tom Butters

Founder & Executive Director, The Lighting Agora

Tom Butters, LC, is the creative mind and developer behind some of the most well received educational tools and events of the global lighting industry. Since 1986, Tom has worked in or served the entire array of the lighting industry. He uses this diverse background and empathy to understand the needs of the individual or organization to deliver high quality lighting education to suit the precise needs of the user. Butters is the Founder and Executive Director of The Lighting Agora and the Executive Director of the National Lighting Bureau as well as a proud board member of the Nuckolls’ Fund for Lighting Education and an Emeritus Member of the IES.

Tom was the co-developer, along with F.X. Morin, of the globally successful free lighting app “IES Ready Reference”. He is the creator of “Light for Life – a Global Collaboration 2020” which involved 17 webinars from 15 lighting organizations from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom was the director of the IES’ free 4-hour live webinar “Germicidal Disinfection in the Days of COVID-19” which had over 3600 live attendees from 56 countries and has been viewed by thousands more as a free offering on the IES website.

Senior Product Manager at NEEA, Chris has 25+ years in the utility business, specializing in energy efficiency and Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC). He works with manufacturers to enhance lighting efficiency and oversees tech research to transform the lighting market.

Linda Kafka

Founder and Principal, LivABLE Environment Inc

Linda Kafka is a respected educator and advocate in the field of residential design, with a strong focus on ‘living in place’—her preferred term for aging in place. As an instructor for the Adaptiv Home program, Linda played a key role in developing the course with a team of experts, highlighting how environments must evolve to meet our needs throughout our lives. She believes that our environments, especially our homes, should adapt to us over a lifespan, supporting both our emotional health and well-being.

Since 2009, Linda has been a trusted voice in the design industry, focusing on how residential spaces can better support individuals as they age. Her journey into blending science and design began in 2019 with the neuroaesthetic installation A Space for Being at Salone del Mobile, which solidified her belief in the power of design to promote health and well-being.

Linda continues to advocate for the integration of scientific principles into the interior design field, aiming to create spaces that not only enhance beauty but also significantly enrich and support emotional and physical well-being at every stage of life.

Chris Wolgamott

Sr. Product Manager, Commercial lighting, Consumer Products, HVAC, Augmented Illumination

For over 25 years Chris Wolgamott has worked in the utility business in the Pacific Northwest, as a program manager, energy efficiency engineer and product manager. Mr. Wolgamott is recognized as a subject matter expert (SME) for LLLC (Luminaire Level Lighting Controls). He works extensively with lighting manufacturers on were the future of lighting and controls are headed. His work in the utility business has allowed him to gain vast knowledge on how incentive programs are developed and run. As the Senior Product Manager for Commercial, Residential Lighting and Commercial Efficient Rooftop Units (eRTU) with NEEA, Chris works with manufacturers on increasing the efficiency of lighting, lighting controls and natural gas rooftop units. Chris leads all emerging tech research on lighting products to support transformation of the commercial and residential lighting markets. Chris is the SME for the natural gas eRTU program, working with industry to transform the natural gas rooftop market.

Abiran Raveenthiran

Principal, VxV Solutions

Abiran Raveenthiran is the Principal and Co-Founder of VxV Solutions, a leading building technology agency and integrator. With a strong commitment to creative design implementation and sustainability, Abiran has made it his mission to transform Canada’s landscape.

Beyond his contributions to VxV Solutions, Abiran actively engages in various roles within the construction community. He participates as a member of the Projects Committee for the upcoming Tamil Community Centre in Scarborough, serves as Heritage Advisory Committee in his hometown of Whitchurch-Stouffville and a selected Energy Trailblazer by Efficiency Canada. Additionally, he served as an Executive Member of the Canadian Green Building Council’s Emerging Green Professionals Team, contributing to the advancement of sustainable practices in the industry. Abiran’s dedication to sustainability, innovation, and excellence in lighting controls and building technology continues to shape the industry and drive positive change across Canada’s architectural landscape.

Robert Soler

Founder and Chief Scientist, BIOS Lighting

Robert Soler is the Founder and Chief Scientist of BIOS Lighting. Prior to BIOS, his most prominent work was at Kennedy Space Center, where he served as Subject Matter Expert for NASA’s circadian lighting system to synchronize astronauts to a 24-hour cycle on board International Space Station. He has served as a jet lag mitigation consultant for professional sports teams, and he currently serves as an advisor to the International WELL Building Institute.

His work bridges the gap between human biology, lighting technology, human behavior, visual perception, energy efficiency and practical application. This innovative approach to lighting has led to him being a named inventor on over 100 issued patents.

He has been a guest lecturer at numerous institutions, including KTH (Sweden), Parsons School of Design (New York City), and CU Boulder (Colorado). Additionally, he has provided courses as a part of several energy and education programs, such as PG&E (San Francisco), SCE (Los Angeles), and Lighting Design Lab (Seattle).

Dawn Brown

Owner & Principal Designer, Ontario Aesthetic Lighting Design

Dawn is the Owner and Principal Designer at Ontario Aesthetic Lighting Design. She is a recognized industry leader in circadian lighting design and is driven by a passion for designing lighting solutions that promote health and wellness.

Dawn’s 23-year career is defined by her dedication to continuous improvement and willingness to challenge the status quo. She was one of the first Lighting Designers in Canada to achieve the Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) credential, adding her name to the CLD database among some of the world’s most accomplished designers.

Her extensive experience spans multiple sectors and a wide array of buildings. She is also known for her commitment to environmental stewardship, Dawn develops sustainable lighting solutions that respect the natural environment, having contributed contemporary and inventive lighting designs for multiple WELL® and LEED®-certified buildings.

Andrew Parker

Partner, Salex

Andrew Parker's distinguished career and expertise in mechanical engineering and lighting controls make him a pivotal figure in the industry. With a degree in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University and credentials as a Professional Engineer, LEED Accredited Professional, and Lighting Certified professional, Andrew brings a robust technical foundation to his role. Andrew's career began at Ford Motor Company in automotive electronics manufacturing and led to leadership roles in lighting control startups like Encelium, now a part of Legrand. His shift to LED technology marked a natural progression in his career.

Webster Marsh

Owner, Penumbra Controls

C. “Webster” Marsh is the Owner of Penumbra Controls, where he provides lighting and lighting controls design, specification guidance, and education. Webster brings over 20 years of applied experience with lighting and lighting controls, and he enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge with the lighting and lighting controls industry. Webster is a Certified Lighting Controls Practitioner (CLCP), Lighting Controls Association contributor, instructor for the Southern California Edison Energy Education Centers, member of the Lighting Agora, member of the IESNA, and past speaker for Lightfair, IES Annual Conference, LEDucation, and NYControlled. In his spare time, Webster is a contributor to the Lighting Controls Association's educational resources and co-hosts the Lighting Controls Podcast.

John Keating

Consultant, JV Keating

John is a professional controls specialist with many years of diversified controls experience including appliance controls, commercial controls, industrial process controls and since 2005 lighting controls. John has managed sales teams, large projects as well as supported field service teams. He has also taught the controls section of the IES Introduction to Lighting course.

John’s varied lighting experience comes from Douglas Lighting Controls, Acuity Canada Controls, Cristal Controls as well rep agencies.

John’s broad base of knowledge and experience provides him with the insights as a consultant necessary to meet the challenges of the client.

Shirley Coyle

President, Cree Lighting Canada

Shirley Coyle, is President of Cree Lighting Canada and has worked in leadership roles for several lighting manufacturers over the past 35 years. Lighting Certified since 2000, Shirley is a Past President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), with 7 years on the IES Board of Directors. Shirley is active on several IES committees, including the Roadway Lighting Committee, the Outdoor Nighttime Environments Committee, and the Street & Area Lighting Conference Committee. Shirley is also a Board member of CIE’s Canadian National Committee.

Leora Radetsky

Senior Lighting Scientist and the LUNA Program Director, DesignLights Consortium (DLC)

Leora Radetsky is a Senior Lighting Scientist and the LUNA Program Director at the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) where she focuses on developing lighting solutions that support light pollution mitigation, energy optimization, quality, human factors, and performance in the areas of horticultural and architectural lighting. She has over 25 years of experience in the lighting industry including as a research scientist with the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Director of Customer Education at Lighting Analysts, Inc. In 2014, she was awarded an IES Regional Technical Award from the Northeast region for her significant scientific contributions to the field of illumination. Leora has a B.S. in Architectural Engineering with an Emphasis in Illumination from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an M.S. in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is Lighting Certified by the NCQLP.