A panel of industry experts are on hand to assess the individual merits of each venue, drawing on their years of experience to narrow down the entries into a shortlist, before selecting their final winners in each category.

An architect specializing in lighting design, she has been working in the area for over 13 years, recommending lighting products for nightclubs, concerts, events and high-end homes.

Also graduated in engineering, Rosani Gomes unites technique with the harmony of architecture to create beauty. Her specialty in pixel-by-pixel lighting makes her a differentiated professional in the market, making her known worldwide with her projects and lectures.

With the internet at her fingertips, Rosani also has her daily life show to her 40,000 followers on Instagram, making her a digital influencer, both as a Lighting designer and a consumer of luxury products.

After studying Fine Arts and design, then training in pioneer lighting design firms (US, Japan, France), she founded I.C.O.N. in 2004.

She leads a wide range of international lighting design projects: urban, architecture, interior, event etc. (Yves-Saint-Laurent Museum Marrakech, Dior Perfumes boutique chain, Kabuki Theater Tokyo, Trouville Cure Marin hotel, the classified cloister of Tours Cathedral etc.)

She conveys new trend with an innovative touch in her projects and also giving conferences, writing articles and books.

Winner of numerous design awards, such as IES Award of Excellence for the diplomatic light and sound event on the Eiffel Tower in 2019.

Lauren has extensive experience working with complex productions as an
executive and senior producer and project manager – managing senior
stakeholders, artistic talent, internal teams and external delivery
partners. She has worked across a range of large scale, high profile
projects in the UAE, including the Dubai 2020 Opening and Closing Ceremony
AR.

Her experience encompasses realtime-based live productions using
content pipelines involving Unreal Engine and Notch. With these
experiences she has a deep understanding of all aspects of highly
technical and creatively ambitious projects.

Brock McGinnis is Principal Consultant at avitaas inc. His mission, since the ‘80s, has been helping people, businesses and institutions choose and implement the right technologies for their aspirations and objectives. He’s worked with sports and entertainment venues, government and educational facilities, as well as a broad spectrum of corporate and conferencing clients.
With avitaas, McGinnis is now also providing advisory services to audiovisual integrators needing to adapt and evolve their business models or develop new market verticals. His current engagement is with the team at Nationwide Audio Visual, a long-established integrator in Canada.”

Simon Fraser is the founder of the Ptarmigan group of companies, specialising in the design and implementation of complex entertainment technical systems for architectural, entertainment and cultural projects.

Having trained in theatre electrics in London, he has worked in the West End, toured on a wide variety of shows and events, and delivered a diverse range of museums, visitor centres and attractions.

Since its creation, Simon has overseen Ptarmigan Integration’s delivery of projects across Asia including, A Symphony of Lights, Expo 2010 in Shanghai, City of Dreams Macao & Manila, Universal Studios Singapore, Galaxy Macao, Paint the Night Parade for Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort, Warner Bros World in Abu Dhabi and Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Ptarmigan is head quartered in Hong Kong and has offices in Macao and Singapore. Simon is an external advisor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and has also served as a board member of the TEA Asia Pacific Division from 2013 to 2015.

Becky has spent 18 years working in professional theatres, opera houses, concert halls and performance spaces around the world. Currently at Charcoalblue as stagelighting Consultant, Becky is involved in many design projects across the world. Prior to joining Charcoalblue, Becky worked as a Technical Solutions Manager and Primary Install Consultant with Enlightened Lighting. Managing projects, systems programming, design and specification for theatrical, events and performance spaces.

Born and raised in Venezuela, Cristina is a Lighting Designer and Architect based in Brussels since 2014. She is also the ambassador for Women in Lighting for Belgium since 2018.

Currently, Cristina holds the position of Senior Lighting Designer and Project Manager at ACTLD. Her work experience has immersed her in a great variety of projects, different typologies, and scales, teamed up with a highly international team.

In her experience, Cristina has been able to bring together projects of Lighting design in both the Architecture and Entertainment fields, taking care not only of the function, sustainability, and aesthetics of a project but also its intersection with art, show, innovation, and tailored-made solutions, to create experiences and experiential environments.

Malle Kaas entered the live music industry in the mid-nineties and has been in and out of the industry since. In 2013 she helped launch the European chapter of Soundgirls.org, which she was running until 2018 when Malle stepped out to co-found Women In Live Music which she is heading.

Additionally, Malle holds a title as a Nurse anaesthetist.

Roberta McHatton of Laser Safety Services LLC have been providing laser safety consultation to the entertainment industry since 1995. In 2023 Roberta was awarded the prestigious International Laser Display Association (ILDA) Career Achievement Award. The Career Achievement Award is ILDA’s highest honor, given for work spanning many years in the area of show quality, innovation, and industry service.

Roberta works within the laser industry to create laser safety guidelines/standards and increase laser safety awareness worldwide. Roberta is particularly well known for our extensive work with Entertainment lasers, an industry that can pose a high risk of potential exposure to the general public.

Scott is an Emmy award-winning expert in sound design for major international events, immersive experiences and performance venues. His design credits include ABBA Voyage, FIFA 2022 World Cup, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Ceremonies, Dubai Expo 2020, Audio upgrade of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sochi 2014, London 2012, Vancouver 2010 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games Ceremonies, Baku 2015 European Games, MDL Beast Music Festival 2019, the UAE National Day Celebrations from 2017 to 2023.

 Scott is the founder and Principal Consultant of Auditoria, a boutique design consultancy specialising in audio, acoustics, AV and show control for high performance environments including performance venues, sporting venues, immersive experiences, major events and exhibitions. The business has offices in London, Sydney and Dubai.

As our principal theatre equipment designer, Michael has overall responsibility for providing clients with efficient, cost-effective systems and safe workplaces. Since 1995, Michael has provided stagehouse design, stage equipment details, and specifications for hundreds of performance spaces. His work includes on-site review of structural systems, site acceptance testing of rigging equipment, and stage machinery to identify field deficiencies affecting project quality and timely completion. He has made major technical contributions and innovative solutions for practically all of the largest TP Inc. projects over the last 28 years.

Before joining Theatre Projects in 1995, Michael worked as a rigging contractor across the US for seven years. Michael has worked for many theatre companies in numerous capacities including stagehand, production designer, and I-mag video camera operator. He supervised lighting and rigging for the Wooster Group, touring many cultural capitals and international festivals worldwide. He has lectured in technical design at the Yale School of Drama.

Michael is a Theatre Projects LLP partner, full member of the American Society of Theatre Consultants and a member of the ESTA Technical Standards Program – Stage Machinery Working Group.

From early beginnings in the retail hi-fi sector Rob migrated into the Pro Audio distribution sector in 1984. Working with some wonderful partners which specialized in the import and distribution of British loudspeakers and electronics within North America.  Over the last 40 years Rob has had the opportunity to assist clients in providing them with cutting edge products to enhance their clients’ projects.

Currently Rob is with OPS+ Consulting. OPS+ specializes in enhancing Operations, Opportunities, and Optimizations for the Pro Audio distribution and AV Integration industry.