Getting to know Ali Kay
Getting to know Ali & the role
- Welcome to The LIA! Can you tell us a little about your background and what drew you to the Sustainability Manager role?
I have been working for a Lighting Equipment manufacturing business for the last 20 years, variously as a product designer, engineer, team leader and company director. In the past few years a large part of my role allowed me to focus on sustainability through involvement in development of CIBSE assessment methodologies and, through Lighting Europe and LIA committees, to be involved in development of lifecycle assessment rules and other discussions on remanufacturing for example. I want a career with clear purpose so to be able to make this next step in my career, stay in the lighting community, and work in sustainability with some motivated and talented LIA colleagues and industry peers as Sustainability manager seems a perfect fit for me. - What excites you most about joining The LIA at this point in the industry’s sustainability journey?
I join at a time where sustainability progress is at threat from large global governments, where policy makers are under pressure to simplify sustainability requirements and where economic factors can disincentivise commercial sustainability focussed action. I also join at a time where the need for environmental action is very real, where designers and architects are increasingly motivated to make a difference and shop based on sustainability criteria, where building level certification and financial schemes reward sustainable choices, where new sustainability focussed regulation is coming regardless. The topics span commercial, political and environmental imperative. They are complex, fascinating and important, I look forward to playing my part. - Sustainability policy and regulation are evolving rapidly — what do you see as the biggest challenges for lighting manufacturers right now?
Quite simply it’s in the delicate balance between people, planet and profit. Companies must find ways to deal with the additional regulatory requirements ,and the knock on overheads, whilst also providing employment and satisfying commercial pressures. I believe it is possible to balance all three but know it’s a challenge. - How will The LIA proactively engage with policy makers and stakeholders to represent the needs of the lighting industry?
The LIA has an established system of committees to allow members to have a voice, discuss topics, find resolutions and links with UK government through the government and public affairs committee (GPAC). The LIA team also sit on Lighting Europe committees where similar is achieved on a European level. I have seen both in action as a lighting manufacturer member of both Lighting Europe and the LIA and I hope to be as effective as my predecessors. - What role do you think The LIA can play in helping members stay ahead of legislation rather than simply reacting to it?
I believe this is about clear communication of possible outcomes of developing regulation, what might member companies have to do and when. As change gets closer the narrative needs to then shift to what must member companies now do to prepare. - Collaboration is key when it comes to sustainability — how can The LIA help members achieve economies of scale?
The LIA committees and events offer great opportunities to collaborate, learn and influence. I would encourage active participation in both. LIA involvement in Lighting Europe activity also provides links to EU market topics UK exporters will find important and want to stay informed on or help influence through LIA representation. - Are there particular areas (data, reporting, materials, services) where you see the greatest opportunity for shared approaches?
The variety and complexity in LCA practice has long been identified as a threat when it comes to wider industry understanding and decision making in the specification community. Lighting Europe led initiatives to harmonise around LCA methodologies and EPD practice, there is still work to do but this is a great example of industry collaboration to create a shared approach. In some ways I think the greatest opportunity (and challenge) is to achieve consensus on reporting methodologies for sustainability performance so like for like comparison of products is possible. - Skills and knowledge are critical to meaningful change — where do you think the biggest sustainability skills gaps currently exist?
LCA and EPD accessibility is a problem, it requires specialist skillsets in order to complete the work in house. External costs can be prohibitively high to subcontract out on scales big enough to cover a range of products. There are similar themes when looking at organisational carbon reporting. Whether through LCA or carbon accounting more detailed analysis has greater power to identify hotspots and drive change but also requires specific skillsets and knowledge. - How will you support The LIA in upskilling the industry, from entry-level roles through to senior leadership?
I will listen to member companies opinion on sustainability skills gaps and support the LIA academy in developing and delivering training content to address them. - From design and manufacture through to installation, use and end-of-life — where can the industry make the biggest impact?
The product designer has a lot of power to influence things here, after the design stage we lose opportunity to influence impact. Low impact products are designed to be durable, to be energy efficient, to be repairable, to use lower impact materials, to facilitate end of life reuse, remanufacturing or recycling and to resist replacement due to changing trends. Designers working in unison with sustainability assessment practice are also informed and measured in their decision making. - How can The LIA help members move from good intentions to real, measurable action?
Start by working with accessible assessment practices; TM66 offers a great start and clear pathways to improving circularity and TM65.2 offers entry to embodied carbon calculation when LCA seems inaccessible. - What are you most looking forward to working on in your first year at The LIA?
I am looking forward to meeting more of the member companies and their people, listening to what is important to them and supporting them on sustainability topics. - Finally, what message would you like to share with members who may feel sustainability is complex or overwhelming?
ooking at it from a standing start it may appear overwhelming but it can be a journey with smaller practical and informative early steps broken down into more manageable chunks. All companies will have different approaches ,and capacity to act, but in my view all companies should also be taking steps to at least understand their impacts and reduce them irrespective of other regulatory obligations and irrespective of whether they release that information to the market. Understanding impact and hotspots puts you in the best place to make some of the changes needed to reduce them.
