LIA Board Members
The LIA has a simple structure by which it is governed and managed to serve the industry and its membership.
Frequency: The Board meets a minimum of 4 times per year and usually in advance of the LIA Council Meeting. Other meetings are called in accordance with business need.
The LIA Board may co-opt any LIA Member from the LIA Council.
Composition
The LIA Board and Council play particular roles in the management and control of the LIA. The LIA Board is made up from specific Members of The LIA Council (voted for by The LIA Membership) and is currently comprised of:
- The LIA President (Current) - David Barnwell - Holophane Europe Ltd (Chair)
- The LIA Vice President - Trevor Grote - BELL Lighting
- Ayça Donaghy - The LIA
- Matt Carpenter - Status International
- Richard Bushnell - Inventronics
- Catherine Connolly - Prime Light Group
- Andrew Nixon - Martech
- Simon Lilley - S Lilley and Sons
The President of The LIA is the Chair of The LIA Board and the Chair of The LIA Council.
The LIA President is elected from The LIA Membership and holds the position for 1 year. The duration of this tenure is at the discretion of The LIA Council and will begin and end (if possible) at The LIA Annual Luncheon/AGM.
The members of The LIA Board are the legally registered directors of The LIA (as recorded at Companies House).The role of the LIA Board is to work with The LIA CEO to set budgetary and financial targets, oversee legal and constitutional matters and set performance targets for the CEO of The LIA.
The LIA Board has a legal responsibility for the financial viability of The LIA.
The LIA President
David Barnwell
The LIA Vice-President
Trevor Grote
Other Board Members
Ayça Donaghy
Ayça Donaghy is a dynamic leader in the lighting industry, currently serving as the CEO of the Lighting Industry Association. With over 15 years of experience in the broader electro-technical sector, coupled with a recent Executive MBA from London Business School, Ayça combines strategic thinking, team management, and a dedication to sustainability, diversity, and innovation. Her diverse background in sales leadership, teaching, and acting contributes to her strong communication and presentation skills, making her an ideal spokesperson for the industry.
Since assuming her role nearly three years' ago, Ayça has spearheaded a series of groundbreaking initiatives, including university competitions aimed at bridging the skills gap and launching events and webinars to enhance awareness of critical issues like sustainability, compliance, and competence. Furthermore, she has been instrumental in advocating for comprehensive and enforceable regulations. Through direct engagement with industry stakeholders and the UK government, Ayça has played a crucial role in propelling the industry's mission and amplifying its voice on a national level.
Her impact and foresight have recently been acknowledged by her selection for the '40under40' competition in 2023 and 2024.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayca-donaghy/
Catherine Connolly
Andrew Nixon
As Design Director of one the largest OEM manufacturers of commercial lighting products in the UK, I have a passion for lighting and a desire to continually improve the image and understanding of lighting both inside and outside the industry. I work with many other members of the LIA daily, and understanding their individual requirements is a large part of my role.
After graduating from Coventry University with a BSc in Industrial Product Design, I began my professional career at Dyson Appliances in 1999. After working on projects in Europe, Asia and the USA, I returned to Yorkshire to join long standing LIA members Martech UK Ltd in 2007. I have served on Council since 2016.
The Lighting industry faces an ever-changing landscape of new legislation, and environmental challenges. Like many other LIA members, we are proud to be a family owned, UK based business employing local people and using local suppliers where possible. As a member of the council, I can provide a voice to the hundreds of SMEs like us who need the support that the association can give, to ensure we don’t get left behind.