AuthorIlze Kundzina

Ilze Kundzina is passionate about using light to shape spaces and to contribute to people’s sense of well-being. She is currently a Senior Lighting Designer at Arup. By bringing together architecture, engineering and a range of professional specialisms, ‘total design’ has been at the root of how Arup has delivered the most ambitious projects. Originally from Latvia, Ilze has obtained her Master’s degree in lighting from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. She gained considerable international lighting experience in lighting design studios in France, Mexico, Colombia and Latvia before migrating to Australia in 2012. Although based in Melbourne, Ilze continued to work on projects around the globe including Mexico, Indonesia, China and South Korea. She has worked on a range of projects from exclusive high-end hospitality through to private residences and large-scale commercial and urban spaces including several lighting masterplans. For Ilze, lighting is about creating a quality atmosphere for users, while working closely with the architectural character of the space. Ilze’s involvement with Women in Lighting as the Australian ambassador demonstrates her contribution to the social aspects of the lighting community. With her professional experience around the globe, Ilze brings a unique understanding and appreciation of cultural nuances affecting female lighting designers. Ilze is keen to share her choices and influencers along her journey. She believes that elevating women’s role in the lighting and overall construction industry can bring better outcomes for the profession as a whole.