The Lightmongers are very proud of Past Master Mike Simpson, Global Design Lead, Lighting Design at Signify, who was awarded the prestigious CIBSE Gold Medal at a Ceremony in London on 11th February.  This is the highest honour conferred by the Institution and is awarded for exceptional service of at least 25 years and/or achieving a position of eminence.  Mike is only the 41st Gold Medal to be awarded since 1912.

Mike joins two other Lightmongers who have received this award, Past Master Hugh Ogus, who was awarded a Gold Medal in 2014 – the 30th medal ever awarded, and Freeman Dr Peter Boyce who was awarded his medal in 2020 and installed as a Lightmonger as recently as 16th February 2022.

Here we see Mike receiving his award from CIBSE President, Kevin Kelly, with Chief Executive Ruth Carter and Stuart MacPherson Immediate Past President.

Mike commented as follows about his involvement in CIBSE; “Like many of my generation I studied Lighting at South Bank Polytechnic where our lecturers encouraged us to join the Illuminating Engineering Society, so in 1976 I became a student member. Although not really aware of the significance at that time, I saw the IES and IHVE join to become CIBSE. I then persuaded my new employer, Philips, to let me attend the National Lighting Conference in 1978, which started to open my eyes to the much wider discipline of lighting and to meet people who would become lifelong friends and colleagues. I attended many of the bi-annual lighting conferences as well as the monthly lectures held at the Royal Institution. I joined the lighting technical committee, contributing to publications and 3 editions of LG4: Sports Lighting. In 2003 I was honoured to become President of the Society of Light and Lighting. I then became President of CIBSE itself in 2009, 100 years after the formation of the IES and I am pleased that fellow lighters have followed me since then. Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet many members both at home and overseas. Over the last 46 years the institution has been at the heart of my professional career, and I am honoured to have received its Gold Medal.”

Many congratulations Mike!