The 2011 Judging Panel

Scott Allan: is a stage lighting designer based in Melbourne and the Technical Manager for the Arts Faculty at Deakin University. He is a professional member of the Association of Lighting Designers and the Australasian Lighting Industry Association, and has twice attended the Broadway Lighting Design masterclass series at NYU. Scott has worked on many creative installations, including Motion.Lab and the Phoenix Gallery, and has a solid knowledge of integrated lighting, media and control technologies. [ALIA]

Peter Blackmore: has been the AV Design Consultant on projects across a variety of industry sectors.  He received the ICIA Crystal Achievement Award for innovation in Systems and Facilities Design.  He has been an invited lecturer in the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, and was an international contributor to Sound & Video Contractor magazine for a number of years. He ran the first InfoComm Sydney Institute, and after being asked to establish the Australian Chapter of the ICIA and was elected President.  He currently serves on the InfoComm Asia Pacific Regional Council, and AV Design Curriculum Regionalisation Group. [InfoComm]

Joseph Mercurio: is the lecturer in Performance Technology at the Victorian College of the Arts and Music. His Lighting Design career encompasses the fields of dance, drama, events, opera, music, festivals and architecture. His credits include works for the Australian Ballet, Tas Dance, Ausdance, Bangarra DanceTheatre, Buzz Dance Theatre, WA Ballet, DeckChair Theatre, Perth Theatre Company, Yirri Yarrkin, Black Swan Theatre, the Sydney Olympics Opening, Perth International Festival, both Sydney Olympics Arts Festivals, commercial premises, city councils and the University of WA. From 2004 to 2008 he was also Course Co-ordinator for Lighting Design at his alma mater, the WA Academy of Performing Arts. [ALIA]

Derek Powell: technology specialist with the University of Queensland, in charge of Teaching Technology Support across three campuses.  He takes an active role in the industry nationally as President of the Association of Educational Technology Managers.  His special interest is in the relationship between Pedagogy, Space and Technology as applied to the design of tertiary teaching and learning spaces.  Derek is in demand as a speaker on teaching technology developments and teaching space design and has presented papers, seminars and keynote addresses to audiences nationally and internationally.  He has written on AV in the popular press and magazines for twenty years. [AETM]

Paul Van der Ent: runs Wizard Projects, and with 30 years experience understands the needs of a wide variety of businesses and government enterprises. Paul is accomplished in both the electrical and electronic trades and is a licensed Electrical Fitter and Mechanic Special Class in three states and a licensed electrical contractor in the ACT. Paul has also attained CTS (Certified Technology Specialist) certification credentials from Infocomm International and regularly lectures for Infocomm Australia. [InfoComm]

Jason Wheatley: is Manager, Audio Visual Services at the University of Sydney.  He has more than 30 years experience in theatre, film, video, interactive media and education.  For a decade he was the producer of the Australian Film Television and Radio School’s globally-distributed training videos.  He has a keen interest in AV design that integrates theatre and cinema with the blended digital future of AV and IT.  Recently appointed as Vice President of the Association of Educational Technology Managers he has also been an active participant in the development of the AETM’s AV Design Guidelines. [AETM]