About me

I am an architect and lighting designer, currently part of the Professional Leadership Development program at Harvard Business School.

For the last 2 years, in the position of Lighting Design Director at Emaar Development, I had the responsibility of overseeing architectural lighting projects for all of Emaar’s portfolio, both in the UAE and Internationally, leading the lighting design conception, development and implementation across different types of projects such as masterplanning, hospitality, residential and retail.

In 1995, I started my career studying engineering at the Politecnica del Ecuador, then, pursued my studies in Architecture to combine my love for mathematics with art, receiving my degree in Architecture at the Universidad San Francisco in 2001. After this, I specialized in Architectural Lighting, obtaining my Master’s in Germany in 2005. Currently I am studying at Harvard Business School Professional Leadership Development Program.

I have had the opportunity to give conferences in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Qatar, Turkey, and of course the United Arab Emirates.

Born and raised in Quito, a Unesco’s heritage city, I learned to appreciate history , nature and architecture from a very young age. I started my career in Quito, participating as an architect in urban planning and refurbishment projects, experience I continued when working as a designer in Germany. I was also given the chance as a young architect, to work for the United Nations WFP, where I took part in contingency housing projects in the Amazonas.

I have participated in the design of different types of projects, ranging from Hospitality, Residential, Retail, Urban and Landscape Lighting. I have also worked on product design and IOT projects.

Among my latest projects are: Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai Hills and Opera District Masterplan in Dubai, Marassi – Egypt public realm and Bvlgari Hotel and Resorts, I have also been an advisor for projects in Belgrade, Bahrain and Oman. Along my career, I have developed my creative, commercial and leadership skills, taking projects from conceptual stages to site implementation and end client handover.

My expertise covers business development, procurement and contract negotiations. I have also led different lighting design initiatives, standards and procurement framework agreements being applied internationally.

Recently I have co-founded of the “School of Lighting”, an institution that aims to educate and raise awareness of lighting and wellbeing. We will soon be sharing a series of interviews with architects, designers and key players in the industry.