Dr Shelley James is an international expert on light and well-being, blending her roles as lighting design consultant and curator, TEDx and keynote speaker, author, and elected member of the WELL Light Advisory Team. Dr Shelley is also a visiting lecturer at both RCA and UCL. Dr James has made significant contributions to the field, including a TEDx talk that was one of the top three most-watched worldwide in the month following the launch and a social media campaign reaching over 2.5 million adolescents worldwide.
Her expertise is sought by diverse clients, from healthcare providers and financial institutions to architects and lighting regulators. As a trained electrician and glass artist, she combines technical knowledge with creative insight. Dr James' work, featured on the BBC series "Innovations that Changed the World," reflects her commitment to improving health, happiness, and sustainability through the power of light.
How did you become involved in the Smart Buildings industry?
As a lighting design consultant and member of the WELL Advisory team, I kept coming across projects where lighting products and designs looked great on paper, but simply didn't deliver on their promise after hand-over. It struck me that, just like the 'miles per litre' claims for a car, the only meaningful way to measure a lighting system is the user experience and performance in use over the lifetime of the installation. New understanding of the way light affects mood and focus, memory and sleep means we need to think beyond energy efficiency and visual comfort too. Lighting is rising to meet the challenge with dynamic and tunable products, sensors and wireless connectivity becoming standard. For the first time in history, the humble lightbulb can go beyond lux on the desk to provide a reliable backbone for healthy, inclusive, sustainable environments for all.
What excites you about the Smart Buildings industry?
The Smart Buildings industry has the potential to provide a vital bridge between so many sectors, from traditional facilities management and engineering to IT and AI, environmental performance and inclusive design. The sector is moving at warp speed, with established brands and start-up disruptor offerings competing for market share. It's a bit like the 'wild west' out there right now as we can see by the dizzying rise in the number of 'smart building' certification schemes vying to offer some reassurance to building owners and occupiers. This is an exciting time to contribute to the development of the sector and help to ensure we build solid foundations for the future.
Are there any particular technologies that we should be aware of?
Obviously, as a lighting specialist, I believe that the building services industry is missing an opportunity to harness this infrastructure, not only to improve the user experience but to optimise the operational efficiency of the building itself through real time feedback - that can drive predictive maintenance, cleaning and security schedules, room occupancy and catering. The distributed network can even be used for asset tracking, reducing theft and time wasted looking for equipment. This is happening already in the Residential Healthcare sector with AI-based sensors reducing falls and releasing staff for other activities, but other sectors are slow to respond.
What services does your organisation offer?
We offer three broad services: Strategic consulting at the early stages of a project to audit existing solutions, identity opportunities and partnerships including funding and research collaborations; Curating and hosting, bringing together experts and user groups to generate new insights and test solutions; Training and CPD sessions with client teams and their clients to build competence and confidence.
Are people aware of the regulations that they will need to comply with in the near future?
Awareness varies widely by sector, with clients in the commercial workplace industry generally much better-informed and ready to embrace and even go beyond the legal minimum than those in the public sector.
What are the benefits of a smart building?
It depends what we mean by 'smart'.
If we mean a space that offers intuitive, reliable and sustainable ways for the user to adjust the environment to support their needs, while delivering actionable insights to the building manager in real time, the benefits are clear: a great experience, optimised energy use and carbon footprint over the lifetime of the buliding. If we mean a building bristling with high-tech gadgets that nobody knows how to use, the only benefit is the short-term profit of the companies who sold the 'solution'.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career?
My brother Jim James, a trailblazer and champion of the 'unnoticed entrepreneur', tireless supporter and dispenser of 'tough love' when I need it.
Professor Andrew Dick, a brilliant ophthalmologist and passionate advocate of interdisciplinary collaboration.
What is the question you are most often asked in your business life?
Do SAD lamps really work?
What are the best/worst things about your job?
The more I learn, the more I realise there is to discover!
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
Stay curious, don't be afraid to ask your heroes for advice and serve others whenever you can.
What living person do you admire and why?
Florence Lam - she manages to balance a strong professional drive and incredible work ethic with a personal warmth and generous willingness to support others on their journey.
Where would you most like to live?
Bridport (I live there already!)
What is your favourite book?
'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron
How do you relax?
Swim in the sea with the early morning crew, sleep
What sports team do you support?
Bridport Bees
What is your desert island disk?
'When the going gets tough' by Billy Ocean
What is your ideal holiday?
Learning something new with interesting people somewhere beautiful.