Nulty’s Gary Thornton named Director of Education
(Global) – Lighting Design consultancy Nulty has strengthened its commitment to innovation with the appointment of a new Director of Education.
Gary Thornton, who has been Director at Nulty since 2023, will assume this newly created role, which will see him oversee professional development, technical excellence, and sustainable working practices across the firm’s global studios.
The position is a first for the lighting design industry, and reflects Nulty’s ongoing mission to build a team of informed and conscious designers, empowered to respond to the evolving demands of the build industry.
As Director of Education, Thornton will lead both internal team development and external client engagement, implementing an education strategy that encompasses training, research, and CPD programmes. He will also work to continually refine the team’s knowledge of accreditation frameworks and technical standards, while developing internal policies and compliance structures to ensure high standards across the business. The role will also include a focus on early-career development initiatives, as Thornton will lead Nulty’s in-house apprenticeship scheme, student internship programme and outreach to schools and colleges.
Nulty’s Founder, Paul Nulty, says: “Education is fundamental to who we are as a practice, and how we deliver design work for our clients. As lighting design now sits at the crossroads of creativity, technology, sociology, psychology, physiology, and environmental design, Gary’s role is about recognising the complexity of our discipline, and ensuring we are prepared to meet the industry’s ever-shifting challenges. By aligning education with sustainable innovation, we will maintain our position as industry leaders and continue to redefine the impact of light on the world around us.”
A core pillar of Nulty’s education movement will be sustainability research, knowledge-sharing and advocacy, an area that Thornton has championed in recent years by establishing in-house circular economy benchmarks that drive accountability and reduce the environmental impact of the team’s schemes.
Gary Thornton adds: “I have always approached my work with a sustainable bias, and I am excited for the opportunity to champion this at a global level. As the industry places greater emphasis on sustainability metrics and the built environment becomes ever more complex, it is imperative that we deliver creative and technical lighting design solutions while responding to evolving requirements and client expectations.”