The Future of Light

Trent co-founded Rubidium Light with Scott Forbes in 2011 and brings more than 25 years of experience across lighting design, application engineering, technical assessment and project delivery.

Throughout his career, Trent has worked on projects ranging from major sporting facilities, roads and public spaces to retail developments, mining facilities, hotels and environmentally sensitive sites. His expertise includes sports lighting, exterior and public-area lighting, obtrusive light, environmental impact, compliance assessment and value engineering.

Trent has extensive working knowledge of the National Construction Code and Australian lighting standards relating to sports lighting, road lighting, interior lighting, emergency lighting, accessibility and the control of obtrusive light.

He also led the development of RB Rover—Rubidium Light’s patented autonomous lighting-measurement platform. Now in its third generation, RB Rover provides dense, geolocated and repeatable measurements across sports fields and other large outdoor areas.

Trent is known for combining strong technical knowledge with practical, commercially realistic advice. His focus extends beyond completing a lighting calculation to developing solutions that perform effectively, satisfy project requirements and minimise unnecessary cost and environmental impact.

Scott co-founded Rubidium Light with Trent Dutton and brings more than 30 years of experience in lighting design, application engineering, technical assessment and project delivery.

Before establishing Rubidium Light, Scott founded specialist lighting consultancy Ninox ST in 2004. Ninox ST later merged with Rubidium Light, bringing together the experience and capabilities of both businesses under the Rubidium Light name.

Scott’s career has covered an exceptionally broad range of lighting applications, including roads, public spaces, major retail developments, sporting facilities, mining operations, correctional facilities, commercial developments and environmentally sensitive locations.

He has extensive working knowledge of the National Construction Code and Australian lighting standards relating to road lighting, sports lighting, interior lighting, emergency lighting, accessibility and the control of obtrusive light.

Scott is particularly experienced in investigating complex lighting problems and assessing the effects of artificial light on surrounding properties and sensitive environments. He also provides independent technical advice and expert evidence for lighting-related complaints, contractual disputes and legal proceedings.

With an electrical trade background and decades of lighting-design experience, Scott combines technical knowledge with a practical understanding of how lighting systems are installed, operated and maintained. His focus is on delivering compliant, effective and commercially realistic solutions that perform as intended in the real world.

• Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand — MIES 
• IESANZ Registered Lighting Practitioner — RLP 
• Technical Director of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand 
• Course in Lighting Design and Application, TAFE Queensland 
• Electrical Trade Certificate, Wagga Wagga College of TAFE 
• EDAQ Road Lighting qualification 
• Current participant in the IESANZ Continuing Professional Development program 

Scott’s project experience includes:

• Robina Stadium Commonwealth Games lighting overlay 
• Bunnings stores throughout Australia and New Zealand 
• Newcastle City Council public-area lighting upgrades 
• Westfield Coomera 
• Lane Cove Interchange 
• Ipswich Central Mall 
• Yaroomba Beach lighting masterplan 
• Wellington Correctional Centre 
• Ravensworth and Callide mining facilities 
• National JB Hi-Fi retail projects

Based in Greater Geelong, Rob brings more than 23 years of experience across electrical and electronics engineering, lighting technology, LED systems, factory automation, computer systems and the Internet of Things.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Deakin University. His engineering background allows him to approach lighting as part of a complete technical system—considering the luminaires, electrical infrastructure, controls, communications, automation and ongoing operation together.

Before working with Rubidium Light, Rob spent more than 15 years with Visual Technologies, a specialist provider of digital signage and LED systems. He initially worked as a Senior Project Manager before serving as General Manager for more than 12 years. This experience gave him extensive exposure to illuminated signage, LED products, electronic control systems, technical product development and the delivery of complex projects from concept through to installation. Professional experience

Rob is also the Director of RPG Electrical, a Geelong-based electrical engineering and contracting business. This practical connection to electrical installation helps him bridge the gap between design intent, product capability and what can be successfully delivered and maintained on site.

His multidisciplinary experience is particularly valuable on projects where lighting intersects with controls, automation, digital systems or illuminated signage. Rob combines engineering analysis with a practical understanding of equipment, construction, commissioning and troubleshooting.

Rob’s approach is focused on creating reliable, maintainable and commercially realistic solutions—not simply selecting equipment or producing a theoretical design.

• Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Deakin University 
• Certificate II in Electronics, TAFE Warrnambool 
• Certificate in Basic Electronics, TAFE Warrnambool 
• Ongoing professional experience with lighting design and relevant Australian Standards 

Rob’s public education record identifies his engineering degree as having been completed at Deakin University between 2003 and 2006. Education record

• Lighting and LED technology 
• Electrical and electronics engineering 
• Lighting controls and automation 
• Illuminated and digital signage 
• Technical product assessment 
• Electrical system integration 
• Factory automation 
• Computer-based control systems 
• Internet of Things systems 
• Technical specifications and documentation 
• Project management 
• Commissioning and troubleshooting 
• Product development and value engineering 
• Application of relevant Australian Standards 
• Coordination between design, supply and installation 

Director — RPG Electrical
Rob leads a Geelong-based electrical engineering and contracting business, providing practical experience in electrical systems, installation, technical integration and project delivery.

General Manager — Visual Technologies
From 2012 until 2025, Rob managed a specialist digital-signage and LED-technology business. His responsibilities encompassed technical development, project delivery, product application, client support and business operations.

Senior Project Manager — Visual Technologies
Rob managed the delivery of digital signage, illuminated identification and LED projects between 2009 and 2012, coordinating technical requirements from design through to completion.

Scott brings more than 18 years of professional lighting experience to Rubidium Light, supported by postgraduate qualifications in lighting and an extensive background in multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, lighting design and product application.

Before joining Rubidium Light, Scott worked with Advanced Lighting Technologies Australia, where he combined his design knowledge with practical product and application expertise. This experience gave him a detailed understanding of luminaire performance, optical systems, product selection and the relationship between calculated results and real-world installation outcomes.

Scott previously spent approximately 15 years with AECOM. He worked for more than a decade as a Principal Technical Officer before progressing to Senior Lighting Designer, a position he held from 2018 until 2023. His experience in a major multidisciplinary consultancy environment involved working alongside engineers, architects, urban designers and other specialists to develop coordinated lighting solutions for complex projects. AECOM employment history

His capabilities include lighting calculations and modelling, luminaire selection, technical documentation, design coordination and the assessment of lighting performance. His combined background in lighting, industrial design and the built environment allows him to consider not only compliance and technical performance, but also how lighting equipment integrates with the architecture, landscape and intended use of a space.

Scott is particularly interested in the relationship between technical performance, visual experience and practical implementation. He approaches each project with an emphasis on producing lighting solutions that are functional, carefully considered and responsive to their surrounding environment.

Scott has also contributed to the wider lighting profession through the Queensland Chapter of IESANZ. He served on its Chapter Management Committee and was responsible for producing Arcus, the chapter’s industry newsletter. IESANZ Queensland Chapter

• Master’s degree in Lighting, Queensland University of Technology 
• Graduate Certificate in Lighting, Queensland University of Technology 
• Graduate Diploma in Industrial Design, Queensland University of Technology 
• Built-environment studies 
• Information technology studies 
• Former member of the IESANZ Queensland Chapter Management Committee 
• Former editor of the IESANZ Queensland Chapter’s Arcus publication 

Scott’s public education history identifies his Master’s degree in Lighting as completed through QUT in 2010–2011 and his Graduate Certificate in Lighting in 2004–2005. Education record

• Interior and exterior lighting design 
• Public-realm and urban lighting 
• Commercial and architectural lighting 
• Lighting calculations and computer modelling 
• Luminaire evaluation and selection 
• Lighting layouts and technical documentation 
• Design coordination 
• Product application and technical support 
• Lighting performance assessment 
• Compliance with relevant lighting standards 
• Integration of lighting with architecture and public spaces 
• Energy-efficient LED lighting solutions 

Scott has identified the Woden SkyPark project as one of his most significant lighting achievements. The project reflects his interest in the way lighting can contribute to public spaces, landscape design and the overall experience of the built environment.

Seb is a Mechatronics Engineer and Lead Systems Engineer at Rubidium Light. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics from QUT and brings practical experience across mechanical design, control systems, product development and autonomous technology.

At Rubidium Light, Seb leads the development and integration of reliable automated systems, including our robotic lighting-audit technology. He is passionate about using thoughtful engineering to improve efficiency, reduce waste and create robust solutions that perform reliably in real-world conditions.