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Meet our engineers Female electrical engineer looks at light designs
Pavlina Akritas, female electrical engineer

Pavlina Akritas

Light Painter

I love travelling and am passionate about fashion and expressing my own style. I grew up in Cyprus before studying in America and the UK. Now I am a lighting engineer working for Arup, and have designed lighting for fashion shows, museums and art galleries.

How I became a lighting engineer

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a dentist, and then a mathematician. But I was always very curious about the world around me, asked questions all the time, and loved art classes. This creativity and curiosity eventually led me to study for a degree in engineering in America, where I also played competitive tennis.

After graduating, I moved to the UK to follow my new-found passion for engineering and completed a master’s degree in lighting. I then joined Arup - a company that brings together designers, planners, engineers, and consultants to work on the built environment - because I wanted to see how different disciplines come together to create the buildings and other structures around me.

Factfile

Role
Electrical engineer at Arup
Favourite part of engineering
I’ve worked with tech giants and big names such as Dior and get to travel the world.
Qualification path
School in Cyprus, engineering degree in America, completed a master's degree in lighting in the UK.
Pavlina Akritas, female electrical engineer

Pavlina Akritas, electrical engineer

Female model in engineered dress

A lighting project setup by Pavlina

Female electrical engineer in lights on catwalk

Pavlina Akritas, light painter

Female model in tech inspired dress

A lighting project setup by Pavlina

Female electrical engineer looks at light designs

Pavlina Akritas, lighting engineer

How does your role combine engineering with creativity?

When I was asked to light a fashion show, it opened the door to a completely different industry, and gave me another way to express my love of art and creativity. I’ve worked with tech giants and big names such as Dior and get to travel the world. Now I collaborate with fashion designers to create lighting effects for their shows at events, such as Paris Fashion Week, as well as working with museums and art galleries to create the perfect environments for their exhibitions.

"I love travelling and am passionate about fashion and expressing my own style."

— Pavlina Akritas, lighting engineer

Career timeline

School in Cyprus

University

Engineering degree in America, Master's degree in lighting in the UK.

Current role

Electrical engineer at Arup.

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