Joanna Watchman steers ICEL 2025 for third year running

Joanna Watchman, Managing Director of Content Coms, once again took to the Chair’s seat at the ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference. For the third consecutive year, she guided the conversations, curated the flow, and set the tone for a full day of industry insight and collaboration.

ICEL (the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting, part of the Lighting Industry Association) presents this annual event as a key meeting point for the emergency lighting supply chain. Over 200 delegates from manufacturers, specifiers, installers, maintainers, distributors and end users come together to share knowledge, tackle challenges and shape the future of safe, reliable emergency lighting systems.

Leading conversations that matter

In her role as Chair, Joanna framed the narrative by reminding delegates that emergency lighting is not a back-room technicality, but a core safety lifeline. Joanna has spent nearly 30 years in communications and marketing for the lighting and building services sector and is well known for her advocacy around building safety and reform across built environment sector.

In previous years, she has issued a warning that still resonates today: “Ignorance is rife. But ignorance is no excuse.” At ICEL 2025, she once again leaned into the sector’s toughest questions, addressing gaps in competence, blurred responsibilities and the ongoing challenge of sustaining performance and accountability over time.

Sharing responsibility across the industry

This year’s agenda tackled some of the sector’s most pressing issues, including regulatory reform, competence in safety-critical industries, sustainability frameworks, and the latest technical standards.

A central message running through the day was one of shared responsibility. From design and installation to maintenance and inspection, the sector must work together to ensure that every system remains safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

A highlight of the programme was a powerful keynote from Falklands War veteran Simon Weston CBE, who shared his remarkable story of resilience, leadership and determination. His session provided a moving reminder of the human dimension at the heart of building safety.

Click here for more information on the LIA’s ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference.