Reuben began his career in lighting design at the age of 13 while attending Taroona High School in Hobart, Tasmania—an institution renowned for its strong live music and arts program. Without formal training and guided by head of music Glenn Schultz, he pursued lighting as an extracurricular passion, demonstrating early initiative and a commitment to developing technical and creative skills.

His foundation in music has been central to his design approach. Beginning piano lessons at age 3, Reuben undertook 14 years of study in jazz and contemporary performance. This extensive musical background informs his lighting work, enabling him to create designs that are rhythmically intuitive and artistically aligned with live performance.

During his involvement in school productions, Reuben was mentored by Professional Music & Lighting Systems (PMLS), a longstanding production partner of the school. Under the guidance of director Nick Morse and head of lighting Josh Morse, plus the broader PMLS team, he developed both technical expertise and industry insight, establishing a strong professional foundation over an eight-year period.

Throughout his tenure with PMLS, Reuben has gained experience across a wide range of sectors, including live music and concerts, artistic installations, as well as sporting and broadcast events. This breadth of exposure has shaped a versatile and well-rounded lighting designer with a strong technical and creative skill set.

Reuben considers his extensive hands-on, on-site experience—rather than formal classroom training—to be one of his greatest assets. Like many others, he began in entry-level roles, pushing cases and slinging Powerlock through the mud. Through consistent effort and a willingness to learn, he steadily progressed through the ranks, gaining practical knowledge at every stage.

Today, he applies this ground-level experience directly to his projects, ensuring his work is informed by real-world understanding. This “learning by doing” approach shapes every aspect of his practice. Reuben, like many of his peers, takes pride in his ability to design lighting rigs that prioritise practicality, efficiency, and ease of deployment for build crews.

Reuben’s career reflects a rare combination of musicality, technical expertise, and practical experience developed from the ground up. With a strong foundation in live performance and an approach shaped by hands-on learning, he brings both creative sensitivity and operational efficiency to every project. His ability to translate artistic vision into functional, crew-conscious design positions him as a thoughtful and dependable lighting designer, committed to delivering work that is both innovative and grounded in real-world application.