There are 4 vacancies for Ordinary Members of Council in 2021 and 5 candidates.  All Corporate Members are eligible to vote ( Hon Fellows, Fellows, Members (MIOA)).  Each member can vote for up to 4 candidates.  This vote will close on 3 June 2021 and up until that point members can edit their vote.  The 4 winning candidates will be announced at the AGM  which is on the 7 June at 4pm via the Zoom using the Members' Forum meeting number and pass code.  Meeting number 85232407915 passcode 474404.

Candidate Statements

Dr Chris Barlow

I am a Director of Positive Acoustics Ltd, a consultancy and training organisation which is an accredited centre for the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control, CCENM and CCBAM certificates.     I have served on Council since 2019, and am currently the Chair of Education and Learning Working group.   In this role I have worked on strategy to develop the learning and CPD offers to members, as well as working with education committee to look at furthering the educational offer.  I have also served for a number of years on regional committees for the Institute of Acoustics (Southern Branch) and both regional and national committees for the Audio Engineering Society.   

I bring a blend of academic and commercial experience, including having been Professor of Acoustics at Solent University from 2016 to 2021, and am currently an external supervisor for an acoustics PhD at the University of York.

I am passionate about encouraging young people from all backgrounds into careers in Acoustics and Audio Engineering and work extensively in outreach and promotion of this as a career path.  This has included a presentation to Parliamentary Scientific Committee on behalf of IOA on the issues faced by the Acoustics industry in recruiting staff.   I also provide IOA with technical support and advice on reaching the membership for meetings and conferences at both regional and national level, particularly in terms of webstreaming and remote access

I am very keen to carry on developing this work on behalf of the IOA Council, and feel that I have a considerable amount to offer. 

Dr Ben Fenech

When I was elected to Council two years ago my priority was to promote the importance of sound as a determinant of health. My biggest contribution to date has been presenting to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee in Westminster on how much the scientific evidence has evolved, and how acoustics is linked to some of the biggest societal challenges we face. I have provided regular constructive input, and sometimes challenge, to IOA publications and responses, tapping into my strategic oversight as a civil servant. I am also chair of the IoA Bursary Fund, restarted in 2020 and currently in its third call for funding.

I would like to seek re-election to continue my work in this area - advocating the importance of sound and health to a broad audience. We are witnessing an exponential growth in the scientific evidence on noise and soundscapes. Covid has also shone a light on the indoor environment, of which sound is a key aspect. These are excellent opportunities for the Institute to articulate the key role its members play in shaping the nation's health and wellbeing.

I am an acoustician with almost 20 years' experience spread across academia, acoustic consultancy, and the public sector. In my current role leading the Noise & Health group at Public Health England, I collaborate daily with policy officials, professional and standardisation bodies, researchers, industry, NGOs and community groups. This cross-sectorial experience puts me in a strong position to understand current and future challenges and opportunities for the acoustics community.

Daniel Goodhand

If elected, my priorities are:

1. to further assist the institute develop its brand and marketing strategy;
2. to help the institute make sound commercial decisions; and
3. to represent the interests of all professionals working in the industry as consultants.

I currently serve as chair on the publications committee and provide a good link between that committee and council. I have encouraged new marketing initiatives, including the use of social media and the use of video.  Along with the publications committee, I have been able to provide oversight and will continue to advise the council on strategic decisions as well as oversee the publication of the Acoustics Bulletin.

I have contributed to the discussions around the use of finances and if elected I will continue to do this. I believe the priority is to consider how to use money in the most effective ways to progress the aims of the IoA and for the benefit of members, especially given the current extraordinary circumstances.

I have previously served council as the IoA’s diversity champion and represent the IoA at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s diversity and inclusion in engineering programme. I have assisted writing a diversity and inclusion policy and helped identify diversity champions within each separate branch and group within the IoA.

I have been actively involved helping the institute for a number of years on and off council, and I will continue to provide positive contributions elected.

Angela Lamacraft

I have found my time on Council thoroughly rewarding so far. I am currently the Diversity Champion for the Institute and am setting up a working group to look at the issues affecting underrepresented members of the Institute, how the Institute can better serve its underrepresented members and how industry can be persuaded to embrace diversity at all levels to encourage more people into acoustics and to stay in acoustics. I believe that we all benefit from the unique ideas that a diverse active membership of both organisations brings. I am also a member of the ANC’s Future Acousticians Committee.

I am currently leading the team developing a competition for school pupils on the subject of soundscapes. This year it will be for secondary school aged children, but I am hopeful that we will also be able to create a competition for primary aged children too next year.

I would love to continue to be involved in both of these projects by being voted for another term as an Ordinary Member of Council.

During my career I have worked for a large international company, a medium-sized multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy and I am now at a small environmental consultancy. This has given me an insight into the different challenges faced by acoustic consultants, especially those in larger companies where acoustics may not be prioritised. I am also a working mother and understand the issues faced by parents, and women generally.

Simon Taylor

I started in acoustics after spending 15 years working in the music business, producing music, DJ’ing, running record labels and promoting events. My music was used on TV, Radio, Films and in Computer games. I still get PRS royalty cheques for re-runs of Masterchef in Africa.

My acoustics career started with 10 years at Sound Research Laboratories (SRL), working my way up from the bottom to quickly become part of the Senior Management Team. I managed teams across departments and offices, primarily providing advice on building acoustics to Contractors. Major projects included Royal Papworth Hospital, Crossrail C305 and Barnsley BSF.

In 2016 I moved to Ramboll in Cambridge. Working for a large multidisciplinary team has allowed me to broaden my experience to include environmental acoustics work such as EIAs for major schemes and found me working more Client side. It has also allowed me to work much closer with other engineering disciplines. Example projects include UCL DRI/IoN, Orchard Wharf and Stevenage SG1 masterplan.

What does net-zero sound like?

We are in a Climate Emergency. Our children’s futures depend on how and when we act to reduce the ever-increasing global carbon emissions.  My aim is to raise the importance of this issue within our industry. I believe we need to work with the wider-industry and policy makers to provide our members with the tools they require to help our Clients make carbon conscious decisions with their projects and allow our members make similar decisions for their own lives.”