I am a Royal Society Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellow, and a Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. My work focuses on using fundamental science and engineering to control sound and vibration, with a translational approach that bridges theoretical innovation and practical application. I hold a BE (Hons, First Class) in Materials and Processing Engineering and a Bachelor of Music in Performance Saxophone.
I completed my PhD in Acoustical Engineering at the University of Auckland in 2014, specialising in acoustic metamaterials. After four years in government research, I joined the University of Auckland in 2017, where I’ve since led several nationally funded research projects as Principal Investigator. My current research areas include impact insulation using granular materials, sound insulation of walls and windows using acoustic and elastic metamaterials, musical acoustics, marine energy harvesting, and mechanical sound generation.
Alongside my academic work, I’m a professional musician, arranger, composer, and producer. I play lead alto saxophone with the Auckland Jazz Orchestra and perform with various ensembles around Aotearoa. I’ve appeared at national and international festivals, performing with artists such as Eric Marienthal, Chris Thompson, and Georgie Fame. I’ve recorded on over 20 albums and composed or arranged more than 15 works for jazz orchestra. I’m also a passionate photographer, capturing people, environments, and the stories that connect them, from Aotearoa to the wider world.
