New influential role for Syntegra director

David Yates, Syntegra’s Head of Acoustics and Technical Director of Environmental Services, has been appointed as Chair of the Institute of Acoustics Southern Branch.

He has been a committee member for approximately 10 years, serving at various times as Young Members’ Representative, Acting Secretary, Diversity and Inclusion representative prior to his appointment as Chair.

The Southern Branch was established with the aim of providing a local connection between the IOA and organisation members and covers a wide geographical area including Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Branch meetings are held to provide informative presentations and debates on a wide range of topics related to acoustics.  

Around six evening meetings are held per year, with an AGM in January. Typically, a meeting is held every six to eight weeks, accounting for seasonal breaks and venues are varied but have traditionally focused around the M3 corridor. David aims to broaden the range of areas where meetings are held and has introduced Reading as a regular meeting location due to the good transport links.

During David’s time on the committee the Branch has tried, both successfully and not successfully, to reach out to other parts of the Southern Branch in the south-east of the country and hold more meetings there; as Chair he will aim to attempt this again to better serve our members.

Topics and speakers are generally selected by committee members. If, however, there is demand for a particular discipline to be covered, the committee can incorporate any ideas and suggestions in the annual schedule. The meetings are free, with tea and coffee provided and registration is requested via online ticketing system.  

David said: ‘With attendance normally ranging from anything between 20 and 50, the meetings also offer a fantastic opportunity to meet and socialise with other people having an interest in acoustics.  

“We often continue our discussions in a local pub or curry house, providing further networking opportunity.”

Since 2020, a number of meetings have been held online via Zoom, which are typically very well attended, and the aim is now to provide a mixture of in-person, on-line only and hybrid events which maximises all members opportunities to attend these events in some format.

“This aligns with the IOA’s renewed focus on Diversity & Inclusion which we fully support as a committee and I will continue to champion from my new position as Chair,” David added.

If anyone is interested in joining or discussing any element of IOA membership, please do not hesitate to contact David here at Syntegra.