HA ACOUSTICS - Key Persons


Caroline Collins

Job Titles:
  • Office Administrator

Jack Tunstall

Job Titles:
  • Graduate Consultant
Jack Tunstall originally studied an architecture foundation at East London University before moving to acoustics and starting his career at Sandy Brown as an Assistant Technician. Jack then went on to work for Cambridge Acoustic Laboratory, expanding his knowledge of building acoustics where his main duties included the design and installation of materials to be tested. He was also integral in gaining ISO 17025 UKAS accreditation for the new laboratory as the company's Quality Assurance Representative. Jack has since started the Institute of Acoustics Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control in 2020 and has passed the examinations with environmental noise and building acoustics chosen as the specialist subjects. He is currently awaiting the results of his diploma project which was based on the assessment of peacock noise nuisance which he thoroughly enjoyed completing. He joined HA-Acoustics in May 2021 as an Acoustic Technician and has completed a wide range of projects. His focus areas are acoustic modelling, acoustic barrier assessment and environmental noise impact assessments. In his spare time Jack is a keen golfer often out playing at a range of courses across Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

Josie Nixon

Job Titles:
  • Senior Consultant
Josie graduated from the University of Leicester in 2011, to work in local authority Environmental Health where her career initially involved environmental projects. Further academic studies led to her obtaining a Masters from the University of Bristol in Contemporary Space and Society in 2012 and the IOA Post Graduate Diploma in 2017 and Environmental and Architectural Acoustics in 2019 from London South Bank University. Josie's career in Acoustics began in 2015 where she began her role as a junior consultant for HA Acoustics undertaking environmental surveys and assessments. Josie went to work for Clement Acoustics in London in January 2016 where she developed her building acoustic knowledge along with environmental before returning to HA acoustics in June 2017. Josie has continued to develop her environmental, architectural and building acoustic skills, focusing on environmental noise impact assessments to support planning applications for residential and commercial development, introduction of mechanical plant, sound insulation testing, long term monitoring and sporting facilities. Josie helped HA Acoustics gain UKAS accreditation in 2018 and remains as our UKAS technical manager. Josie also has a keen interest in aero-acoustics, specifically in drone noise. Since 2018 Josie also volunteers as the Early Careers Group Representative for the IOA Eastern Branch Region. Outside of work, Josie enjoys kickboxing, kayaking and hiking.

Kirsty Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Office and Account Manager

Leo Hawkins

Job Titles:
  • Acoustic Consultant
Leo graduated from the London Metropolitan University in 2015 with a BSc (Hons) in Musical Instruments. Following his degree, he worked as a luthier in a guitar shop in North London, repairing guitars and other stringed instruments. His passion for music and the understanding of sound and vibration led him to undertake the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) Post Graduate Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control in 2018. In January 2019 Leo joined the team at Healthy Abode Ltd t/a HA Acoustics where he has developed his knowledge of environmental and building acoustics. Leo has been involved in a range of projects and areas, including environmental noise impact assessments to support planning applications for residential and commercial development; sound insulation testing; long term monitoring of noise, dust and vibration; acoustic design reviews; break-in and break-out noise; as well as the assessment of noise from wind farms. Outside of work, Leo enjoys making music and food.

Mark Speed

Job Titles:
  • Senior Consultant
Alongside Stuart Nixon, Mark completed his degree at Plymouth University in 2003 and before embarking on his career in acoustics Mark worked and lived in Australia before returning to the UK to work as a site manager for a development company building high-end residential developments and apartments in the south west. Mark then decided to make use of his technical skills by remotely undertaking the IOA Post graduate diploma alongside his construction works, before applying for a consultancy job with Sharps Redmore, a job which lead him to travel all over the UK and experience a broad range of acoustic challenges and projects. For the last few years Mark also held a position as Deputy UKAS Quality and Audit Manager, leading the team of accredited sound insulation testers and sat on the ANC Sound Insulation Testing Committee as a representative of a UKAS accredited company. After 8 enjoyable years with the Suffolk based company, Mark's family life and commitments back in Cornwall lead him to recently join the team at HA Acoustics, heading up the south west regional base. Mark has a broad range of building and environmental acoustic experience having worked on numerous residential schemes, schools, hospitals, hotels, leisure facilities and commercial projects of all shapes and sizes. He enjoys seeing projects develop from concept through to completion and hopes to assist the team of graduates as they develop along their career paths. In his spare time Mark enjoys surfing around the south west and coaches his eldest sons Under 10's football team.

Matthew Meredith

Job Titles:
  • Graduate Consultant
Matthew graduated from the University of Essex in 2008 with a BA Honours in Art & Design. His career in acoustics began in 2017 when he joined HA Acoustics as a technician. He has since completed a CCENM, moved to a Graduate Consultant role and taken on noise modelling barrier assessments as a lead area, working on many varied residential and commercial projects. As well as noise modelling, during his time at HA Acoustics, Matthew has become proficient in delivering long-term construction monitoring, industrial noise and environmental noise projects to support a variety of planning applications Outside of work Matthew has been DJing since 2006, having played at festivals, bars and clubs across the UK, Australia and India.

Mr Stuart Nixon

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Our Director
  • Stuart Nixon
Stuart Nixon graduated from Plymouth University in 2003, to work in local authority Environmental Health where his career initially involved investigating noise complaints, witnessing statutory nuisance breaches, monitoring events and progressed to reviewing noise impact assessments for planning applications. A qualified Environmental Health Officer (EHO) Stuart worked across a number of local authorities in East Anglia and the South-East. Further academic studies obtaining a Masters from the University of Derby and the Post Graduate Diploma from London South Bank University. In November 2013, Stuart left local government to better serve his private consultancy clients, initially focusing on environmental noise impact assessments supporting planning applications for residential development, introduction of mechanical plant, sporting facilities, live event monitoring and acoustic barriers. Since then, Healthy Abode Ltd t/a HA Acoustics has grown to offer a raft of acoustic services, headed up by a number of key personnel. Acoustic services now offering noise modelling, long-term noise, dust and vibration monitoring, building acoustics, UKAS sound insulation testing, noise at work assessments and a multitude of other areas of noise control. Outside work, Stuart enjoys time with his young family. Our director, Mr Stuart Nixon is a Member of both the Institute of Acoustics and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Stuart Cumming

Job Titles:
  • Senior Consultant
Stuart Cumming graduated from the University of Wales, Institute Cardiff in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) in Music Technology. His career in Acoustics began in 2013 when he began his role as a graduate for RPS Group. During his time as a graduate, Stuart obtained knowledge across a broad spectrum of schemes, including residential, healthcare and education sectors. Picking up a fondness for sound insulation and building acoustics, Stuart began to specialise in these areas whilst working on obtaining the Post Graduate Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. After obtaining the Diploma Stuart went to work in a more specialist building acoustics role at companies such including Sharps Redmore and SNC Lavalin. These roles have lead Stuart to being invloved in the design of ; SEN Schools, PA/VA design in the oil and gas sector in the Middle-east, skyscraper sized 5-star hotels in Saudi Arabia, Cinema and concert hall acoustic design. in 2017 Stuart obtained his Masters of Science degree in Applied Acoustics, which he studied at the University of Derby in his spare time. His thesis was a research paper into the accuracy of existing 3D acoustic modelling techniques in specialist situations. Outside of work, Stuart likes to spend time with his family, play tennis and go to as many live music events as he can.