Associate Director in Vanguardia's Sports & Entertainment business, delivering acoustics, sound system and audio visual designs.

Jim Smith is a chartered engineer with 30 years acoustic consultancy experience and is lead for AECOM's international electro-acoustics business. He holds a BEng in electro-acoustics with professional experience awarded by the University of Salford in 1994. Throughout his professional career Jim has been involved in many projects covering a diverse range of acoustic design, analysis and testing, including noise and vibration, building acoustics, environmental acoustics and industrial and occupational noise.Over the past 20 years Jim has predominantly worked in the field of electro-acoustics and more specifcally the design, specifcation, auditing and testing of voice alarms and sound systems for emergency purposes in difcult acoustic conditions. His work has primarily focused on systems for sports stadia and arenas both in the UK and internationally, including football and cricket World Cup stadia and Olympic stadia and arenas. Jim has extensive experience of testing and commissioning of systems in arenas, stadia, airports and overground and underground rail stations. As an acoustician Jim often designs the acoustics of the space in conjunction with the design of the sound system to ensure the sound system meets its performance criteria.

Senior Consultant with Arup Acoustics specialising in building acoustics and sound systems design.I have worked in acoustics consultancy since August 1994 and have been active in many areas of acoustics including environmental noise, building/room acoustics, industrial/occupational noise, electroacoustics.Whilst at Arup I worked on the acoustic and electroacoustic design and commissioning for several large international airports including Chongqing, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dublin Airport Terminal 2; major arena and stadium projects including Leeds Arena, London 2012 Handball Arena, KASC, Kensington Oval (Cricket World Cup), Khalifa Bin Zayed, Beijing 2008 Birds Nest Stadium and Singapore Sports Hub to name a few, along with several Network Rail mainline rail stations and numerous sub-surface rail stations.