About Us

Ian is the Director of Subacoustech, and the Asteroceras group. As a Principle Marine Scientist, and highly experienced marine surveyor, Ian built a successful environmental survey division within a larger company over many years, before seting up Benthic Solutions Limited and the Asteroceras group, which Subacoustech joined in 2015. Ian is responsible for the buisness development within each of the operational companies of Asteroceras, including Subacoustech.

Tim is a Principal Acoustic Consultant at Subacoustech, having joined the company in 2011. Tim has extensive consultancy experience across a wide range of acoustic disciplines, including both underwater noise assessment, international surveying projects and advice to national regulators. Before Subacoustech, he worked for 10 years in traditional airborne noise situations (road, rail and construction noise impacts, industrial noise mapping and control, planning and architectural acoustics, vibration and noise nuisance). Tim has also acted as an expert for planning enquiries with respect to the effect of underwater noise on marine life.

Qualifications: 2001 University of Southampton, BEng (Hons.) Engineering Acoustics and Vibration.

Professional memberships: Corporate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA)

Skills and Expertise: Project Management, Consulting, Underwater Noise Analysis.

Fergus is a Senior Engineering Consultant at Subacoustech. Fergus joined Subacoustech in 2016, and has experience in measuring and analysing underwater noise data from a variety of sources including impact and vibro piling, drilling, blasting, UXO disposal, geophysical survey equipment, vessel noise, and marine mammal vocalisations. Fergus regularly writes technical reports assessing impact of modelling and measurement data and relating impact to appropriate environmental criteria. 

Fergus is responsible for technical report writing, as well as designing bespoke measurement systems, and engineering and programming for signal processing. 

Qualifications: 2016 University of Southampton, BEng (Hons.) Acoustical Engineering, JNCC accreditted MMO and PAM operator

Professional memberships: Associate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (AMIOA)

Skills and Expertise: Product Design, Signal Processing, Data Analysis

Austen is an Acoustic Engineer at Subacoustech. Austen has over 4 years of experience numerically modelling acoustic wave propagation and 8 years of experience in scientific computing with Python.



Austen’s responsibilities include bulk analysis of large audio datasets data and acoustic modelling.

Qualifications: 2020 Cardiff University, BSc (Hons.) Physics, 2024 University of Southampton, PhD, Engineering and the Environment

Skill and Expertise: Bulk Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Numerical Modelling Simulations

Karol is a Technician at Subacoustech. With approximately 20 years in the manufacturing industry, he has worked across multiple areas of manufacturing, from production and assembly of electronic and mechanical equipment to servicing and maintaining a wide range of systems. His hands-on expertise and problem-solving skills ensure our equipment meets the highest standards.

Karol is responsible for building and assembling specialised equipment, servicing and maintaining acoustic systems, as well supporting research and development initiatives and providing technical support to colleagues and clients.

Skills: Equipment assembly (electronic & mechanical), Acoustic equipment servicing/maintenance, Research & development support

Sam is the Technical Director at Subacoustech. Sam has over 20 years’ experience within the field of acoustic engineering, including consultancy, operations and project management experience within acoustics and technology implementation. Sam is experienced in developing experimental methods and designing appropriate supporting technology (mechanical, electronic and software design, data management processes etc.) as well as managing technical teams to deliver complex projects. 

Sam is responsible for day-to-day management and operations, as well as ongoing research and development programs at Subacoustech. 

Qualifications: 1998 University of Southampton, BEng (Hons.) Engineering Acoustics and Vibration.

Professional memberships: Corporate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA)

Skills and Expertise: Python Development, Signal Processing, Equipment Design.

Richard joined Subacoustech in 2009 and is the Lead Modelling Consultant at Subacoustech. Richard has extensive experience in underwater acoustic modelling, including RAMSGeo and dBSea acoustic models. He is also involved in noise measurements and data analysis of various sources of underwater noise, such as impact piling, drilling, vessel noise and diving equipment. 

Richard is responsible for overseeing the development of our INSPIRE and SPEAR modelling packages, along with refinements of more detailed modelling. Richard also manages the internal audit process to maintain ISO9001 certification.

Qualifications: 2008 University of Portsmouth, BSc (Hons.) Music and Sound Technology

Professional memberships: Associate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (AMIOA)

Skills and Expertise: Modelling, Data Analysis, Technical Reporting

Issy is an Acoustic Consultant at Subacoustech. Issy has marine acoustic experience since 2018 and has specialist knowledge of marine mammal bioacoustics. Issy has field experience conducting both active and passive acoustic monitoring surveys, and regularly measures, analyses, and interprets marine acoustic data from a variety of biological and non-biological sources. Skilled in technical report writing, which includes impact assessments and acoustic modelling using dBSea, INSPIRE and SPEAR models. Well-versed in numerous software packages, such as QGIS for survey area mapping, and coding languages R and MATLAB for acoustic data analysis and statistical modelling.

Qualifications: 2025 IOA PGDip Acoustics and Noise Control, 2021 University of St Andrews, MSc. Marine Mammal Science, 2019 University of Southampton, BSc (Hons.) Zoology, JNCC accreditted MMO and PAM operator. 

Skills and Expertise: Modelling, Marine Mammal Bioacoustics, Technical Report Writing

Gareth is a Technician at Subacoustech. Having previous experience with armoured vehicles in the British Army, Gareth joined Subacoustech in 2016 as a technician, building and repairing equipment, as well as maintaining it in the field. At Subacoustech, Gareth is involved in the research, development, and implementation of new and existing acoustic equipment, where he adapts it to suit the varying needs of clients. 

Gareth is responsible for the overall inventory and warehouse operations at Subacoustech, as well as conducting acoustic surveys, involving deployment of a range of acoustic equipment.

Qualifications:

• 2016 Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, NVQ Level 3 Engineering Maintenance
• 2024-2026 CECAMM Centre, HNC Level 4 Electronics Engineering

Skills: Electronics repair, Acoustic equipment maintenance and calibration, Warehouse management, Survey operator

Claire joined our Team in 2022 as office/project administrator. Bringing with her more than 10 years experience, she is responsible for in-house project admin, and is our first point of contact for our Accounts Payable Team.