Bringing international experience to our acoustic consultants NSW team
Cameron Heggie joins as Principal Consultant
With over 12 years of experience with a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm, Cameron Heggie brings his extensive knowledge and distinctive approach to our acoustic consultants office in NSW as Principal Consultant.
Beginning his career in Sydney in 2011 as an Acoustic Consultant, Cameron gained practical experience in the building acoustics space, working on a diverse range of projects such as the International Towers at Barangaroo and the Royal Randwick Racecourse Grandstand.
Originally looking for a short stint overseas, Cameron moved to the UK for two years, expanding his buildings consulting skillset on museums, universities, galleries and studios amongst others. Cameron was also heavily involved in a variety of rail and highways schemes throughout the UK.
From there, Cameron called the Netherlands home for more than seven years while servicing a broad and diverse range of regions across Europe and beyond. ‘While I was overseas, I was involved in a lot of project work throughout Germany, Italy, France, Turkey and Spain, along with Belgium, and the Netherlands, of course,’ Cameron said. In addition, Cameron also worked as the regional building acoustics manager for Ireland, delivering a number of significant projects across the island.
One such project was developing the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. As the country’s leading modern art museum, this project involved working with a well-known Dutch architectural firm to develop standalone gallery walls for their permanent exhibition of priceless artworks. With concerns ranging from vibration damage to vandalism, development, research and technical investigation were conducted. This dedicated approach ensured that the tens of thousands of people who experience this exhibit every day can interact more with the space rather than simply looking at something linear.
After extending his stay year after year while working on building acoustics in cultural, commercial, civic spaces and the like, a year and a half ago, Cameron moved back to NSW.
Once back in the country, Cameron decided to make the move to a more boutique firm. ‘I’d been with my previous company for a long time, but I was enticed by the size of Resonate Consultants and their reputation. Within the sector, this organisation is quite well-known for being innovative and delivering high-quality work,’ Cameron explained.
With these objectives and a genuine curiosity about innovation and the associated techniques, Cameron interviewed with the team and succeeded in the role of Principal Consultant. ‘There is a real sense of valuing depth of knowledge here, so I’m looking forward to working on projects where I can develop technically. I really believe in the notion that you are never too old to stop learning,’ he said.
While still in the initial phases of his employment, Cameron already embraces one of Resonate Consultants’ foundational values: collaboration. From helping to write bids to conducting reviews, infusing projects with his distinctive approach, and embracing another core value: being client-centric.
‘In my career, I’ve undertaken higher-level challenges regarding flexibility and responding to differences in cultural working conditions. Being based in Europe and attending a project in Italy one week and Ireland the next meant that I had to understand each client, project and deeper requirements thoroughly,’ Cameron explained.
The demanding nature of being an overseas acoustic consultant meant that Cameron adopted and adapted to different building standards and acoustic guidelines. It also meant navigating cultural differences in order to understand and effectively work with key project stakeholders.
At the heart of this understanding is identifying the complex and sometimes competing interests at play with project work. ‘Clients and stakeholders have different requests and requirements for the project. Contractors are time-oriented. Government bodies want you to hit key milestones, whereas other stakeholders will place emphasis on the end product rather than adhering to timeframes and budgets,’ Cameron explained.
To help understand the inherent interests and dynamics at play, Cameron places importance on talking things through. ‘I really enjoy conceptually workshopping and having roundtable discussions centred around fitting in acoustics with good design practices and how they correlate with the larger project vision,’ he said.
These open and honest discussions also help Cameron to infuse projects with his overarching passion: making a difference. ‘I like to see and feel that, as an individual or as a project team, we can design for the greater good. We can go beyond standard guidance and do better each and every time and constantly develop and progress,’ Cameron said.
From researching aural diversity and how children who struggle with hearing comprehension can be accommodated for in-school design to doing pro bono work on the creative learning centres in Sydney, Cameron thrives when blending problem-solving with elevated technical and creative involvement.
This desire to have a positive impact can also be seen through Cameron’s part-time role as an Academic Lecturer at the UNSW Sydney. Teaching a building acoustics elective to architecture students, Cameron is offering the next generation of consultants with impactful advice that will, down the line, make a difference.
When he’s not working or lecturing, Cameron enjoys the best of nature through kitesurfing, hiking and bush regeneration. ‘I like that perpetual connection to nature. It was something I missed while I was overseas, and I’m lucky that Resonate Consultants integrates wellness into the job description so I can work from home, enjoy my surroundings, and still contribute to the company,’ Cameron said.
Discuss your project with our acoustic consultants NSW team today.