Meet the team

About us

Altissimo Consulting was founded in 2018 and has quickly established itself as a trusted provider of quality advice. We seek out challenging problems and apply our analytical skills and critical thinking to develop a range of solutions for our clients.

We are based in Christchurch and Wānaka, however we work across the country, with regular visits to Wellington and Auckland.

Our team

Michael Smith

Michael Smith

Principal Acoustics Engineer Wānaka

Michael has degrees in mechatronic engineering and computer science, and over 18 years of professional experience. He is a founding director at Altissimo Consulting.

He regularly works for local councils, government agencies, the private sector as well as individuals and community groups affected by projects. The majority of his recent work has been with roads, wind farms and other major infrastructure.

Michael's thorough understanding of the underlying issues allows him to present technical content in Plain English in reports and evidence. Michael has a keen interest in resource management practices and regularly attends and has presented at Resource Management Law Association and NZ Planning Institute events. He regularly undertakes peer reviews for district councils.

Rob Wareing

Rob Wareing

Principal Acoustics Engineer Christchurch

Rob has a degree in mechanical engineering, a PhD in acoustic engineering, and over 10 years' experience in acoustic consulting, testing, and research. He is a founding director of Altissimo Consulting. Rob has experience in measurement and instrumentation, research and development, construction noise, and acoustic adjacent research.

Rob is familiar with a wide range of measurement and instrumentation systems. He has developed bespoke measurement systems for several clients and is interested in implementing measurement control software that automates a range of measurements for users. He enjoys building measurement systems that allow his clients to gather the most useful data in a highly repeatable manner.

Rob has worked across a range of acoustic consulting fields including building acoustics, construction noise and vibration, general noise modelling, noise measurements, and noise assessments for resource consent applications. He strives to present acoustic information in a clear and concise manner that is easily understood by clients and third parties.

George Bell

George Bell

Principal Acoustics/Energy Engineer Christchurch

George holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD in energy engineering, and has over ten years of commercial experience. He has a wide range of skills and experience across various domains including energy, acoustics, product design, and data analysis. His professional drive is fuelled by his commitment to sustainability and his passion for combating climate change.

In addition to his acoustics skills, he has expertise in designing energy-efficient systems and products, leading research activities, and introducing new technologies to the market.

George brings analytical and statistical rigour to the Altissimo team. He is highly skilled in using tools like Python and Excel to analyse complex systems and derive actionable insights. George's strong analytical background allows him to effectively manage and interpret large, complex data sets, ensuring impactful outcomes. His deep technical knowledge, combined with demonstrated commercial acumen, enables him to consistently deliver successful solutions.

Aaron Healy

Aaron Healy

Senior Acoustics Engineer Christchurch

Aaron has a degree in mechanical engineering, a masters in acoustic engineering and over 5 years of professional consulting experience working on a range of environmental, infrastructure, and building design projects.

His experience spans a variety of sizes of project from large commercial developments to stand-alone residential homes.

Aaron has particular experience in construction noise and vibration assessment, management, and monitoring. This is backed up by on-site experience, providing first-hand understanding of noise and vibration during construction.

He also has prepared numerous assessments for residential buildings and other sensitive activities near roads and railways.

Aaron enjoys working with residential and commercial clients to understand their project objectives and support them in meeting regulatory noise requirements with practical solutions.