In honour of Global Mental Health Week, join us for a fascinating conversation that delves into an often-overlooked facet of place: the potency of SOUND within our environment for its power to influence our mood and shape our perception. We speak with Jackie Alexander, founder and COO of the award-winning Humming Puppy yoga studios (MELB-SYD-NYC), Soundscape Designer and acoustic engineer Mitch Allen of ARUP, and Dr Fiona Kerr, neuroscientist and CEO of The NeuroTech Institute, to understand ways that design, the science of sound and art of listening can produce immersive, experiential environments with profound impact on our being.

 

We present ways sound elicits a spectrum of response: to help us rebalance, support our productivity, build empathy for diversity and create healing sanctuaries.

Whether you seek to cultivate better self-wellbeing, connect deeper with others in your personal or professional life or improve ways we develop, manage and operate places, this discussion promises to be insightful.

 

 

 

Jackie Alexander
Co-Founder & COO
Humming Puppy
Beginning her career in the hospitality industry, Jackie found herself in the dental industry managing practices for almost 10 years. In 2013 Jackie decided to pursue her passion for yoga and became a certified yoga teacher, with the vision to open her own yoga studio.
In 2014 Humming Puppy was conceived in collaboration with Jackie’s partner Chris, featuring unique sensory elements to deepen the yoga and meditation practice and create a more conscious experience. The first Humming Puppy studio opened early 2015 in Prahran, Melbourne, followed closely by locations in Redfern, Sydney and The Flatiron District in New York. More recently, they launched an on-demand yoga platform in the response to the global pandemic. Each physical studio was designed to preserve and enhance the features of the buildings and align with the culture of the city, coupled with a desire to create modern yoga spaces that appeal to people who are curious about the ancient practice and want to be part of a like-minded community.

 

Mitch Allen
Soundscape Design (Australasia), Acoustics &
AudioVisual Leader (Sydney)
ARUP
Mitchell Allen is an experienced acoustic consultant with complementary credentials and demonstrated experience in
audio and music.  
He currently leads the Acoustic, Audiovisual and Theatre team at Arup, Sydney and has been responsible for the management and delivery of a diverse range of projects in the field of acoustics and sound design both prior to and since joining Arup.

Mitch Allen has over 10 years experience as an acoustic engineer and is currently spearheading the business offering of Soundscape Design for Arup within the Australasian region. He has a diverse range of experience in the management and delivery of all types and scale of acoustic assessment and design. Mitch Allen is also the founder of OneTwoStudios. He has over 10 years experience in music composition and sound design and has been commissioned for various soundscape installations internationally. His passion lies in sound design in the context of urban environments.

 

Dr Fiona Kerr
Neuroscientist, Founder & CEO
The NeuroTech Institute
Dr Fiona Kerr is a thought leader in human connectivity and synchronization, partnering with technology and creating
flourishing human systems including companies, cities and communities. Fiona is the founder of the NeuroTech Institute and FOCUS(NTI), which consult and research globally to ensure the unique attributes of human cognition, capacity and connection are understood, leveraged and celebrated, whether helping to create effective organisations, processes and services, or designing novel ways in which technology can enable and even transform our lives and ensure a human-centric future.

Dr Kerr consults internationally to medical and technology companies, the arts, government sectors and policy makers, and holds a number of international board and advisory positions. With an eclectic range of qualifications in systems engineering, neuroscience, psychology and anthropology, she holds honorary academic positions here and overseas and is an international keynote speaker and science educator, appearing regularly on both national and international media.

 

Founder & Principal
Maurph Design
Kristina Pacheco is seasoned strategy specialist for pioneering places and novel technologies that support living to our highest. With a background originally in the investment, concept and strategy and execution of luxury hospitality and wellness globally, Kristina operates at the nexus of design, investment, technology and brand for innovation projects. As founder and principal of Maurph Design she works internationally across a wide range of sectors globally
including in leisure, health and wellness, culture, retail, transport, food, bio-tech and biosecurity. Kristina’s unique multi-disciplinary skills synthesize research with systems and experience design, financial acumen and creativity to deliver breakthrough insights for impact to create triple bottom-line success.

Kristina co-chairs Urban Land Institute’s Women’s Leadership Initiative for Australia and is passionate about creating healthy places, products, and experiences that empower people to live their best lives.

 

 

 

ULI Australia is a GST registered non-resident business in Australia (GST Reg.no.: 91 608 265 630/002). All Australian GST taxable supplies will be taxed appropriately. If you are a GST registered business yourself and would like to request a GST removal from your invoice, please contact australia@uli.orgfor further coordination with your GST number on hand.
ULI hereby agrees to all Australian GST registered bodies to allow the issuance of Recipient-created tax invoices (RCTI) and equally all ULI issued invoice documents in relation to any such mutual agreement shall be deemed informative only.