What’s your role in the media tech industry?
I am currently working as a sound engineer at Limitless Broadcast. I have been at Limitless for over a year now and have had some amazing projects, jobs and roles. I have worked a lot of rugby as a sound assistant/A2, working with reporter and presenter RF set-ups and making sure talent is happy with mixes and talkback. I have also been a sound operator on numerous different jobs, such as football and rugby matches, as well as swimming galas and social media live streams. I have also set up audio and comms equipment from the build to config (routing/patching).
Tell us about your journey to get there.
My journey started at college where I studied Event Production at Access Creative College in Shoreditch. This involved mainly event management, but I had technical modules in sound, video and lighting. I became very interested in live music audio and lighting, and I looked for university degrees to progress. I started at Solent University with it in mind to be a front-of-house audio engineer. During the first year, I attended SMPTE Young Innovators, where I was offered broadcast work experience. This led me to venture towards broadcasting as I loved my work experience so much. This carried on throughout university, where I also picked up working freelance with a couple OB companies. Once I finished my degree, I went freelance for a couple of months until I was offered a job at Limitless.
Why did you say yes to being involved in SMPTE Young Innovators?
I said yes to SMPTE Young Innovators to showcase my dissertation, as it was a project I was really proud of, and it was quite an unusual topic I wanted to share. I also said yes as I wanted to grow confidence with my presentational skills and communication to large groups of people. It was something that was outside of my comfort zone that I would like to become good at, so I thought this was a great way to share something cool whilst learning to present well.
Why was it valuable for you to share your own work/experience?
I found it valuable to share my dissertation, which was quite a crazy topic but involved lots of technical aspects. My dissertation was about the JFK assassination and by using Unreal Engine could recreate the Plaza where he was shot, use project acoustics (which allows for reflections/refractions around buildings as well as reverberation) to simulate the event and with it being played out as how the Warren Commission said it happened, could prove that most of the witness reports were based on acoustics and the shot came from the Texas School Book Depository. Sharing this dissertation idea was pretty cool as I had spent a lot of time researching, calculating and building the Plaza. I got to work on my presentational and communicational skills in the technical realm [which] is something I would like to do in the future.
Why do you think such an event is important to students/those just starting their careers in the industry?
I think attending Young Innovators is super helpful for students and those starting their career, as it gives an opportunity to network with those who can offer guidance or recommend others who can help and potentially put you in contact with companies. It also allows you to meet other students from universities who are taking similar courses.
What was the highlight of the event you attended?
I think there have been many highlights from the SMPTE Young Innovators events, from being able to network with people within the same industry, of all ages and different roles, to showcasing a project I worked on. Being a part of a supportive and friendly community is something I have gained from the events, and it is also nice to network with new people. After my talk, having people come up to me and ask questions and show interest made me feel very proud of the work I had achieved and how I had presented it.
During your event, you were able to get some hands-on experience with engineers at one of the UK’s major broadcasters. How beneficial was that?
Taking part in the pre-event tour, I was able to get experience within multiple broadcast roles, which was very beneficial as it allowed me to get hands-on experience with professional, industry-standard equipment. During the tour, I gained insight into the signal flow, which helped me understand all the stages involved in the transmission.
One of the options I had selected was to get some experience in sound operating. This helped me adjust to broadcast scheduling and structure during the short running order we went through. I got to hear broadcast terms and follow the director, which helped my multitasking and getting used to following cues by listening to both the director and the audio mix. Sound operating is something I would love to do in the future, so it was great to get an insight into what it would be like.
What would you say to anyone thinking about attending in 2026?
I would say to definitely attend as there are so many different ways it could appeal and help you. You may learn something valuable from one of the talks or gain an interest in that topic. It may also inspire you to present at a SMPTE event. You will get to meet so many new people who can guide you or give you new ideas to explore. It is also nice to get to meet students with similar degrees from other universities who also may become your staff or freelance colleagues one day.
How has Young Innovators helped you to stay engaged with the industry?
Young Innovators has given me the opportunity to learn new skills/topics, whether that be from the presentations or the networking afterwards. I also enjoy catching up with familiar faces whilst meeting and talking with students who may want a similar career path to the one I have had.
And, why has that been important to you?
Young Innovators has been really important to me in helping me know I am on the right path. When talking with people about what I do, I get a sense of confirmation and joy when talking about my job and that I am still as passionate as when I was at my first event.
Tickets for SMPTE Young Innovators South on 5th February are available here.
Tickets for SMPTE Young Innovators North on 23rd February are available here.
