Qualifications
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
Fields of Special Competence
Leadership
Professional Expertise
Norm sits on a number of Australian Standards Committees as an expert:
Norm wrote the chapter on “Effects of Infrasound, Low Frequency Noise, and Ultrasound on People” in the “Handbook of Noise and Vibration Control,” which was published in September 2007.
Member of the Australian National Health Medical Research Council Wind Farm & Human Health Reference Group, which investigated the impact of wind farms on human health. NHMRC statement released Feb 2015.
International Advisor to the Health Canada research project entitled “Community Noise & Health Study,” which examined the health effects of wind turbine noise on individuals living within close proximity to these installations. Initial summary of findings released in November 2014.
Guest editor for a special edition of Acoustics Australia dealing with Wind Farm Noise in 2012 (Volume 41, April)
Invited as a guest speaker in May 2015 on LFN and Infrasound at the RIVM in Holland, addressing and meeting with regulators and other interested government departments.
Citation Fellow AAS Trusted for More Than 30 Years in Acoustic, Noise & Vibration Consultancy
Dr. Norman Broner, president of the Australian Acoustical Society (2008-2010 and 2012-2014) and chairman of the Victoria Division (2010- 2012 and 2013- 2015), has had a distinguished career in the field of acoustics, spanning over 35 years. One of his particular interests has been in researching the human impact of and annoyance due to infrasound. This developed while studying at Monash University and resulted in Norm choosing to investigate further. He completed his master’s degree in engineering science at Monash University and then continued his studies at the University of London where he was awarded his Doctorate (Ph.D.), which focused on his research in Psychoacoustics.
Having completed his studies, Norm returned to Melbourne, where he took up a position with VIPAC Engineers and Scientists Ltd. as an acoustic consultant, culminating in his role as operations manager of the Melbourne Office. At Vipac, he consulted in the fields of environmental, industrial, architectural, transport, and defence noise and vibration over a 27-year period.
Norm continued his acoustics career with Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) (and Jacobs) for nine years as practice leader for acoustics, noise, and vibration.
In 2014, Norm established the acoustic consultancy, Broner Consulting Pty. Ltd., consulting all areas of acoustics with an emphasis on high-level acoustic work and peer review assessments.
During his career, Norm has published many papers and written articles for Acoustics Australia, dealing with noise and vibration issues. He has been a member of various International Acoustic Committees, including the Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA) of the Acoustical Society of America. He has also been on the Wind Farms and Humans Reference Group of the NHMRC and was the international acoustics advisor of the Health Canada’s Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study Expert Committee.
Norm has also been associated with the Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) since the early 1970s, joining the committee in his student days until he moved to London.
As a long-standing member and council member of the AAS, Norm has served as the Victoria Division Chairman and president of the Australian Acoustical Society on multiple occasions. He is enthusiastically welcomed by all state divisions in hosting their annual conferences for his style of encouraging exhibitor participation, ensuring their financial successes. He also served as president of the very successful Inter.noise 2014 INCE Congress run in Melbourne.
Dr. Norman Broner received his elevation to a Fellow of the Australian Acoustical Society (see image below). His contribution to acoustics in Australia is invaluable, and his involvement in the Society is legendary.
