Before joining UCL and whilst a part-time tutor at UCL I worked as a speech and language therapist in the NHS for 20 years, specialising in deafness.  During that time I was manager of the speech and language therapy service for deaf people in Bloomsbury, Hampstead and Islington District Health Authorities for nine years and contributed to the setting up of the Advanced Clinical Studies course in Speech Therapy with Deaf People approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).  I was also the advisor for speech and language therapy for deaf people for the RCSLT and the National Deaf Children's Society.   I also worked closely with the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf, producing guidelines for good practice and organising joint conferences with RCSLT.
I joined UCL as a part-time tutor and became a full-time tutor in 2002.  I completed my PhD in 2009 on psycholinguistic assessment and intervention with deaf children.  I taught on over twenty continuing professional development courses for qualified speech and language therapists and teachers on a psycholinguistic approach to working with children with speech, language and literacy difficulties.
I am chair of the board of examiners for the MSc Speech and Language Sciences, an intensive two-year course leading to recommendation to the Health and Care Professions Council to practise as a speech and language therapist. I also teach on four modules on the programme and regularly engage in work with the Division, Faculty and the Centre for Advancement of Learning and Teaching at UCL.