Emerging Practitioner - Research - Prof. Sir Don Beaven Award

The Emerging Practitioner Award for Research - Professor Sir Donald Beaven Memorial Award recognises research excellence.

The initial Sir Don Beaven Award and Research Excellence Award have been merged into this new award.

Background

Professor Sir Don Beaven strongly supported and advocated for our profession.  It is designed to support therapists undertaking postgraduate study. 

Born in Christchurch and educated at Christ’s College, Sir Don studied medicine at Otago University and became an internationally respected and honoured teacher and researcher. Although Sir Don was world-renowned for his untiring advocacy and support for people with diabetes, he was also an ardent supporter of the speech-language therapy profession. Sir Don was passionate about the development and rehabilitation of communication skills. He also strongly advocated for developing the University of Canterbury Bachelor of Speech-language Therapy programme.

Sir Don continued to support the programme long after its establishment through regular visits, participation in Departmental seminars and mentorship of staff and students. This award honours Sir Don’s contribution to speech-language therapy in New Zealand.

Funded by Stella Ward

Value: $1000

 Selection Criteria

1. The nominee is a current registered NZSTA member.
2. The nominee completed a substantial research project relevant to speech-language therapy in New Zealand within three years of graduating as a speech-language therapist. 
3. The senior supervisor of the post-graduate research project endorses the nomination.
4. The nominee will demonstrate emerging research excellence and commitment beyond what is expected of someone early in their career. 
5. The nominee’s research will focus on translating knowledge into practice that will positively impact speech-language therapy delivery.

 The emerging excellence in the area(s) above will be outlined in the attached document. Please include the following information:

1. How did the nominee demonstrate emerging research excellence?
2. Over what period of time did this occur?
3. How does their achievement demonstrate excellence and commitment beyond what is expected early in their career?
4. Does their achievement have broad implications/potential for the future? (e.g., for students, for practising SLTs, for other allied health professions)
5. Has the achievement been published/documented for use by the profession?

  Applications close at 5 pm on 30 June annually.

Awarded at the 2025 NZSTA symposium to Fathima Shakeela Abdul Saleem

Nominated by: Anna Miles and Jacqui Allen

Emerging research excellence
Dr Fathima Shakeela Abdul Saleem is an exceptional early‑career researcher in speech‑language therapy. Her work focuses on improving voice, cough and swallowing functions in adults with neurodegenerative and neurogenetic conditions, and in people with head and neck cancer. Shakeela’s research is translational—bridging clinical practice and academic evidence—and is already shaping better care for people in Aotearoa and internationally. Her growing portfolio of peer‑reviewed publications, international presentations and collaborative trials demonstrates a significant and lasting contribution to the field.

Innovative research and advancing knowledge
Shakeela’s PhD featured a two‑arm clinical trial on interventions for people with Parkinson’s disease. This produced four peer‑reviewed articles and presentations at leading conferences. She will present her findings at the NZSTA Conference in Napier in 2025.  She is now co‑leading a Cancer Society‑funded clinical trial on expiratory muscle strength training for head and neck cancer patients post‑chemoradiation therapy. Her collaborations with Associate Professors Anna Miles and Jacqui Allen have advanced assessment tools and therapy for swallowing disorders.

Collaboration and international engagement
An active member of the University of Auckland’s Swallowing and Voice Research Laboratory, Shakeela contributes to internationally recognised studies on swallowing physiology. She has presented in Australia and published on pharyngeal high‑resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), gaining international recognition. She also works with global teams on research into spinocerebellar ataxia, myotonic dystrophy and other rare conditions.

Commitment beyond expectations
From 2020 to 2025, Shakeela has led and co‑led multiple trials, delivered invited talks to professional groups in New Zealand and overseas, and mentored Master’s students in voice and swallowing therapy. She also works part‑time as an SLT in acute care at Middlemore Hospital, actively bridging research and clinical practice.

Impact and recognition
Shakeela’s research is shaping evidence‑based practice, improving interventions and diagnostics, and equipping the next generation of clinicians with research‑informed skills. Her achievements have been recognised with awards including the Faculty of Science Research Fellow SEED Fund (2025), Counties Manukau DHB Allied Health Research Award (2024), and the Hope Selwyn Scholarship for Ageing Research (2022).

In summary
Dr Shakeela Abdul Saleem exemplifies emerging research excellence, with work that is advancing speech‑language therapy in Aotearoa and beyond.