Structure & Governance

Katrina McGarr

Co-president, (MSc, BSLP(hons), BA Psychology)

Ko Motu Pōhue te maunga, ko Te Ara a Kiwa te moana, ko Takitimu te waka, ko Te Rau Aroha te marae, ko Awarua tōku hapū, ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi, ko Katrina tōku ingoa. 

Katrina is a clinical educator, speech-language therapist at the University of Canterbury.  She holds the position of treasurer with the Dementia Canterbury Board. 

Her clinical interests include supporting people living with dementia and their whānau to maintain a connection through meaningful communication and working alongside adults with acquired communication changes. Katrina is also interested in clinical education, particularly in giving awhi to students to enhance their awareness of person-centred and holistic care through aligning their values with professional identity as a ‘speech-language therapist’. 

Emma Quigan

Co-president, (MEd(hons), BSLT)

Ko Takitimu te mauka, ko Aparima te awa, ko Takitimu te waka, ko Takatai o te tītī te mare, ko Ōraka Aparima tōku hapū, ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi, ko Emma tōku ingoa

Emma is the work-integrated learning coordinator - speech and language therapy at Massey University, coordinating all student clinical placements.

Her clinical interests include communication support for children and their whānau and teachers in the early years through to school, holistic approaches to therapy, coaching, and decolonising and re-indigenizing our practice.

Amy Scott 

Communications portfolio, BA (Psychology); BSLT (Hons.); PhD (Education)

Dr. Amy Scott is a Senior Lecturer and programme coordinator for the Better Start Literacy Approach microcredentials in the Child Well-being Research Institute at the University of Canterbury. With a background as a speech-language therapist, she is now a researcher on a range of projects focused on children’s early literacy success. Her research interests include the development of tools and resources for teachers and whānau, to support the facilitation of early literacy and language success.

She has a long history with the NZSTA, serving as a student representative for two years during her undergraduate degree and attending and presenting at NZSTA events in her professional role. She is passionate about the role SLTs play in supporting children’s literacy and language success, particularly how they can work alongside teachers in the education system to advance this. She is also passionate about the revitalisation of te reo Māori and her role as a Pākehā ally in this kaupapa. She has been learning te reo Māori for 5 years now and is committed to continuing her learning in this space.

Amy is an effective communicator, and is confident presenting to and speaking with large groups of people both in person and online. She is exceptionally well organised, juggling a very busy, fulltime academic role, two young children and te reo Māori study in her own time. She has great attention to detail and a solid understanding of how to turn ideas into action. Amy is interested in reengaging with the NZSTA through the Board role of Communications portfolio holder. She would value the opportunity to have more of a strategic role in engaging more widely with community and particularly our education-based SLTs.

Su Hui Lim

Professional Standards portfolio (MSc (Speech Science), BSLT)

Su gained her Bachelor Honours Degree in Speech Sciences from The National University of Malaysia in 2011. Having worked at the Melaka General Hospital (MGH) as a new graduate, often, she strived to achieve a higher standard of clinical practice by setting up different protocols and clinical procedures for our day-to-day business. In addition, she grabbed every opportunity she could to learn about the latest research and best practise. After a few years of practice, she decided to resign from her job at MGH and came to New Zealand to learn from Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee, the pioneer in the field of dysphagia. She completed an MSc in Speech & Language Sciences at the University of Canterbury in the year 2018. Upon completion of the MSc studies, she was offered a job as a speech-language therapist at Taranaki Base Hospital and now, she is still enjoying what she is doing.

Having previous experience working with paediatric and adult patients in various settings, Su picked up portfolios such as VFSS clinic, adult community and outpatient services in the South Taranaki, pediatric inpatient and community services. While waiting for the VFSS instrument to be replaced, Taranaki SLT department has been running their regular VFSS clinic in Whanganui Hospital. This means lots of communication and best practice standards were required when the clinic was first set up. To ensure best practice and safe practice, Su researched into the latest VFSS standard/ protocols before they started to implement the protocol in the clinic. She believes professional standards are key to achieving best practice, maximizing patient care and minimizing risk or harm to both clinicians and patients.

Growing up in a multicultural country, she values people while respecting cultural diversity. Su is aware and believes she can uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in this role. Her outstanding communication skills allow her to build a rapport with patients and work effectively with a multidisciplinary team in treatment planning. The research experience she gained through Hons and MSc equips her to critically appraise research before translating it into clinical practice. Su is familiar with decision making, especially during difficult situations. She is fluent in writing and speaking English, Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese and Hokkien. Meanwhile, her strong sense of self-awareness enables Su to reflect on her professional behaviours and hence engage in continuous professional development while empowering people around her to achieve her goals as a team.

Hana Tuwhare

Māori and cultural portfolio, (BSpchLangTher(Hons)

Whakarongorua tū te ao, tū te pō. Whakarongo ki nga tai e rua, Te tai tamawahine e papaki kau ana ki Taumarere, Te Tai tamatane e ngunguru ana te waha pū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Ko Mokonuiārangi te marae, ko Te Popoto te hapū, Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi.

Hana is a community activator and speech-language therapist at Talking Matters. She works alongside whānau, kaiako, iwi, and early education centres to build rich oral language environments for babies in the first 1000 days.
As a second language learner of te reo Māori, she is passionate about recentering matauranga Māori and revitalising te reo Māori.

Mel Street

Professional development portfolio (BSc (Hons) SLT, PGC Cleft Care

Mel is an experienced paediatric speech-language therapist working for a large district hospital. She has held both clinical and leadership roles within the public health system. She has also worked in the private sector and as a business owner.
Her clinical interests include cleft palate, paediatric communication, and feeding/swallowing disorders. Equity and inclusion are key drivers of her practice.

Polly Newton

Member networks portfolio 

Akshat Shah has stepped aside from the NZSTA Board for personal reasons; the Board co-opted Polly Newton to hold the membership network portfolio in his absence.  This is initially for a period of six months.

Siobhan Molloy

Executive Director / Kawhakahaere Matua

Loreen Lee 

Administrator for Secretariat