Speech Pathology Australia Member Awards 2026

Each year, SPA’s Member Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of our peers – the leaders and changemakers across research, education, clinical practice and service. These honours reflect the values we share and the lasting difference speech pathologists make in their communities and beyond.

The awards ceremony was held at the SPA 2026 Conference in Yugambeh/Gold Coast on Friday 26 June 2026. Congratulations to all our 2026 winners!

 

Life Membership

Life membership is the highest honour accorded by the Association. It recognises outstanding leadership and committed service to the Association and the profession over many years.

Alison Smith

 Alison has made an exceptional contribution to the speech pathology profession and to SPA through more than 40 years of leadership, advocacy and service.

Her significant roles have included SPA Board Vice President Finance, Queensland Councillor of the Council of the Australian Association of Speech and Hearing (AASH), SPA Queensland Branch Chair, SPA Conference Convenor, SPA QLD Registration Board Legacy Funds Governance Group member, founder of the SPA Community of Practice in Education (COPE) Member Network and more.

Through her speech pathology and management roles in the Queensland Government, Alison has strengthened governance, student engagement, professional networks, workforce capability and evidence-based practice. Her integrity, mentoring and sustained advocacy have delivered lasting benefits for SPA, the profession, the education sector and the communities she has served.

 

This is a photo of Alison Smith holding a Life Membership plaque as she poses with Emma Power to her left at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants. Alison has short brown hair and is wearing a black and bronze dress.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Life Membership Award to Alison Smith (right).

 

Fellowship

Fellowship of Speech Pathology Australia is one of the highest public professional honours the Association awards to a member demonstrating outstanding, significant and sustained contribution to the speech pathology profession and SPA.

Professor Alison Purcell

Professor Alison Purcell is a distinguished speech pathology leader whose career spans more than 40 years and has made significant contributions to clinical practice, research, education, equity and professional standards in Australia and internationally.

Through senior academic roles at Western Sydney University and The University of Sydney, as well as her work as a SPA accreditor, she has shaped curriculum, accreditation, workforce preparation and culturally responsive professional training.

Her research has advanced outcomes for children with lifelong communication difficulties, including hearing impairment, cleft palate, and childhood apraxia of speech. Professor Alison Purcell’s work has been highly influential in contributing to major reforms for Aboriginal children in Australia, as well as influencing policy, service delivery and clinical practice.

 

This is a headshot photo of Professor Alison Purcell. She has mid length blonde hair and is wearing glasses and a purple top.

Professor Alison Purcell

 

Professor Elizabeth Cardell

Professor Elizabeth Cardell is a highly regarded speech pathology academic, clinician and leader whose career spans more than 40 years across clinical practice, education, research, policy and service to SPA.

She has made significant contributions through her roles as SPA National Accreditation Advisor, SPA advisory committee member, CPD presenter, National Tour Speaker, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editor of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and more.

Her senior academic leadership at the University of Southern Queensland and Griffith University has shaped curriculum, accreditation, workforce development, simulation-based learning and interprofessional education across health disciplines.

Professor Elizabeth Cardell’s clinical, teaching and research contributions have advanced evidence-based practice in adult neurorehabilitation, aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, stuttering, and voice and right-hemisphere communication disorders.

 

This is a photo of Professor Elizabeth Cardell holding a Fellowship plaque as she poses with Emma Power to her left at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants. Elizabeth has short black hair and is wearing a peach blazer and white pants.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Fellowship Award to Professor Elizabeth Cardell (right).

 

Elinor Wray Award

The Elinor Wray award is granted for notable contribution to the profession of speech pathology.

Dr Shaun Ziegenfusz

Dr Shaun Ziegenfusz has made sustained and field-shaping contributions to speech pathology through his leadership, research, education and advocacy in Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Through The DLD Project, The DLD Project Foundation, SPA’s Queensland Branch Chair position and Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (RADLD), he has advanced awareness, professional education, equitable service access and policy influence nationally and internationally.

Through his publications, PhD research, media engagement, government consultation, student supervision and mentoring, Dr Shaun Ziegenfusz has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to evidence-based practice, workforce development and improved access for people with communication difficulties.

 

This is a photo of Dr Shaun Ziegenfusz holding a Elinor Wray Award plaque as he poses with Emma Power to his left at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants. Shaun is wearing a black suit with a striped shirt.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Elinor Wray Award Award to Dr Shaun Ziegenfusz (right).

 

Service and Impact Award

The Service and Impact Award recognises substantial impact or valuable service to community or the profession at either a National and/or international level.

Dr Clancy Conlon

Dr Clancy Conlon has made sustained and wide-reaching contributions to speech pathology through her leadership, research, teaching and advocacy in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), workforce development and equitable access to services.

Since 2014, she has strengthened AAC capability across Australia through training, supervision, professional development and PhD research that provides a national framework for clinical competence in AAC.

Her academic leadership at CQUniversity, role as Queensland Branch Chair, and contributions to SPA have advanced professional standards, interdisciplinary education and workforce readiness.

Internationally, her partnerships in Fiji, Thailand and Ghana have expanded access to AAC and speech pathology services while building local workforce capability.

 

This is a photo of Dr Clancy Conlon holding a Service and Impact Award plaque as she poses with Emma Power to her left at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants. Clancy has blonde hair tied back and is wearing a white blazer over a grey dress.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Service and Impact Award to Dr Clancy Conlon (right).

 

Early Career Award

The Early Career Award is granted by the Association to an early career-practising member in recognition of ongoing, valuable and voluntary service to the Association at either a National or Branch level.

Jacqueline Peck

Jacqueline Peck has made an exceptional contribution to SPA since joining in 2022, showing leadership, initiative and resilience beyond what would typically be expected of an early-career member.

Through her ACT/NSW Branch roles, she has strengthened student engagement, expanded university representation and helped build stronger connections between students and the profession.

Her continued leadership shortly after experiencing a stroke reflects extraordinary commitment and professionalism. As incoming Disability Portfolio Lead in 2026, Jacqueline brings lived experience and a strong commitment to equity, inclusion and representation.

 

This is a photo of Jacqueline Peck holding an Early Career Award plaque as she poses with Emma Power to her left at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants. Jacqueline has mid-length blonde hair and is wearing a denim jacket over a black floral dress.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Early Career Award to Jacqueline Peck (right).

 

Community Contribution Award

The Community Contribution Award is granted by the Association to recognise outside agencies or individuals who have made a significant and valuable contribution to speech pathology.

Raising Literacy Australia

Words Grow Minds is an evidence-based early childhood development campaign led by Raising Literacy Australia with early years, health, education, literacy and community partners. It promotes talking, reading, playing and singing with babies and young children from birth, turning evidence about brain and communication development into practical messages for families and professionals.

Through media, professional learning, free resource packs, community grants and targeted initiatives, it has strengthened awareness of early language development and the role of speech pathologists.

The program is recognised nationally for its collaborative approach, annual distribution of 21,000 resource packs, positive family and provider feedback, interstate partnerships and long-term government support.

 

This is a photo of 2 women wearing maroon and black coloured clothing holding a Community Contribution Award plaque together. Emma Power stands to their left. They are on stage at the SPA 2026 Conference. Emma has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and white shirt with white pants.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) awarding the Community Contribution Award to Raising Literacy Australia.

 

IJSLP Editor’s Award

The International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (IJSLP) Editor’s Award is based on a combination of citations and altmetric data plus its scientific rigour, innovation, and impact potential.

Identifying developmental language disorder (DLD) in multilingual children: A case study tutorial

  • Authors: Saboor Hamdani, Angel Chan, Rachel Kan, Shula Chiat, Natalia Gagarina, Ewa Haman, Magdalena Łuniewska, Kamila Polišenská and Sharon Armon-Lotem
  • From: Volume 27, Number 2 (2025)
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2024.2326095

 

This is a photo of Angel Chan holding an IJSLP Editor’s Award plaque as she poses with Emma Power, Natalie Munro and Professor Elizabeth Cardell at the SPA 2026 Conference.

SPA President, Emma Power (left) and IJSLP Editors Natalie Munro and Professor Elizabeth Cardell (right) awarding the IJSLP Editor’s Award to Angel Chan (second from left).

 

JCPSLP Editor’s Award

The Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology (JCPSLP) Editor’s Award is awarded to the peer-reviewed article of highest merit, based on four key factors: Clinical relevance, evidence based, novel contribution to the literature, and writing style.

Navigating choice: eating, drinking and decision-making at end of life for individuals with cognitive impairment

 

This is a photo of Dr Laura Chahda holding an JCPSLP Editor’s Award plaque as she poses with fellow winners Druvni Perera, Laura Knauer and Darcy Long. Emma Power and Dr Katrina Blyth stand to the left of them at the SPA 2026 Conference.

(From left) SPA President, Emma Power and JCPSLP Editor, Dr Katrina Blyth awarding the JCPSLP Editor’s Award to Dr Laura Chahda, Druvni Perera, Laura Knauer and Darcy Long.

 

Conference Excellence Awards

The Conference Excellence Awards are voted on by conference attendees.

Best Extended Presentation

They said "teach clusters" – here's how: Practical strategies for implementing the complexity approach
Presented by Rebecca Reinking

 

This is a photo of a woman presenting in front of a crowd. Rebecca is pointing upwards as she speaks.

Rebecca Reinking presenting.

 

Best Oral Presentation

Efficacy of the Launch to School Emergent Literacy Intervention for preschoolers with communication difficulties: A non-randomised control trial
Presented by Professor Tricia McCabe and Jennie Cusiter

 

This is a photo of a woman presenting in front of a crowd. Tricia is holding up her hands as she speaks in detail.

Tricia McCabe presenting.

 

Collaborative Excellence

Vocabulary Crunch: A mathematics vocabulary intervention for year one students
Presented by Megan Gim and Violet Song

 

This is a photo of 2 women presenting behind a podium to an audience. There is a projector in the back that says, ‘Vocabulary Crunch: What did we do?’

Megan Gim and Violet Song presenting.

 

Exhibitor Excellence

Adventures in Speech Pathology

 

This is a photo of 2 women and 1 man at the Adventures in Speech Pathology Booth. The booth has a number of items on the table such as an ipad with a game on it, a wheel of fortune and cards.

The Adventures in Speech Pathology exhibitor booth.

 

Evomed Gallery Innovation Award

Language Lizards: A whole-class approach to language intervention
Elizabeth McBride

 

This is a photo of a women with mid-length blonde hair and a handsfree microphone walking amongst a gallery of information posters.

Elizabeth McBride