Speech and Language Therapy staff

David Bignell

Course Lead BSc (Hons) Qualified Habilitation Specialist (Children and Young People)

David is the Course Lead for BSc (Hons) Qualified Habilitation Specialist. David has also been the Course Lead for the Foundation Degree in Rehabilitation Work (Vision Impairment) and the BSc (Hons) Specialist Complex Needs Rehabilitation Work top up degree. David studied at the Guide Dogs School of Vision and Rehabilitation...

Susan Cadby

Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Work/Admissions Tutor

Susan is a qualified Rehabilitation Worker. Studying rehabilitation work was a natural progression from her studies in deaf studies and linguistics. Since qualifying Susan has worked in both local authority and charity settings. The role included providing specialist assessments for people with sight loss, hearing loss and...

Natacha Capener

Lecturer / Placement Coordinator in Speech and Language Therapy

Natacha qualified as a speech and language therapist (SLT) from University College London (UCL) in 2012. Throughout her career she has worked in the NHS and as an independent SLT in a range of school settings (mainstream, specialist, and additionally resourced provisions) with children and young people of all ages. Her area of...

Peter Cooke

Senior Lecturer

Peter's key experience of Rehabilitation Work arose from working in the heart of Birmingham area delivering rehabilitation assessment and training to people newly diagnosed with sight loss. This area of Birmingham was particularly challenging due to high numbers of people of working age whose sight loss was often accompanied...

Lesley Ann Docherty

Senior Lecturer

Lesley Ann qualified in 2001 from UCE and worked at Selly Oak Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital until joining the University in 2014. She worked in the Stroke Unit and supported patients in the Burns Unit and ITU. Lesley Ann currently holds an honorary contract at a local NHS hospital.

Claire Hartley

Senior Lecturer

Claire Hartley is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and Senior Lecturer (in acquired communication difficulties) at Birmingham City University. She is also the Programme Director for the Return to Practice in SLT Programme. Her interests include aphasia, motor speech disorders, simulated practice in SLT, and working with...

Dr Thomas Hopkins

Senior Lecturer in SLT, Research Coordinator and Deputy Chair

Tom is a senior lecturer in speech and language therapy at Birmingham City University, teaching on areas of psychology and child development including language and literacy development. Tom’s background is in psychology having worked and studied in areas related to developmental and forensic psychology. This led to an interest...

Dr Wouter Jansen

Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead for Research and Enterprise

Wouter teaches (clinical) linguistics, phonetics, and research methods on all 3 Speech and Language Therapy programmes offered by the university. He is currently the module lead for two MSc SLT modules: SPR7003 The Science of Speech, Swallowing and Hearing and SPR7004 Understanding Human Communication and Development. He also...

Victoria Lundie

Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy

Victoria has been a part of the SLT teaching team at BCU since 2012. She is joint course lead for BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy and has specific responsibility for student experience as a part of this role. She is part of the placements team working with two colleagues to ensure that students and placement educators...

Melanie Packer

Lecturer/ Placement Coordinator in Speech and Language Therapy

Melanie Packer has always demonstrated a keen interest in communication. After graduating from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London, in 1994, Melanie spent a number of year working for television companies based in Birmingham. In 2000, Melanie’s interest shifted from the media to human communication. By 2006, Melanie had...