After a fantastic day of learning, connection, and shared professional development at Therapy Talks 2026, we were delighted to end the event by celebrating some of the incredible people within our independent practice community at the ASLTIP Awards 2026.
The awards recognise the passion, innovation, leadership, and commitment our members bring to children, families, colleagues, students, and the wider profession every day. Reading through the nominations was both inspiring and humbling, with every category highlighting the extraordinary impact happening across independent practice.
Congratulations to every nominee, shortlisted candidate, and winner. Your work reflects the very best of our profession.
ASLTIP Start Up Award
The Start Up Award recognises the courage it takes to build something new and the impact that follows when that courage is matched with compassion, determination, and high-quality care.
Winner: Meera Mehta
This year’s winner, Meera Mehta, was recognised for creating a practice that is already making a meaningful difference to children and families. Nominations highlighted her engaging and highly personalised sessions, her collaborative approach with schools and multidisciplinary teams, and the reassurance and practical support she provides to families. Parents described children making significant progress not only in communication, but also in confidence and participation within everyday life.
Shortlisted Nominee: Anisha Lodhia
Anisha was recognised for her compassionate and highly individualised approach to supporting children with complex communication needs, alongside her commitment to empowering families and supporting nursery teams through mentoring and practical guidance.
ASLTIP Leadership Award
The Leadership Award recognises leadership that strengthens practice, builds confidence, and creates lasting change.
Winner: Sinead Owens
This year’s winner, Sinead Owens, was recognised for leadership that has had a transformative impact across schools, multidisciplinary teams, and the wider profession. Nominations described her as collaborative, approachable, and deeply committed to ensuring children and families receive high-quality, joined-up support.
A strong theme throughout the nominations was Sinead’s commitment to building capacity in others. Through mentoring, training, and practical support, she empowers staff teams and colleagues with the confidence and strategies needed to create sustainable and meaningful change.
Shortlisted Nominee: Tina Kad
Tina was recognised for her leadership across AAC, learning disabilities, mentoring, and community wellbeing initiatives, alongside her commitment to supporting both aspiring and established professionals within the SLT community.
Additional nominees in this category reflected the strength of leadership, advocacy, and collaboration taking place across independent practice. (Anisha Lodhia, Kathryn Pierce, Meera Mehta, Tina Kad, Sinead Owens)
ASLTIP Team Player Award
The Team Player Award celebrates those who strengthen not only their own teams, but the future of the profession through collaboration, support, and shared learning.
Winner: Sophie Humphries
This year’s award went to Sophie Humphries in recognition of her outstanding commitment to student placements and workforce development. Nominations highlighted her ability to create supportive learning environments where students feel confident, valued, and able to grow, alongside her commitment to strengthening links between education and practice.
One particularly meaningful example shared in the nominations was that a student Sophie supported during their first placement later joined the organisation as an employee, reflecting the lasting impact of her mentorship and leadership.
Shortlisted Nominee: Laura Keeling
Laura was recognised for her collaborative and supportive approach within the independent practice community, particularly through the encouragement, supervision, and guidance she provides to therapists early in their independent practice journeys.
Additional nominations highlighted the generosity, teamwork, and shared learning that continue to strengthen our profession. (Laura Keeling, Anisha Lodhia, Sophie Humphries)
Maria Farry Award for Outstanding Contribution
The Maria Farry Award for Outstanding Contribution was introduced as a tribute to one of ASLTIP’s founders, recognising individuals whose impact extends far beyond their own practice and continues to shape the wider profession.
Winner: Libby Hill
This year’s winner, Libby Hill, was recognised for an extraordinary contribution spanning clinical practice, research, professional education, policy development, and voluntary work. Nominations highlighted her expertise in areas including PDA, Selective Mutism, and Developmental Language Disorder, alongside her extensive contribution to national guidance, training, research groups, and professional support networks.
Through books, podcasts, resources, and ongoing knowledge sharing, Libby has helped make specialist knowledge more accessible to both professionals and families. This year also marks 40 years working within the profession, making the award an especially meaningful recognition of a remarkable career dedicated to supporting others.
Shortlisted Nominee: Joan Skeffington
Joan was recognised for over 20 years of dedicated contribution to both ASLTIP and the wider profession, including championing independent practitioners, supporting professional working groups, and contributing to projects promoting patient safety and consistency of practice across sectors.
Additional nominees in this category reflected the enormous breadth of contribution taking place across independent practice, including workforce development, trauma-informed practice, parent support, advocacy, and multidisciplinary collaboration. (Sophie Humphries, Sinead Owens, Lucy Kreed, Kathryn Pierce)
Sarah Buckley Award for Innovation
Our final award was the Sarah Buckley Award for Innovation, presented in memory of Sarah Buckley, whose dedication, energy, and commitment to innovation left a lasting mark on both ASLTIP and the wider profession.
Winner: Rachel Barton
This year’s winner, Rachel Barton, was recognised for her significant contribution to advancing the ethical and informed use of artificial intelligence within professional practice. Through her work, she supports therapists to better understand and apply AI safely and responsibly, contributes to professional guidance development, and regularly shares knowledge to help others navigate this rapidly evolving area.
Her work reflects innovation not simply in technology itself, but in how she brings others with her through thoughtful, practical, and ethical guidance.
Shortlisted Nominee: Isla Davies
Isla was recognised for her advocacy and commitment to improving access and outcomes for children and their families. Her nomination highlighted both her clinical work and her determination to address wider systemic barriers affecting access to services.
Additional nominees in this category highlighted the breadth of innovation taking place across independent practice, including neurodivergent communication tools, trauma-informed approaches, accessible therapy provision, and specialist dysphagia services. (Emma Ahern, Karen Scrivener-Fearn, Gill Buckingham, Kathryn Pierce)
Congratulations to All Our Nominees
The ASLTIP Awards 2026 were a powerful reminder of the expertise, compassion, leadership, and innovation that exists across our independent practice community.
From supporting students entering the workforce, to advancing trauma-informed practice, strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration, championing neurodivergent communication, and driving innovation in AI and specialist services, the nominations reflected a profession continually evolving through curiosity, compassion, and collaboration.
Independent practice can sometimes feel like many small lights spread across the profession. Events like these remind us just how bright those lights become when brought together ✨
Congratulations once again to every nominee, shortlisted candidate, and winner. ASLTIP is incredibly proud to celebrate you all.
