The British Laryngological Association (BLA) has announced the results of its bi-annual election. Mr Nicholas Gibbins was selected as the next President-Elect and Prof Justin Roe re-elected for a second term as the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) representative.
There was an additional appointment of Tori Burnay, Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist in Voice at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Trust, as the second SLT representative.
The BLA is a multidisciplinary organisation, which is reflected in its council membership. Expanding the council to include an additional speech and language therapist is a key step in ensuring that the BLA can represent all subspecialties within the discipline of laryngology. The areas of voice and swallow are very distinct, so it makes sense to have therapists with specialist interests in these areas.
Mr Nicholas Gibbins (left), Consultant Otolaryngologist and Voice Surgeon at University Hospital Lewisham, expressed his gratitude for being elected as President-Elect: "I am truly honoured. The BLA is increasingly involved in national and international discussions on policy and research at a time that really is a golden era for laryngology. I am excited to work with my colleagues and friends and help the BLA expand in all areas. With the outstanding council and membership we have, I think that the future is extremely bright for laryngology, with the BLA at the forefront. I can't wait to get cracking!"
Prof Justin Roe (right), Consultant Speech and Language Therapist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Practice in Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation at Imperial College London, shared his delight in being re-elected as the SLT representative: "I am honoured to have been elected for a second term. BLA is committed to being inclusive of all members of the laryngology community, and I am pleased that the sub-specialties of voice and swallowing disorders are now recognised with two RCSLT council representatives set to serve for the next two years. For the first time, additional council positions will now be open to applications to all professions working in laryngology, so I hope to see more SLTs join the council to shape the BLA agenda for the future."
Tori Burnay (left) also expressed her thanks: "It is an honour to join the BLA council as the SLT Representative for the next term to focus on extending the wonderful work of the association, bringing developments in the field to the membership and encouraging dissemination of information of existing and new treatment approaches linking organisations across the globe with a therapeutic perspective.”
