Paul has served as TSH CEO since November 2004, having re-joined the Centre as Principal in 1998. Paul had previously worked at TSH in the 1980s. Qualified teacher of the deaf with extensive ESL experience. Paul holds master’s degree in educational and organisational leadership. Prior to being recruited back to TSH Paul successfully ran a language school in Tokyo, Japan for 5 years. Chaired the First Voice national alliance 2006-2008, has served for 10 years on WA NGCS Committee, served as Chair of AISWA Special Needs Advisory Committee, member of WA Deafness Council Executive Committee and WA Newborn Hearing Screening Executive Committee.
Paul Higginbotham
Chief Executive Officer
Debra Creed
Principal - School Support and Talkabout Programs
Debra joined Telethon Speech & Hearing in 2011, moving from her previous role of Acting Manager (Student Services) and Consultant with Independent Schools Queensland. Prior to this Debra worked as both a lawyer and educator and over the last decade has successfully managed numerous facilities within the independent school system.
Debra chaired the Attorney-General’s State Family Law Pathways Network in Queensland and is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Australian Council of Educational Leadership and Independent Heads of Primary Schools Association.
Debra has been a recipient of several National Excellence in Teaching Awards and a DEST Scholarship in Literacy and Numeracy for her efforts in the teaching and learning field. Debra has always been passionate about special needs and her vision has been to translate best practice in educational research into the educational journeys of her students, sharing these innovations through her lectures in Russia, Austria, New Zealand and Australia.
Brian Lynch
Manager Business and Finance
Brian joined the Centre in April 2007 as the Manager of Business and Finance.
Prior to joining the Centre, Brian spent the first 15 years of his career in the Chartered Accounting profession culminating with owning and eventually selling an accounting practice in 1980 after which he moved into the field of commerce. Brian has been employed as General Manager Finance & Administration, CFO, COO and CEO working in either green field operations or turn arounds.
Wendy Tunbridge
Director - Early Intervention
Wendy joined the Centre in 1992 and has worked in many areas and across programs. She moved into the role of Director of Early Intervention in 2001 and since that time has grown the program in both size and quality.
Prior to joining the Centre, Wendy worked across Australia and overseas for many years before studying to become a Teacher of the Deaf in 1991 after having her own family. Wendy has a special interest in creating a supportive program for families experiencing the distress of having their child diagnosed with a hearing loss. Wendy strives to deliver a state-of-the-art therapy program which brings hearing impaired children to normal language and listening levels at the earliest age.
Lara Shur
Manager Audiology Services
Lara joined the TSH team in July 2010 from a previous role as Manager in Department of Health & Ageing, Office of Hearing Services, WA & NT Clinical Support. Prior to that, Lara worked in private practice in Australia and previously spent several years in Africa in a large public hospital working as a Senior Audiologist and Speech Therapist.
Lara has an undergraduate honours degree in Speech & Hearing Therapy, Masters Degree in Audiology and a Graduate Certificate in Business Management. Lara is a member of the Audiological Society of Australia and also holds a Clinical Certificate (CCP) from the ASA.