I came to academia after several years working as a Speech Therapist in various London hospitals. My research career started at Birkbeck College, University of London, where I obtained my PhD in 1992.

In 1996 I moved to Macquarie University, initially as a visiting Research Fellow on a Wellcome Trust Fellowship. In 1999 I took up an Australian Research Council QEII Fellowship followed by an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (2006) and ARC Future Fellowship (2013).

My research field can be broadly characterised as "the cognitive neuropsychology of language". In other words, I investigate language impairments (both developmental, and acquired as a result of brain damage) and use these to test the adequacy of cognitive models of language comprehension and production. In addition, the use of these models can inform our understanding of the language impairments and how best to remediate them. My research focuses on acquired language impairment (aphasia and progressive aphasia), but also with some work in the field of impaired literacy (dyslexia) in children and adults.

Much of my research has focused on word production and particularly assessment and treatment of impairments of word production (anomia), however, I also have an interest in experimental investigation of word production in speakers without language impairment. I have a commitment to research into the remediation of language disorders, and collaborate with speech pathologists in this endeavour. 

I am also Macquarie University's Director for the international PhD programme: International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB): http://em-idealab.com/.