In 2020, Nicola established The Owl Centre Charity, which provides training and support services both in the UK and internationally.
Nicola is the prize-winning, best-selling author of Small Talk (Macmillan), and has also written a series of children’s books, underpinned by Speech and Language Therapy principles published by Campbell Books (part of Pan Macmillan).
She hosts her own podcast, Hoots Who, and has spoken widely about children’s speech and language development on national television, as well as on national and international radio. Nicola has also been featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide. She has delivered lectures at the request of universities, charities and businesses across the UK, and has spoken alongside Professor Sir Robert Winston.
Nicola’s decision to train as a Speech and Language Therapist was inspired by her younger brother, who has Down’s syndrome and required speech and language support as a child. This personal experience has given her a deep understanding of the impact that communication difficulties can have on individuals and their families.
She qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1999, graduating from University College London, and worked within the NHS and internationally until 2011, when she established the first Owl Centre in Oxford, responding to increasing demand from families seeking private support.
Nicola is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
