Speechie Staff
Elisa Mynen, MSLT, MNZSTA
Speech-Language Therapist, Founder & Director of Speechie
Elisa has 15+ years' experience working with children, young people and their families in New Zealand and in the U.S.A. She is a registered member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association (NZSTA Member No. 3263) and currently serves as the NZSTA Regional Representative for the Central Region of the North Island. Elisa is an International Affiliate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a member of ASHA's Telepractice Special Interest Group and a member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists in the UK. She is also a Registered Specialist Teacher with the Learning Disabilities Association of New Zealand (LDANZ). Elisa holds further professional memberships with the Assistive Technology Alliance New Zealand, the New Zealand Dyslexia Foundation and the New Zealand Literacy Association.
Elisa was born in Auckland of a Dutch father and Kiwi mother and grew up in the Netherlands and in New Zealand. She attended Horowhenua College in Levin and completed a Bachelor's degree in linguistics and foreign languages at Victoria University of Wellington. Elisa completed a Master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology accredited by ASHA from California State University, Chico in 1995 and completed a post-graduate Education Specialist Credential awarded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 2003.
While in California, Elisa worked with children and families in private clinic and public school settings as a Speech-Language Therapist and as an Education Specialist. She was nominated for the San Andreas Regional ‘Service above Self Award’ for her management of a communication - focus classroom programme for children with moderate to severe Autism. Elisa was also elected president of the Santa Clara County Office of Education chapter of the California Teacher’s Association and received their ‘We Honour Ours’ award for her leadership and advocacy skills.
Following her return to New Zealand in 2006, Elisa took the opportunity to inform her work with children by working with adults with communication disorders. She served as Team Leader in a residential service and as Area Coordinator in a supported independent living service for adults with disabilities before returning to her calling to work with children. Elisa most recently worked in the Ministry of Education School-Focus Communication Service.
Elisa established Speechie in 2014 with a vision to transforming speech-language therapy in New Zealand. You can read about Speechie's vision, mission and values here.
Elisa was born in Auckland of a Dutch father and Kiwi mother and grew up in the Netherlands and in New Zealand. She attended Horowhenua College in Levin and completed a Bachelor's degree in linguistics and foreign languages at Victoria University of Wellington. Elisa completed a Master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology accredited by ASHA from California State University, Chico in 1995 and completed a post-graduate Education Specialist Credential awarded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 2003.
While in California, Elisa worked with children and families in private clinic and public school settings as a Speech-Language Therapist and as an Education Specialist. She was nominated for the San Andreas Regional ‘Service above Self Award’ for her management of a communication - focus classroom programme for children with moderate to severe Autism. Elisa was also elected president of the Santa Clara County Office of Education chapter of the California Teacher’s Association and received their ‘We Honour Ours’ award for her leadership and advocacy skills.
Following her return to New Zealand in 2006, Elisa took the opportunity to inform her work with children by working with adults with communication disorders. She served as Team Leader in a residential service and as Area Coordinator in a supported independent living service for adults with disabilities before returning to her calling to work with children. Elisa most recently worked in the Ministry of Education School-Focus Communication Service.
Elisa established Speechie in 2014 with a vision to transforming speech-language therapy in New Zealand. You can read about Speechie's vision, mission and values here.
Matt Sebastian, M.Sc., MNZSTA
Speech-Language Therapist, S-LP(C)
Matt is a member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA Member No. 4013) and Speech-Language and Audiology Canada. His commitment to achieving the greatest communicative potential for his clients is steered by ongoing professional development that ensures culturally appropriate, informed, and evidence-based practice.
Matt was born in the Canadian prairies and raised in Calgary, Canada. He is a keen traveller with the fortune of having family to visit all over the world, and his passion for travelling has afforded him the opportunity to study at a number of universities across Canada. Matt completed a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics at York University in Toronto, Canada and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
It was Matt's experience as a volunteer at the Aphasia Institute (Toronto, Canada) that led him to pursue training and a career in Speech-Language Pathology. Matt proceeded to hold Director and Co-Chair positions with Aphasia Nova Scotia and has contributed to neurolinguistic research. In 2017, Matt's work was recognised with an award of excellence granted by the Tavistok Trust for Aphasia.
Matt is delighted to contribute to the transformation of speech-language therapy in New Zealand as part of the team at Speechie. He shares the vision of continual positive growth toward ever-improving services and ever-increasing access to services for people with speech, language and communication difficulties. Most of all, Matt is thrilled at the opportunity to give back to the New Zealand community, which has openly embraced him since his arrival in 2017.
Matt was born in the Canadian prairies and raised in Calgary, Canada. He is a keen traveller with the fortune of having family to visit all over the world, and his passion for travelling has afforded him the opportunity to study at a number of universities across Canada. Matt completed a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics at York University in Toronto, Canada and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
It was Matt's experience as a volunteer at the Aphasia Institute (Toronto, Canada) that led him to pursue training and a career in Speech-Language Pathology. Matt proceeded to hold Director and Co-Chair positions with Aphasia Nova Scotia and has contributed to neurolinguistic research. In 2017, Matt's work was recognised with an award of excellence granted by the Tavistok Trust for Aphasia.
Matt is delighted to contribute to the transformation of speech-language therapy in New Zealand as part of the team at Speechie. He shares the vision of continual positive growth toward ever-improving services and ever-increasing access to services for people with speech, language and communication difficulties. Most of all, Matt is thrilled at the opportunity to give back to the New Zealand community, which has openly embraced him since his arrival in 2017.
Lucy Wistrand
Office Manager
Lucy was born in England and has a degree in Geological Sciences. She met and married a kiwi bloke and moved to New Zealand in 1999. Lucy has a family of 4 very busy teenagers and has been a stay-at-home Mum until recently. She was shoulder tapped to work for Speechie because of the integrity and advocacy she demonstrated in her position as Teacher Aide for students with special needs, her commitment to excellence in everything she does, and her down-to-earth personality and straightforward communication style. When Lucy is not at Speechie laminating and velcroing resources and keeping administration up to date, she enjoys time with her family gardening, reading and travelling.
Lucy loves being part of the amazing, forward thinking team at Speechie.
Lucy loves being part of the amazing, forward thinking team at Speechie.
